title: Tracking blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels in Andean adults working in a lead contaminated environment.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate current blood lead (PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels in adults presently living in environmentally Pb-contaminated Andean communities, and to compare the findings with the PbB and ZPP levels of Pb-exposed adult cohorts from the same study area tested between 1996 and 2007. Blood samples from 39 adults were measured for PbB and ZPP concentrations. The current mean PbB level (22.7 μg/dl) was significantly lower than the mean (37.9 μg/dl) of the initial 1996 cohort. PbB levels for the 1997, 1998, 2003, and 2006 cohorts were also significantly lower than the levels for the 1996 group. Elevated ZPP/heme ratios of 103.3, 128.4, and 134.2 μmol/mol were not significantly different for the 2006, 2007, and 2012 groups, indicating chronic Pb exposure. While ZPP levels of Andean Ecuadorian Pb-glazing workers have remained elevated, PbB levels declined. Lead exposure of the workers needs to be continually monitored.
authors.affiliation: a Colegio Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela de Medicina, Escuela de Salud Pública , Colegio de Artes Liberales y Galapagos Institute for Arts and Sciences GAIAS; Universidad San Francisco de Quito , Quito , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: S Allen
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Counter
authors.forename: Leo H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: Angelica Maria Coronel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Collaguaso
authors.forename: Anthony B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D013020:South America; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D007854:Lead