title: [Comunicable diseases, mental health and exposure to environmental pollutants in population living near Las Bambas mining project before exploitation phase, Peru 2006].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of communicable diseases, mental health and environmental pollutants exposure in population living near Las Bambas mining project before exploitation phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study performed in 453 subjects (children and adults) living in three Apurimac region districts: Haquira, Chalhuahuacho and Progreso. Psychomotor development, intelligence quotient, anxiety and depression levels and the presence of communicable diseases (viral hepatitis B, C and delta, syphilis and HIV) were evaluated, as well as heavy metals (lead in blood, and cadmium, arsenic and mercury in urine samples) and serum cholinesterase levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 29 ± 17.25 years, 59.2% were female and a range of 6 to 15 years of living in the area was found. No cases of HIV, hepatitis C and delta were found, 1.4% were positive for syphilis and in relation to hepatitis B, we found 1,7% of subjects positive to total anti HBc and 0.5% positive for HBsAg. Heavy metal testing identified people with exceeding limits of mercury in 1.8% arsenic in 4.6%, lead in 24.3% and cadmium in 43.9%. Besides, 29.1% of the population had cholinesterase levels below normal range. Among children, 12.5% were at psychomotor development levels of risk; 2.1% and 3.1% suffered from mild and borderline intellectual disability (mental retardation), respectively. 34.3% of subjects older than 12 had anxiety and 17.5% depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence of heavy metal environmental pollution and presence of communicable diseases in this population were already found. Future careless mining activity could worsen the current health situation.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Salud Ocupacional y Protección del Ambiente para la Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Perú. astetemed@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jonh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astete
authors.forename: María del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Gastañaga
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fiestas
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oblitas
authors.forename: Iselle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sabastizagal
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucero
authors.forename: Jesús del Milagro
authors.initials: Jdel M
authors.lastname: Abadíe
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Magna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suarez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants