Environmental factors associated with blood lead levels in Venezuelan children

A preliminary study explored the relative contribution of residential sourc es of lead exposure on mentally challenged children who attend "special edu cation" institutions (G1) compared to a group of age and sex matched school children (G2). We captured descriptive information and analyzed demographi c variables, personal and household information, medical effects. environme ntal exposure factors, and children habits. Home paint, dust, soil. and wat er sampling was conducted and blood lead (BPb) levels determined. Eighteen G1 and 20 G2 children were studied. The mean G1 BPb was 16.3+/-7.9 ug/dl an d was significantly higher than that in GZ. Fifty percent of G1 children ha d PbB > 20 mu g/dl and 72.2% were >10 ug/dl. Low muscular strength, decreas ed osteotendinose reflexes, fine and gross motricity, deficient equilibrium , and hipotonic muscular tone coincided with > 18 ug/dl BPb levels. In 61.1 % of G1 homes paint lead levels were higher than permissible levels and 33. 3% had dust lead exceeding that level. The high BPb levels in G1 probably r esulted from ingestion of household paint, dust, and soil via "hand-to-mout h" activity. Environmental exposure to lead can be an important source of l ead intake by infants and children and could affect neurological developmen t. This study provides new insights currently unavailable for these childre n in Venezuela.