title: Impacts of multidisciplinary actions on environmental lead exposure in Uruguay.
abstract: Environmental lead contamination in Uruguay became a matter of public concern in 2001, when cases of children with blood lead levels (BLL) higher than 20 μg/dl appeared in some low-income neighborhoods of Montevideo, being 10 μg/dl the intervention reference BLL. The aim of this paper is to show the results of multidisciplinary actions taken by decisions makers in social, environmental and healthcare aspects, to minimize lead exposure risks. We evaluated changes in blood lead levels of different children and non-exposed adult populations before and after the actions were taken, from 2001 on. For children populations and non-exposed adults, we found a significant decrease of almost 50% in BLL compared with studies done before the actions were taken. The main action to consider was the phasing out process of leaded gasoline in our country among other. We conclude that the integration of inter and multidisciplinary actions promoted was of high impact on the population, bringing about a public sensitization and growing awareness of the lead environmental risks.
authors: Toxicology and Environmental Hygiene Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Republic of Uruguay/Gral, Flores, 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay. azcousil@fq.edu.uy
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Cousillas
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Pereira
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Heller
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Alvarez
authors: Nelly
authors: N
authors: Mañay
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014583:Uruguay
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005742:Gasoline; D007854:Lead