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BLOOD LEAD ANDf-AMINOLAEVUL1N1C ACID DEHYDRASE LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND IN SUCKLING RATS. J.A. Millar, V. Baitistini, R.L.C. Cumming, F. Carswell and A. Goldb University Department of Medicine, and M.R.C. Group in Iron and Porphyrin Metabolism Western Infirmary, . GIasgow, W 1 ,, end ; Department of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Oak bank, Glasgow C .4. There has been controversy over the association of elevated blood lead level's In children, and mental def I c iency, ( Moncr i ef f et al, 19^4? Gibson et al, 1967). The present study in children has revealed a negative correlation ( r *= -0.81) between blood lead levels and -am i no I aevu I i c acid dehydrase (ALA-D) activity. SignifIcant; reductions in enzyme activity occurred at lead levels currently considered to be in the upper range of normal. When lead was fed to lectating rats there was a significant and commensurate reduction in both blood and brain ALA-D activity of the suckling rat. These results suggest that even modest elevations of blood lead may be associated with biochemical abnormalities In the child brain Moncricff, A.A., Koumides, O.P., Clayton, B.E., Patrick, A.D. Renwick, A.G.C. and Roberts, G.E. Arch. Dis. Childh. 3_2., 1, 19&4 Gibson S.L.M., Lam, C.N., McCrae, W.M. and Goldberg, A. Arch. Dis. Childh. 42, 573, 1967. N36892