"Lead levels in blood plummet after lead in gas, paints phased out"

http://tinyurl.com/6zxm9k

TORONTO — The level of lead contamination in the bloodstreams of Canadians has plummeted over the past 30 years, a likely result of the phasing out of lead in gasoline, paints and the solder used to seal food cans, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday.

Where 25 per cent of Canadians had blood lead concentrations above the unsafe threshold in 1978, a survey conducted in 2007-2008 showed that figure had dropped to under one per cent. Blood contamination levels were also low for two other dangerous metals, mercury and cadmium, the report showed.

The head of the occupational environmental health laboratory at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., called the numbers "amazing."  "To go from 25 per cent down to about one is a pretty dramatic drop," said Brian McCarry, who holds a research chair in environment and health at the university.  "This is a good news story for sure."