Conclusions
After an intensive intervention program done by authorities
and the company, lead pollution in neighborhoods
around the smelter complex known as Met-Mex
Peñoles, in Torreon Mexico, has significantly decreased
in magnitude, and therefore the program has been successful
in the objective to decrease lead exposure in
children, a fact that was reflected on the tested biomarkers
of exposure in children. This could be explained
by: a) environmental interventions by authorities and
the smelter companies, b) normal changes in hygienic
habits as children age and c) lead redistribution from
blood to hard tissues. However, lead concentrations in
soil still represent health risks for the human population.
Although the blood lead values have decreased
considerably in 2006, there are still 5.6% of children
with B-Pb levels > 10 μg/dl. Therefore, lead exposure in
Table 4 Linear regression models of logarithm10 Pb in
blood concentrations as dependent variables of
logarithm10 Pb in soil concentrations, in the
neighborhoods of the elementary schools were children
lived at 0, 6, 12 and 60 months of follow-up in Torreon
Coahuila
Follow-up n* Coefficient (CI 95%) Beta P > | t |
0 196 0.095
(0.0494 - 0.1407)
0.283 0.000
6 196 0.074
(0.0279 - 0.1192)
0.222 0.002
12 196 0.130
(0.8336 - 0.1765)
0.367 0.000
60 196 - 0.009
(-0.6068 - 0.0433)
- 0.024 0.743
*.- There were 196 children who lived in the vicinity of the elementary school
from where the soil samples were gathered.
CI. Confidence interval of regression coefficient at 95%.
Rubio-Andrade et al. Environmental Health 2011, 10:66
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/66
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