[Glazed pottery as a risk factor in lead exposure]

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of "earthenware dishes" is associated with high blood lead levels in children. Measurements of lead in blood were done in 169 school-children. Of this sample 100 children were selected: 50 of them with the lowest concentration of lead in blood and 50 with the highest. A questionnaire was applied to 39 mothers of the children with low blood lead levels (< 20.2 micrograms/dl) and 48 mothers of the children with high blood lead levels (> 28.0 micrograms/dl). Results show that the use, frequency and time of utilization of this type of dishes is statistically associated with high levels of lead in blood.