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[Exposure to lead among 6-12 year-old children]
C Jiménez-Gutiérrez1, I Romieu, A L Ramírez-Sánchez
1Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP), México. cjimenez@insp3.insp.mx
Objective:
To identify exposure factors contributing to lead poisoning in school children from Mexico City.
Material And Methods:
Cross-sectional study of 340 children. A convenience sample of schools and a random sample of children were selected. A questionnaire was filled out and venous blood samples were taken. Lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Statistical analysis consisted of comparison of means using Student's t test and ANOVA. Multiple linear regression was used for multivariate analysis. Logarithmic transformation of lead blood levels were used to account for their non-normal distribution.
Results:
Geometric means for private and public schools were: GM = 8.76 micrograms/dl, 95% CI = 9.1-10.5; GM = 11.5 micrograms/dl, 95% CI = 9.4-13.5. Lead levels were higher among children from public schools who are male, between 6 and 8 years of age, in first and second grade, whose mothers have a profession, who use glazed earthenware utensils, and who live near glazed earthenware shops or factories.
Conclusions:
Exposure predictors of lead blood levels are: being between 6 and 8 years of age, having a professional mother, using glazed earthenware utensils, living near glazed earthenware shops or factories, and studying the second grade of elementary school.