Contribución de la dieta a la exposición al plomo de niños de 1 a 7 años en La Plata, Buenos Aires

A. MALPELI; V. FASANO; COLMAN LERNER, JORGE ESTEBAN; D. ASENS; V. VARGAS; E. MARTINS; L. TELESE; M. TAVELLA

ARCHIVOS ARGENTINOS DE PEDIATRIA

SOC ARGENTINA PEDIATRIA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2017 vol. 116 p. 14 - 20

0325-0075

Introduction. Lead is a toxic metal which,even at low blood levels, can alter normalneurodevelopment in children, so no blood leadlevel is acceptable. Lead absorption from dietaccounts for the highest contribution to bloodlead levels in the population who is not exposedto contaminated environments or because oftheir occupation. The objective of this studywas to determine the contribution of diet tolead exposure among children aged 1 to 7 yearswho attended Hospital de Niños de La Plata forhealth check-ups.Population and methods. The study wasconducted between June 2015 and May 2016. Aquestionnaire on the frequency of food intakewas administered to 91 children whose averageage ± standard deviation was 3.0 ± 1.7 years,and foods included in the analysis were selectedbased on this questionnaire. Selected foodswere purchased from different regional stores.Composite samples were made up of differentfood groups. Lead levels corresponding to eachfood group were determined and, finally, thedaily intake of lead was estimated for the studiedpopulation.Results. The daily intake of lead was 138 µg/day. The food groups with the higher intake rateswere processed meat products (15.4%), bakeryproducts (14.8%), milk (12.5%), and meat (11.7%).Conclusions. Children aged 1 to 7 years attendinga public hospital in La Plata have a lead burdenfrom dietary intake of 138 µg/day.