[Factors related to the blood lead level in children 6 to 30 months old in the Prospective Lead Study in Mexico City].

A majority of the sample of children (N = 160-121, ages 6-30 months) from the Mexico City Prospective Lead Study exceeds the lowest limit action level (10 micrograms/dl) of the Centers for Disease Control standards for childhood lead exposure. Over one-third of the sample at 18 months and 24 months exceeds the action level (15 micrograms/dl) for aggressive intervention. Diet plays an important role in regulating early childhood blood lead levels.

Prenatal and postnatal blood lead level and head circumference in children to three years: preliminary results from the Mexico City Prospective Lead Study.

Multiple regression modeling was used to explore the relationship between prenatal and postnatal blood lead levels and child head circumference in the first three years of life. Maternal blood lead at 36 weeks of pregnancy and cord blood lead were found to be inversely related to 6 month and 18 month head circumference, respectively. Child 12 month blood lead was inversely related to 36 month head circumference.

[Sources of lead in pregnant women in the Valley of Mexico].

Lead levels in samples of the groups at highest risk to the effects of lead exposure, pregnant women and their infants, are higher than levels known to produce developmental retardation in children in a considerable proportion of the sample tested in Mexico City. Modeling of prenatal factors predicting maternal lead during pregnancy shows the strong effect of the use of low-temperature ceramics on lead level. The data also suggests an important contribution from air lead.