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Human Blood Lead Levels and the First Evidence of Environmental Exposure to Industrial Pollutants in the Amazon

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  • Thaís Karolina Lisboa de Queiroz

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia e Vigilância em Saúde (PPGEVS), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil
    Seção de Meio Ambiente (SAMAM), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil)

  • Karytta Sousa Naka

    (Seção de Meio Ambiente (SAMAM), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil)

  • Lorena de Cássia dos Santos Mendes

    (Seção de Meio Ambiente (SAMAM), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil)

  • Brenda Natasha Souza Costa

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Aquática e Pesca (PPGEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belem 66075-110, Brazil)

  • Iracina Maura de Jesus

    (Seção de Meio Ambiente (SAMAM), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil)

  • Volney de Magalhães Câmara

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva (PPGSC), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil)

  • Marcelo de Oliveira Lima

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia e Vigilância em Saúde (PPGEVS), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil
    Seção de Meio Ambiente (SAMAM), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Ananindeua 67030-000, Brazil)

Abstract

The main routes of lead (Pb) absorption are through the airways and orally, and through consumption of contaminated food and beverage, with Pb mainly being absorbed in the atmospheric particulate form. In 2012, a cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the Pb environmental exposure in two Amazonian districts, Dom Manuel (DMN) and Laranjal (CLA), located in Barcarena City, northern Brazil. CLA is located outside the industrial area of Barcarena (control population), whereas DMN is an old community located in the vicinity of industrial activities. A significant number of residents in these districts participated in an epidemiological inquiry and blood sampling. Total Pb blood levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean Pb blood level in people that live in DMN was 281.60 (98.73–570.80) μg·L −1 , approximately nine times higher than the level found in CLA (32.77 μg·L −1 ). In these districts, the Pb blood levels showed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) based on gender, schooling, residence time, and smoking. This is the first evidence of industrial environmental pollutant exposure in the Amazon.

Suggested Citation

  • Thaís Karolina Lisboa de Queiroz & Karytta Sousa Naka & Lorena de Cássia dos Santos Mendes & Brenda Natasha Souza Costa & Iracina Maura de Jesus & Volney de Magalhães Câmara & Marcelo de Oliveira Lima, 2019. "Human Blood Lead Levels and the First Evidence of Environmental Exposure to Industrial Pollutants in the Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3047-:d:259896
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, Anthony B., 1990. "Smokestacks in the rainforest: Industrial development and deforestation in the Amazon basin," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 18(9), pages 1191-1205, September.
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