Association of dental enamel lead levels with risk factors for environmental exposure

Abstract

Associação de níveis de chumbo no esmalte dentário com fatores de risco para exposição ambiental ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE:To analyze household risk factors associated with high lead levels in surface dental enamel. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted with 160 Brazilian adolescents aged 14-18 years living in poor neighborhoods in the city of Bauru, southeastern Brazil, from August to December 2008. Body lead concentrations were assessed in surface dental enamel acid-etch microbiopsies. Dental enamel lead levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and phosphorus levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The parents answered a questionnaire about their children's potential early (0-5 years old) exposure to well-known lead sources. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between dental enamel lead levels and each environmental risk factor studied. Social and familial covariables were included in the models. RESULTS:The results suggest that the adolescents studied were exposed to lead sources during their fi rst years of life. Risk factors associated with high dental enamel lead levels were living in or close to a contaminated area (OR = 4.49; 95% CI: 1.69;11.97); and member of the household worked in the manufacturing of paints, paint pigments, ceramics or batteries (OR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.31;9.00). Home-based use of lead-glazed ceramics, low-quality pirated toys, anticorrosive paint on gates and/or sale of used car batteries (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 0.56;3.03) and smoking (OR = 1.66; 95% CI: 0.52;5.28) were not found to be associated with high dental enamel lead levels.

Teeth as Indicators of Environmental Pollution with Lead

“…Graphite furnace atomic absorption Spectrophotometry (GFAAS) is a very attractive option for the determination of trace amount of lead in teeth [10,17,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

“…Several studies in humans have demonstrated that lead level in teeth has been used as an index of accumulation of lead and environmental pollution [13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Children's Environment in Brazil: From Domestic (Indoor) to Regional Threats

“…Another study showed a strong association between adolescents with high dental enamel lead levels living in or close a contaminated area [131]. In those three studies, the high lead levels seemed not affect the child population health.…”

“…In those three studies, the high lead levels seemed not affect the child population health. Another study showed a strong association between adolescents with high dental enamel lead levels living in or close a contaminated area [131]. Sakuma et al [130] reported that contamination from lead in a former mining area may explain the higher urinary arsenic values among the children living nearly, despite the median arsenic values do not warrant immediate health concern.…”

“…Olympio et al [131] to analyze household risk factors associated with high lead levels in surface dental enamel in adolescents living in poor neighborhoods crosssectional high dental enamel lead levels 14-18 y SE e S male gender; living in or close to a contaminated area and member of the household worked in the manufacturing of paints, paint pigments, ceramics or batteries. [132] to identify the contamination sources and potential risk factors of the exposure in children from an economically deprived community crosssectional 40% Pb-S > 6μg/dL 5% Pb-S > 10 μg/dL 0-16 y SE male gender; the carcinogenic risk factor for ingestion was about 4 times; sociodemographic aspects: low income, sewer destiny, dust and contaminated soil.…”