title: Child neurodevelopment in a Bolivian mining city.
abstract: This study evaluates the neurodevelopment of children living near contaminated mining industries during their first year of life. Participants from the city of Oruro (Bolivia) were prospectively recruited during pregnancy. Follow-up occurred between May 2007 and November 2009. Information about the socioeconomic status and medical history of the pregnant women were collected using questionnaires. Neurodevelopment was evaluated for 246 children using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 10.5-12.5 months of age. Exposure to trace elements (Pb, As, Cd, Sb, Cs, Zn, Fe, Cu, Se, Rb, and Sr) during prenatal life was evaluated by testing maternal blood concentrations before delivery. Almost all measured levels were lower than the control limits. The blood lead concentration of pregnant women was low, considering the contaminated environmental context. The geometric mean was 1.76 μg/dL (95% CI: 1.68-1.84), a level comparable with those observed in non-contaminated areas. The only element found to be relatively elevated was antimony, with a geometric mean of 1.03 μg/dL (95% CI: 0.96-1.11). Our results suggest that women from this mining area were not highly exposed. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) did not reveal mental or psychomotor abnormalities. Surprisingly, at the observed low levels, lead was positively associated with the children's BSID performance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. mruiz@creal.cat
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Castell
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paco
authors.forename: Flavia-Laura
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duprey
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forns
authors.forename: Anne-Elie
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Carsin
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freydier
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casiot
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardon
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D001838:Bolivia; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008906:Mining; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D000965:Antimony