[Lead poisoning and child health: integrated efforts to combat this problem].
An epidemiological survey was carried out by technicians of the State Health Secretary and the Municipal Health Secretary of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, due to excessive atmospheric lead emissions caused by a battery manufacturer. This survey included 853 children from 0 to 12 years old, in a 1,000-meter area from the polluting source, in Bauru (2002). The blood lead levels of children in the exposed group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). 314 children were found to have dosages equal or superior to 10 microg/dl, the limit stipulated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public services, universities, and volunteers developed some activities aiming at child diagnosis and treatment. The Municipal Health Secretary coordinated remediation initiatives such as: scraping the superficial surface of streets, internal aspiration of houses with professional equipment, and washing and sealing tanks. Through this work, the Lead Poisoning Study and Research Group (GEPICCB) shares an integrated, interdisciplinary, and interinstitutional action proposal.
Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, Brazil.
Niura Aparecida de Moura Ribeiro
NA
Padula
Maria Helena de
MH
Abreu
Luís César Yoshinori
LC
Miyazaki
Nilce Emy
NE
Tomita
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values