Vehicular traffic as a determinant of blood-lead levels in children: a pilot study in Mexico City.
The major determinants of blood-lead levels were studied in 90 children who attended an outpatient pediatric clinic in Mexico City. All children, who were from 1-10 y of age, were from homes for which socioeconomic status had been categorized as medium to high. Blood-lead levels ranged from 0.17 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.008) to 1.21 (SD = 0.06 mumol/l). The main determinant of blood-lead levels was place of residence. Children who lived on private streets (i.e., low-traffic areas) had a significantly lower blood-lead level than children who lived on large avenues and who resided close to main roads (p = .0001, r2 = .27). This observation documented high exposure levels among children who live in Mexico City and suggested that leaded fuel used in Mexico could play an important role in determining blood-lead levels in this population.
Romieu
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Oficina Panamericana de la Salud (ECO/OPS), Mexico.
Palazuelos
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Meneses
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Hernandez-Avila
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M
D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005742:Gasoline