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

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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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Paulina Farías & Urinda Álamo-Hernández & Leonardo Mancilla-Sánchez & José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador & Leticia Carrizales-Yáez & Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez, 2014. "Lead in School Children from Morelos, Mexico: Levels, Sources and Feasible Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:12:p:12668-12682:d:43241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. De la Burdé, B. & Reames, B., 1973. "Prevention of pica, the major cause of lead poisoning in children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 63(8), pages 737-743.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Kordas & Julia Ravenscroft & Ying Cao & Elena V. McLean, 2018. "Lead Exposure in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Perspectives and Lessons on Patterns, Injustices, Economics, and Politics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Pamela Zúñiga-Bello & Astrid Schilmann & Eunice Félix-Arellano & Gerardo Gama-Hernández & Urinda Alamo-Hernández, 2019. "Healthy-Sustainable Housing Index: A Pilot Study to Link Architecture and Public Health in a Semi-Urban Community in Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.

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