[Environmental exposure factors and the concentrations of blood lead in Mexico City children].

Risk factors that contribute to high blood lead concentrations were determined in 113 infants, aged 3 to 7 years old, that attended pediatric consultation at the American British Cowdray Hospital (ABC) from May 1991 to October 1992. The range of blood lead concentrations was 4 to 45 micrograms/dl, with an average value of 15.6 micrograms/dl (DE = 7.0), and a geometric mean of 14.2 micrograms/dl (IC 95% = 11.9-16.5). Seventy six percent of the children presented blood lead concentrations of over 10 micrograms/dl. The main predictors of blood lead levels were the use of glazed pottery for cooking rice (ANOVA, p = 0.0000) and the storage of food in glazed pottery (t-test, p = 0.005). There was a significant association between the use of glazed pottery for cooking rice and blood lead concentrations (tendency p = 0.000). The attributable risk of this population due to the use of glazed pottery was 81 per cent. This study sustains the need to develop and enforce public health policies for programs of lead poisoning prevention.