asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the work done by his Department in screening blood lead levels in our population, including the number of people screened, the geographical areas covered, and whether any specific attempt was made to monitor the effects on blood lead levels of lead in petrol.
Written Answers. - Blood Lead Levels Screening.
551.
Samples of blood were taken during 1979 from approximately 240 persons in selected areas of Dublin city and county and in the Tynagh area of County Galway and were analysed for lead content. The surveys will be repeated after an interval of at least two years. Results of the surveys are being processed by the Commission of the EEC as are the results of surveys carried out in other member states.
Apart from those surveys, lead pollution is monitored in Waterford city and at Clondalkin, County Dublin, where there are local sources of lead. No specific assessment of the proportion of blood-lead attributable to lead in petrol has been made, as I am advised that it is not possible to make such an assessment.