Author: Soto-Jimenez, Martin F.; Flegal, Arthur R.
Description: Lead concentrations and isotopic compositions in blood samples of 34 children (ages 2-17 years) living within a 113 km(2) area of a silver-zinc-lead smelter plant in Torreon, Mexico were compared to those of associated environmental samples (soil, aerosols, and outdoor and indoor dust) to identify the principal source(s) of environmental and human lead contamination in the area. Lead concentrations of soil and outdoor dust ranged 130-12,050 and 150-14,365 µg g(-1), respectively. Concentrations were greatest near the smelter, with the highest levels corresponding with the prevailing wind direction, and orders of magnitude above background concentrations of 7.3-33.3 µg g(-1). Atmospheric lead depositions in the city varied between 130 and 1350 µg m(-2) d(-1), again with highest rates <1 km from the smelter. Blood lead (PbB) concentrations (11.0±5.3 µg dl(-1)) levels in the children ranged 5.0-25.8 µg dl(-1), which is 3-14 times higher than the current average (1.9 µg dl(-1)) of children (ages 1-5 years) in the US. Lead isotopic ratios ((206)Pb/(207)Pb, (208)Pb/(207)Pb) of the urban dust and soil (1.200±0.009, 2.467±0.003), aerosols (1.200±0.002, 2.466±0.002), and PbB (1.199±0.001, 2.468±0.002) were indistinguishable from each other, as well as those of the lead ores processed at the smelter (1.199±0.007, 2.473±0.007). Consequently, an elevated PbB concentrations of the children in Torreon, as well as in their environment, are still dominated by industrial emissions from the smelter located within the city, in spite of new controls on atmospheric releases from the facility.
Subject headings: Adolescent; Aerosols; Air Pollution; Atmosphere; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Humans; Industrial Waste; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Metallurgy; Mexico; Soil
Publication year: 2011
Journal or book title: Environmental Research
Volume: 111
Issue: 4
Pages: 590-596
Find the full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001393511100051X
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Serial number: 3302