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Since 1979 is it known that the lead exposure, which is held harmless for adults, can occur severe behavioral disorders, mental performance and concentration decrease in children and therefore it was necessary to reduce the environmental lead exposure. In Hungary in the mid-1980s the lead content of petrol were progressively reduced. The first specific study on blood lead level of children was carried out in the years 1985 and 1986, and it showed a significant difference between children living in city center and outer districts in Budapest. The significance between blood lead level and lead concentration in air was stronger in children than in adults. In the early 1990s our studies showed, that blood-lead level was still above 10-g/dL in 8–13% of urban children, higher than 20 g/dL blood-lead levels were measured only sporadically. Seven years after the introduction of unleaded petrol the average blood-lead level of children was significantly lower, between 1996 and 2006 is the difference more than 60%, however our studies showed also, that petrol lead content is not the only exposure source affecting the blood-lead level. In the next decade is expected moderate elevated blood-lead level in children, which reminds us to reduce the environmental lead pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite of strong anti-lead campaign started in 1970s, the world population is still terrorized by the dangerous level of environmental lead. The blood lead level (BLL) among the US population is flattened out at 1 μg/dL suggesting the sustained daily human lead intake of about 25 μg. In a majority of European countries in 2003–2006, BLL among children exceeded the US levels. Such BLL are unsafe since a significant relationship between mortality and BLL was found well below 5–10 μg/dL. A safe BLL level for children has not been demonstrated. Lead from gasoline, paint and water pipes are recognized as major sources of environmental contamination. Even the localized use of leaded gasoline produces global effect as lead aerosol is capable to reach the most remote areas. European data show that, despite unequal atmospheric lead emission by the European countries, atmospheric fallout is normally distributed among them with some countries emitting more lead than taking in. Three million tones of lead remain in the US houses painted prior to 1980s. Lead-based paint is allowed for industrial, military and some outdoor uses. In the US, lead-based paint covers about 465 km2 of non-residential surfaces and almost 90% of the bridges. Adverse health effects of lead contamination are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]