title: [Levels of lead and mercury in the hair of children living in Cubatão, in the southeast region of Brazil].
abstract: A study was carried out in 6 districts of Cubatão county, S. Paulo State, Brazil on a sample of 251 children aged between 1 and 10. The concentration of heavy metals (lead and mercury) in hair was tested. The lead concentration in the hair of 229 children was tested, and in 189 (82.5%) levels varying from 2.5 to 71.4 micrograms/g were detected. The average concentration of the lead found in hair was of 7.25 +/- 8.51 micrograms/g. The concentration of mercury in the hair of 217 children was checked and all of them were found to have levels varying from 0.2 to 3.0 micrograms/g. The average concentration of mercury was of 0.82 +/- 0.48 microgram/g. No statistical difference (p > 0.05) was observed between the averages found for lead and mercury in the hair of those who consumed and those who did not consume aquatic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santos Filho
authors.forename: R de S
authors.initials: Rde S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Scorsafava
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury
vernacular_title: Teores de chumbo e mercúrio em cabelo de crianças residentes em Cubatão, na região sudeste do Brasil.