§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what continuous monitoring of blood-lead levels in children is carried out by her Department; if she will publish the results for the last three years for which such information is available; and if she will make a statement; [26591]
(2) what evidence she has evaluated to indicate that blood-lead levels in children have reached levels (a) 773W potentially affecting the central nervous system and (b) causing other effects damaging to health; and if she will make a statement; [26606]
(3) if she will publish the latest available figures her Department has evaluated on the contribution of air-borne lead to children's blood-lead levels; [26604]
(4) if she will list the latest available figures her Department has evaluated on the contribution to children's blood-lead levels caused by (a) petrol, (b) food and (c) lead water pipes. [26607]
§ Mr. SackvilleSince 1974, it has been the policy of successive Governments to contain and reduce exposure to lead wherever practicable, particularly in those circumstances where people are most exposed.
Monitoring programmes have shown a continuing fall in blood-lead levels in children and adults since the early 1970s as controls on sources of lead exposure have been introduced. Since action has been taken to reduce exposure from a wide range of sources including petrol, drinking water, air, food, industrial emissions, paint, cosmetics, ceramic glazes and toys, the contribution made to blood-lead levels by any one source is difficult to estimate and will vary with location and age of the person.
Continuous monitoring of children's blood-lead levels is not carried out in the United Kingdom. However, lead will be determined in blood samples collected for the 1995 health survey for England from a sample of adults and children aged 11 and over.