Abstract
Venous blood samples were obtained from 615 pre-school children (6 mos-6yrs) by door-to-door screening in three Massachusetts communities. Samples were assayed for lead by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, for erythrocyte proto-prophyrin (EP) by hematofluorometry, for ferritin by radioimmunoassay and for hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte indices by Coulter counter. Correlation coeffecients among lead, EPWB, EPRBC ferritin, MCV and hemoglobin were calculated as follows: Simple Correlation Coefficients (n ≥ 566 Observations)
When lead and EPRBC are corrected for MCV, the partial correlation of lead and EPRBC is only .086 (NS). Similarly, correcting for ferritin or hemoglobin, the partial correlation of lead and EPRBC is 0.12 (P = .01). We conclude that, after adjusting for iron status as indicated by ferritin, MCV or hemoglobin, there is a weak partial correlation between lead and EPRBC in tne population studied. As the criteria for defining lead toxicity continue to be lowered, the value of EP as a lead screening test should be re-examined when considering children with lower lead levels.
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Graef, J., Halvorsen, K., Amitai, Y. et al. CORRELATION OF LEAD, EP AND IRON STATUS IN A MULTIRACIAL POPULATION SURVEY. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 283 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00697
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00697