A community-initiated study of blood lead levels of Nicaraguan children living near a battery factory.
OBJECTIVE
In response to requests by parents in Managua, Nicaragua, whose neighborhood borders a battery factory, 97 children were tested for blood lead, as were 30 children in a neighborhood without an obvious source of environmental lead.


METHODS
Venous blood was examined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Educational workshops were conducted.


RESULTS
Mean blood lead levels were 17.21 +/- 9.92 micrograms/dL in the index children and 7.40 +/- 5.37 micrograms/dL in the controls (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Children living near the battery factory are at increased risk of lead poisoning. The parents were able to petition the government to control the factory emissions and to improve appropriate health services. The factory is now closed.
Morales Bonilla
C
C
National Reference and Diagnostic Center, Ministry of Health, Managua, Nicaragua.
Mauss
E A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D001336:Automobiles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003256:Community Participation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008669:Metallurgy; D009527:Nicaragua; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health