A community-initiated study of blood lead levels of Nicaraguan children living near a battery factory
Morales Bonilla, C.; Mauss, E.A.
American Journal of Public Health 88(12): 1843-1845
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-0036 PMID: 9842385 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.88.12.1843Document Number: 281102
In response to requests by parents in Managua, Nicaragua, whose neighborhood borders a battery factory, 97 children were tested for blood lead, as were 30 children in a neighborhood without an obvious source of environmental lead. Venous blood was examined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Educational workshops were conducted. Mean blood lead levels were 17.21 +/- 9.92 micrograms/dL in the index children and 7.40 +/- 5.37 micrograms/dL in the controls (P < .001). Children living near the battery factory are at increased risk of lead poisoning. The parents were able to petition the government to control the factory emissions and to improve appropriate health services. The factory is now closed.