[Designing and application of a Risk Communication Program for children environmental health on a lead and arsenic contaminated location].
A metallurgical industry in San Luis Potosí city, México, has contaminated the zone by lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). Since 1989 were reported by our group high concentrations of Pb in blood (PbB) and As in urine (AsU) in the local children. In present work, a Risk Communication Program (RCP) was generated to inform the children about the environmental risks of the site where they live, and to change conducts to diminish the exposure to Pb and As. We worked with 170 children (5 to 7 years) of the zone. The RCP was applied and the evaluation was realized by means of analysis of drawings, questionnaires and biological monitoring. In drawings of the children appeared toxic elements such as Pb, contaminated soil, cigarettes, among others. In the questionnaires applied to the children and family parents it was possible to estimate a change in the knowledge and in some conducts with regard to the pollutants, their effects and their exposure. There was not a decrease in the levels of PbB and in the levels of AsU. These were due probably because the principal route of exposure is not only the soil that had been contemplated previously.
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP), San Luis Potosí S.L.P. México. acris@uaslp.mx
Ana Cristina
AC
Cubillas-Tejeda
Rocío
R
Torres-Nerio
Fernando
F
Díaz-Barriga Martínez
Leticia
L
Carrizales-Yáñez
Citlalhit
C
Coronado-Salas
Luz María
LM
Nieto Caraveo
Ana Rosa
AR
Moreno Sánchez
Laura
L
Barraza Lomelí
D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004782:Environmental Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors