[Exposure to lead among 6-12 year-old children].
OBJECTIVE
To identify exposure factors contributing to lead poisoning in school children from Mexico City.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 340 children. A convenience sample of schools and a random sample of children were selected. A questionnaire was filled out and venous blood samples were taken. Lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Statistical analysis consisted of comparison of means using Student's t test and ANOVA. Multiple linear regression was used for multivariate analysis. Logarithmic transformation of lead blood levels were used to account for their non-normal distribution.


RESULTS
Geometric means for private and public schools were: GM = 8.76 micrograms/dl, 95% CI = 9.1-10.5; GM = 11.5 micrograms/dl, 95% CI = 9.4-13.5. Lead levels were higher among children from public schools who are male, between 6 and 8 years of age, in first and second grade, whose mothers have a profession, who use glazed earthenware utensils, and who live near glazed earthenware shops or factories.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure predictors of lead blood levels are: being between 6 and 8 years of age, having a professional mother, using glazed earthenware utensils, living near glazed earthenware shops or factories, and studying the second grade of elementary school.
Jiménez-Gutiérrez
C
C
Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP), México. cjimenez@insp3.insp.mx
Romieu
I
I
Ramírez-Sánchez
A L
AL
Palazuelos-Rendón
E
E
Muñoz-Quiles
I
I
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007854:Lead
Exposición a plomo en niños de 6 a 12 años de edad.