Blood Lead Levels and Risk Factors in Pregnant Women from Durango, Mexico

ABSTRACT

In this cross-sectional study the authors determined blood lead levels (BLLs) and some risk factors for lead exposure in pregnant women. Two hundred ninety-nine pregnant women receiving medical attention by the Secretary of Health, State of Durango, Mexico, participated in this study between 2007 and 2008. BLLs were evaluated with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The authors used Student t test, 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression as statistical treatments. BLLs ranged from 0.36 to 23.6 μg/dL (mean = 2.79 μg/dL, standard deviation = 2.14). Multivariate analysis showed that the main predictors of BLLs were working in a place where lead is used, using lead glazed pottery, and eating soil.

KEYWORDS:

• blood lead
• lead glazed pottery
• pregnant women
• risk factor

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Council of Science and Technology for the State of Durango (COCYTED), Mexico. The authors thank the Secretary of Health of Durango for access to health institutions facilities. The authors also thank all the pregnant women, without whose cooperation the study would not have been completed.

For comments and further information, address correspondence to Osmel La Llave Leon, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Instituto de Investigación Cientifica, Av. Universidad y Fanny Anitua, Ap. postal 385, Durango, Dgo., Mexico

E-mail: [email protected]