TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of blood lead levels in agricultural villages practicing wastewater irrigation in central Mexico
AU - Cifuentes, E.
AU - Villanueva, J.
AU - Sanin, L. H.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - To investigate whether the agricultural use of untreated wastewater (i.e. crop irrigation) was associated with elevated blood lead levels in a farming population in the Mezquital Valley and which risk factors, other than exposure to untreated wastewater, were associated with elevated blood lead levels, lead levels were measured in venous blood obtained from 735 individuals. Blood samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Food habits and dietary intake were gathered by interview, using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The average blood lead level was 7.8 μg/dL (SD 4.66 μg/dL; range 1.2-36.7 μg/dL). 23% of the study population had blood lead levels exceeding 10 μg/dL. The use of lead-glazed ceramics (LGC) was significantly associated with elevated lead levels (p = < 0.001). Other significant variables included age, gender (males), and non-farming-related occupations (e.g., technicians, factory workers). p = 0.005, 0.08, and 0.001, respectively. When the analysis was stratified by the use of LGC for food preparation, an inverse relationship between higher daily calcium intake and blood lead level was detected (β = - 0.040, p = < 0.05). Thus, blood lead levels were positively associated with the use of LGC. Calcium intake showed a protective effect, maybe by decreasing absorption of lead in the gastrointestinal tract. No association between occupational exposure to untreated wastewater or crop consumption and blood lead levels was detected. Further environmental and health surveillance is recommended.
AB - To investigate whether the agricultural use of untreated wastewater (i.e. crop irrigation) was associated with elevated blood lead levels in a farming population in the Mezquital Valley and which risk factors, other than exposure to untreated wastewater, were associated with elevated blood lead levels, lead levels were measured in venous blood obtained from 735 individuals. Blood samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Food habits and dietary intake were gathered by interview, using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The average blood lead level was 7.8 μg/dL (SD 4.66 μg/dL; range 1.2-36.7 μg/dL). 23% of the study population had blood lead levels exceeding 10 μg/dL. The use of lead-glazed ceramics (LGC) was significantly associated with elevated lead levels (p = < 0.001). Other significant variables included age, gender (males), and non-farming-related occupations (e.g., technicians, factory workers). p = 0.005, 0.08, and 0.001, respectively. When the analysis was stratified by the use of LGC for food preparation, an inverse relationship between higher daily calcium intake and blood lead level was detected (β = - 0.040, p = < 0.05). Thus, blood lead levels were positively associated with the use of LGC. Calcium intake showed a protective effect, maybe by decreasing absorption of lead in the gastrointestinal tract. No association between occupational exposure to untreated wastewater or crop consumption and blood lead levels was detected. Further environmental and health surveillance is recommended.
KW - Agriculture
KW - Calcium intake
KW - Heavy metals
KW - Mexico
KW - Water reclamation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033839342&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1179/oeh.2000.6.3.177
DO - 10.1179/oeh.2000.6.3.177
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1077-3525
VL - 6
SP - 177
EP - 182
JO - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
IS - 3
ER -