title: Sources and risk factors for lead exposure in indigenous children of the Peruvian Amazon, disentangling connections with oil activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Corrientes river basin, Peruvian Amazon, lead exposure among indigenous communities was first reported in 2006. To address controversy regarding the main source of exposure, this study aimed to identify the sources and risk factors for lead exposure among  children from the communities in question, and to clarify the potential relationship with oil activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in six communities. Participants were children aged 0-17 years and their mothers. Data collection included blood lead levels  (BLLs) and hemoglobin determination, a questionnaire on risk factors and environmental sampling. We used age-stratified multivariate regression models, with generalized estimating equation to account for correlation within households.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven percent of the children  had BLLs ≥10 μg/dl. Mother's BLLs ≥10 μg/dl, playing and chewing lead scraps, fishing ≥three times/week, and living in highly oil-exposed communities increased the risk of having BLLs ≥10 μg/dl. Lead concentrations in sediment, soil, dust, and fish samples were below  reference values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mother's BLLs ≥10 μg/dl, playing and chewing lead scraps to manufacture fishing sinkers were the most important risk factors for children's BLLs ≥10 μg/dl. The connection with oil activity appears to be through access to metal  lead from the industry's wastes.
authors: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Sweden. cynthiaanticona@hotmail.com
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Anticona
authors: Ingvar A
authors: IA
authors: Bergdahl
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: San Sebastian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005006:Ethnicity; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D010568:Peru; D010578:Petroleum; D012307:Risk Factors; D045483:Rivers; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead