§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made to implement the Community directive on the biological screening of the population for lead (77/312/EEC).
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe main purpose of this directive, adopted in 1977, is to provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of blood lead levels throughout the Community. Screening is to be done by measuring the concentration of lead in blood samples from a random selection of adults in cities with over 500,000 inhabitants; and from other groups of adults and children in areas where there is a known source of possible environmental exposure to lead. The screening is to be carried out in two stages, in the spring of 1979 and again in 1981.
301WThe United Kingdom survey is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment in co-operation with the Department of Health and Social Security, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department. In England and Wales sampling will be carried out by local authorities, in close co-operation with area health authorities, and in Scotland by the Greater Glasgow health board.
The authorities which have been invited to take part in the United Kingdom survey of major cities are the London boroughs of Islington, Waltham Forest, Kingston-upon-Thames, and Lambeth; Birmingham; Glasgow; Leeds; Liverpol; Manchester; and Sheffield. Sampling of people living near sites where there are potential sources of lead pollution—such as heavily trafficked main roads, smelters, and other works—is proposed in the following local authority areas: the London boroughs of Brent, Greenwich, Hillingdon, Tower Hamlets; Beverley; Bristol; Chester; Ellesmere Port; Gravesham; Market Harborough; Newport (Gwent); Leeds.
Each local survey will cover an average of 200 people. In areas where there are potential sources of lead pollution, children will be included in the surveys. Samples will be taken from volunteers from a random selection of people initially approached. The procedures will ensure confidentiality of personal data and close co-operation with the volunteer's family doctor. During the period of the blood lead survey the Department of Industry's Warren Spring Laboratory will also be taking air and dust samples at some of the sites.
The survey will considerably improve our knowledge of the levels of blood lead in the urban population generally and in people living near potential sources of lead pollution. The initial results will be taken into account in considering the outcome of the general study of the nature and extent of the health hazards from environmental lead being carried out by the Working Party, announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 29 November 1978.—[Vol. 959, c. 272–4.]