Lead in School Children from Morelos, Mexico: Levels, Sources and Feasible Interventions

Paulina Farías, Urinda Álamo-Hernández, Leonardo Mancilla-Sánchez, José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador, Leticia Carrizales-Yáez and Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
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Paulina Farías: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera C.P., Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico
Urinda Álamo-Hernández: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera C.P., Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico
Leonardo Mancilla-Sánchez: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera C.P., Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico
José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera C.P., Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico
Leticia Carrizales-Yáez: Departamento de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78000, Mexico
Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez: Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera C.P., Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Background : Lead is a pervasive pollutant, associated at low levels to many adverse health effects. Objective : To investigate lead levels, exposure pathways and intervention possibilities in school children from Alpuyeca, in Morelos, Mexico. Methods : Blood lead concentrations (BPb) were measured in 226 children in 2011. Exposure pathways were assessed through a questionnaire, lead measurements in different environmental matrices and spatial aggregation analysis of lead concentrations. Results : BPb ranged from 1.5 to 36.5 µg/dL, with a mean (SD) of 7.23 (4.9) µg/dL. Sixty-four and 18% of the children had BPb > 5 µg/dL and > 10 µg/dL, respectively. The use of lead glazed ceramics was reported in almost half of the households; it was the main BPb determinant and it was associated with an increased risk of having BPb > 5 g/dL by 2.7 times ( p = 0.001). Environmental samples were within US EPA’s lead recommended limits, and blood lead levels were randomly distributed in the community. Conclusions : Lead remains a public health problem in Alpuyeca, Mexico. Unlike other local pollutants, lead exposure prevention can be achieved inexpensively and in a short term. Interventions should make mothers aware of lead’s health effects and empower them to safeguard their children’s health by avoiding the culturally ingrained use of lead glazed pottery.

Keywords: Pb; lead sources; children; lead-glazed ceramics; Alpuyeca; Mexican candy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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