title: Possible health effects of living in proximity to mining sites near Potosí, Bolivia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to determine the health effects of living downstream from mines in the Potosí region of Bolivia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histories, physical examinations, and urinalyses were completed on adults recruited from mining and nonmining villages in Bolivia. Blood concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined in a subset of participants. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mining region participants had significantly higher frequencies of hypertension, hematuria, and ketonuria. Hematuria was significantly elevated among those watering livestock downstream from mines and eating grains from their own farm (odds ratio = 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 17.7). Significantly higher blood concentrations of Pb were observed in a subsample of participants with hematuria (4.80 μg/dL vs 10.91 μg/dL; P = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to abate environmental exposure to toxic metals seem warranted.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services (Drs Farag, Das, and Wilson), and Department of Public Health Sciences, Epidemiology Division (Dr Wilson), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey; Department of General Surgery (Dr Strosnider), Abington Memorial Hospital; and Center for Watershed Research & Service (Dr Strosnider), Environmental Engineering Program, Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pa.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: William H J
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Strosnider
authors.forename: Robin Taylor
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001838:Bolivia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007662:Ketosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy