The Effect of Low-Level Blood Lead on Hematologic Parameters in Children

A health survey of school children living in polluted regions of eastern Germany provided us with data necessary to examine the effects of lead on the blood system at levels below current standards for blood lead content. Data collected for 797 children, aged 5–14 years, with low blood lead levels (GM, 33.3 μg Pb/L; range, 7.5–239 μg Pb/L) allowed us to examine the relationship between blood lead content and hematological parameters. Using linear regression analyses and controlling for a number of potential confounding factors, we found that increasing blood lead levels by 10 μg/L were associated with a small increase in the number of red blood cells and in girls with reduced MCV and MCH. The reasons for our observation, especially the gender difference, are still uncertain. In conclusion the morphology and function of erythrocytes might be sensitive parameters of low dose lead toxicity