[Evaluation of environmental conditions: air, water and soil in areas of mining activity in Boyacá, Colombia].

Objectives To determine concentrations of PM10, mercury and lead in indoor air of homes, water sources and soil in municipalities near mining operations. Method 6 points were evaluated in areas of influence and 2 in control areas. For measurements of indoor air, we used the NIOSH 600 method (PM10), NIOSH 6009 (mercury) and NIOSH 7300 (lead).

[The auditory and neuropsychological effects of school children's exposure to environmental noise in a locality in Bogotá, 2010].

Objective: Evaluating the effect of environmental noise on the auditory health of a group of students from a locality in Bogotá, their educational development and leisure activities and the appearance of neuropsychological symptoms.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional prevalence study in a sample of 581, 10-17 year-old children and adolescents in two district educational institutions, defined as higher (>65 dB) and lower exposure (<65 dB) according to an environmental noise map of the locality, such ranking being subsequently verified. A survey was made regarding their health-related background, perception of being exposed to noise and auditory health-related habits; a liminal tone audiometry of the airway was taken using the criteria recommended in the Infrastructure Technical Advisory Group'snoise-induced hearing loss (ITAG-NIHL) guidelines.

[PM10 exposure-related respiratory symptoms and disease in children living in and near five coal-mining areas in the Cesar department of Colombia].

Objectives: Establishing the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disease in children aged less than 12 years-old living within the Cesar department's coal-mining area and possible associated factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1,627 children aged less than 10 years-old living in and near coal-mining areas in the Cesar department who were exposed to different levels of PM10 from 2008-2010; their PM10 exposure-related symptoms and respiratory diseases were measured, seeking an association with living in areas exposed to particulate material.

Results: Children living in areas close to coal-mining activity which also had high traffic volume had a higher rate of probable cases of asthma; those living in areas with traffic (not no coal-mining) were absent from school for more days due to acute respiratory disease.