Method

This is a cross sectional study that was carried out during 2005 to 2006 in Chennai India .The
study conducted at four traffic and industry zones based on the information provided by the
Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board and the Chennai traffic police department.sampling of
school was recruited from 12 schools (3 schools within each zone) . The study population
consisted 814 children between the age of 3 to 7 years of age.Consent were sought from the
child primary caregiver.The questionnaire was presented in Tamil ( the regional language) to the
teachers and caregiver(mothers) of the children.To obtain nutritional status , a semiquantitative
food frequency questionnaire were used.the questionnaire was employed to obtain , information
on a familys average monthly income, educational attainment and occupation of the parents,
and type of housing. In addition, data on family size, maternal age at birth of child, and childs
age, birth weight, and birth rank were also collected.Hence venous blood was collected from
each student to measure the blood lead .
The study was conducted with the references by institutional review boards at HSPH, SRMC,
the University of Michigan, and the Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi, India, and
was put together by U.S. federal and Indian regulations and laws regarding research on human
subjects
This study was carried out, as part of a collaborative study between the Harvard School of
Public Health (HSPH), Boston, Massachusetts (USA), and Sri Ramachandra Medical College
and Research Institute (SRMC), Chennai, India, on lead genetics and neurotoxicity.

Blood lead measurement.

Trained Phlebotomist, during school day

had collected blood from the cubital vein from each

child into lead free tube (royal blue top).the collected sample were then sent to SRMC
laboratory where there they use Anodic Stripping Voltammetry by a LeadCare Analyzer to
measure the blood lead,which is a good-validated field instrument with sensitivity of 1 g/dL
blood lead (Shannon and Rifai 1997). Duplicates and controls were run with every 20 samples,
every new batch, and kit lot. Fifty-eight children