Association between demographic variables and blood lead in children

Abstract

Seeking to understand the magnitude of blood lead effects, this study investigated socio-demographic variables of children from a lead contaminated area. Anamnesis was carried out with 40 mothers of children between 7 and 13 years of age, 20 with low blood lead level (<10 µ/dl) and 20 with high blood lead level (>20 µ/dl). Results indicate diminished concentration of children with high blood lead level over the years. This reduction is more pronounced in boys than in girls. Mothers of children with high blood lead levels report more development problems, complains at school, health, socialization and motor development problems. It was also evidenced that daughters of women whose pregnancy occurred far from sources of contamination, presented low blood lead level.

Toxic disorders; Childhood development; Socioeconomic status