INDEX young" lead, effect

Robinson GS, Keith RW, Bomschein RL, et al. 1987. Effects of environmental lead exposure on the developing auditory system as indexed by the brainstem auditory evoked potential and pure tone hearing evaluations in young children. In Lindberg SE, Hutchinson TC. eds. International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, Vol. 1, New Orleans, LA. September. Edinburgh, UK CEP Consultants, Ltd., 223-225. 

In summary, a review of the effects of lead on behaviour in the rat shows great diversity of findings. Only recently has adequate simulation of the exposure conditions found in young children been made. The measurement of blood lead makes correlation between studies easier, and is a useful index of exposure, helping to clarify the large number of regimens of lead administration that have been reported. There may be more accurate ways of assessing lead load, but blood lead measurements reflect a balance between convenience and accuracy. Other indices, such as dose or equivalence of effect may be less reliable and may make comparison between different studies difficult. 

Amidst all this uncertainty the US EPA has set a standard for lead in air of 1.5 jug m based on achieving a target of a population median blood lead for young children (1-5 years) of <15 jug (100 ml) This median has been chosen in order to prevent most children in the US from exceeding a blood lead of 30 jug (100 ml) (see Fig. 7.8). This value has been adopted as a maximum safe blood lead for individual children and is based principally upon the elevation of FEP in the blood as an index of adverse biochemical effect [19]. By adopting this approach they have avoided basing a standard on the uncertain neurobehavioural blood lead relationships. 

---