Latest American, Australian and West European reports on adverse effects of lead exposure on the functions of the central nervous system as well as Polish reports concerning the regions where environment is contaminated with lead made us start a research covering the areas far from industrial centres of high lead emission. We determined blood levels and intellectual development in children aged 10-15 from different kinds of schools. We noted statistically significantly different blood lead levels in children from villages, towns and big cities. In our group low IQ was not found to be related to lead exposure only.

Keywords: lead microintoxication, mental development, children