Citation

Rivas Crespo JA, Rivas Crespo MF, Crespo Hernández M. An. Esp. Pediatr. 1993; 38(5): 390-393.

Vernacular Title

Epidemiologia del saturnismo infantil en Asturias.

Affiliation

Cátedra de Pediatría, Universidad de Oviedo, Hospital Central Universitario de Asturias.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Ediciones Doyma)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8503579

Abstract

We have determined the blood lead levels of 1,242 children, from newborn to 14 years old, and 79 young mothers in a period of 10 months in Asturias (Spain). All of them were selected at random among those who consulted one of the three main hospitals in Asturias, but none were diagnosed as lead poisoning. We have found a mean blood lead level of 22.11 micrograms/dl; 23.55% had high levels (= 25 micrograms/dl). Sex was not significantly associated with blood lead levels either in the whole sample or in different age groups. Blood lead level increases rapidly from birth (19.3 micrograms/dl) to the age of one year (23.3 gamma/dl), fluctuating around this level until the age of 7. Then it declines with age until adolescence (19.6 micrograms/dl). From October (25.5 micrograms/dl) to July (20.9 micrograms/dl) the decrease in lead blood level was statistically significant. No difference has been found between urban and rural population. The decree of urbanization has not been found significant. The mean blood lead level in the mothers was 20.5 micrograms/dl.

Language: es