Table 2

Residence characteristics of children by blood lead concentration


Blood lead concentration (μg/L)




<100 (N = 242)
> = 100 (N = 39)
Total (N = 281)
P-value

n (%)
n (%)
n (%)


Area of residence




     Beirut
114 (47.1)
24 (63.2)
138 (49.3)
0.13
     Suburbs of Beirut
84 (34.7)
11 (28.9)
95 (33.9)

     Outside Beirut
44 (18.2)
3 (7.9)
47 (16.8)

Season




     Winter (01–03)
59 (24.4)
6 (15.4)
65 (23.1)
0.02
     Spring (04–06)
59 (24.4)
3 (7.7)
62 (22.1)

     Summer (07–09)
42 (17.4)
9 (23.1)
51 (18.1)

     Fall (10–12)
82 (33.9)
21 (53.8)
103 (36.7)

Age of building (years)




     <= 20
137 (60.6)
16 (44.4)
153 (58.4)
0.07
     > 20
89 (39.4)
20 (55.6)
109 (41.6)

Home last painted (years)




     <= 3
160 (67.2)
21 (55.3)
181 (65.6)
0.15
     > 3
78 (32.8)
17 (44.7)
95 (34.4)

Dustiness of home




     Very dusty
85 (35.6)
15 (38.5)
100 (36.0)
0.63
     Moderately dusty
53 (22.2)
6 (15.4)
59 (21.2)

     Not/ a little dusty
101 (42.3)
18 (46.2)
119 (42.8)

Frequency of dusting




     Daily
173 (73.3)
24 (61.5)
197 (71.6)
0.13
     Not daily
63 (26.7)
15 (38.5)
78 (28.4)

Location of building




     Main road
92 (38.5)
17 (43.6)
109 (39.2)
0.55
     Side road
147 (61.5)
22 (56.4)
169 (60.8)

Industry in same building*




     Yes
30 (12.9)
9 (23.1)
39 (14.3)
0.09
     No
203 (87.1)
30 (76.9)
233 (85.7)

Traffic jam in area




     Always/often
134 (56.1)
29 (74.4)
163 (58.6)
0.03
     Rarely
105 (43.9)
10 (25.6)
115 (41.4)

Nearby construction works




     Yes
140 (58.6)
23 (59.0)
163 (58.6)
0.96
     No
99 (41.4)
16 (41.0)
115 (41.4)


Note: Missing data in some variables. * Small industries, such as mechanics, furniture, or paint shop.

Nuwayhid et al. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source 2003 2:5   doi:10.1186/1476-069X-2-5