Lead investigator
Dr. Ruth Ruggles
Public Health England
61 Colindale Avenue
London NW9 5EQ
Email: ruth.ruggles@phe.gov.uk
About the study
Overview
Public health interventions have succeeded in removing most sources of lead from the environment.
A small proportion of children continue to be exposed to harmful levels of lead, usually in the home. Exposure to lead in children is associated with a range of adverse health effects, from sub-clinical neurodevelopmental impairment to encephalitis.
There are no reliable data on the incidence or prevalence of clinically significant lead toxicity or the prevalence of elevated blood lead concentrations in children in the UK.
Currently, the UK has no formal monitoring of childhood blood lead concentrations within laboratory or clinical systems and the public health response to such cases is likely to be sub-optimal. A recent case series indicates that significant obstacles are often encountered in the effective and timely management of cases.
The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of the incidence of elevated blood lead concentrations in children. The study will provide important information on the management of cases, both clinically and in terms of the public health response.
You can download the protocol card, including references, below.
Webinar and published reports
In Septmeber 2021, Professor Alan Emond, Dr Araceli Busby and Dr Sally Bradberry presented current evidence, guidance and information to increase awareness of lead exposure in children.
Published papers
Surveillance of Elevated Blood Lead in Children (SLiC), PHE publications gateway number 2018484, PDF, 520KB, 65 pages
Case definition
Any child, less than 16 years of age, with a blood lead concentration reported by the laboratory of more than or equal to 10µg/dL (or 0.48µmol/L), with or without any of the accepted clinical signs and symptoms of lead toxicity.
Duration
June 2010 – June 2012 inclusive (with follow-up until July 2013)
Funding
The study is funded through Public Health England.
Approval
This study has been approved by the Riverside REC (Ref: 10/H0706/10) and has Section 251 NIGB permission under HPA reference (PIAG 03-(c)/2001).