§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been made or are contemplated into the effect of airborne lead pollution on the learning capacity of children in the age ranges five to seven years, eight to 11 years and 12 to 16 years.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department is currently supporting a number of studies638W concerned with lead pollution although none at present into these specific aspects.
Following on from the recently published report of the working party studying lead pollution around Gravelly Hill in Birmingham, a new steering committee is being formed, on which my Department will be represented. This steering committee will further consider lead pollution in Birmingham, and the possible effects on the learning capacity of children may be one of the aspects it could consider.
The results of an earlier study, supported by my Department and carried out by the Institute for Child Health, were published in The Lancet on 30th March 1974. That study involved an examination of children under 17 years of age in an area of London exposed to undue amounts of lead from a smelter. The examinations were looking for a relationship between blood lead levels, general intelligence, reading ability and behaviour disorders. The results showed 639W no relationship between blood lead levels and measure of mental function.