A comprehensive analysis of children's blood lead levels in Latin America and the Caribbean over the last eight years: Progress and recommendations.

In 2017 we published a review on blood lead levels (BLL) in children from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) for data available up to 14th of March 2014 and recommended the identification and control of "lead hot spots". In the present study, an evaluation of progress toward reducing BLL in the region was carried out. A systematic review of the latest literature on lead exposure in the LAC region held on the PubMed, Web of Science and LILACS databases (January 2014 to March 2022) was conducted using the PRISMA methodology. Only original papers published in peer-reviewed English, Spanish, or Portuguese journals were eligible. A total of 558 papers were retrieved, 77 of which met the selection criteria and 31 (40.25 %) were carried out in Mexico. The prevalence of children with BLL above 10 µg. dL-1 was 22.08 % in the previous review versus 6.78 % in the current study. In the present review, the prevalence of children with BLL above 5 µg. dL-1 was 29.62 %, and only one study reported a BLL prevalence rate between 3.3 and 5 µg. dL-1. The highest BLLs were associated with well-known sources or occupational exposures. The number of countries (n = 13) that published data on BLL in children was lower compared to the previous review (n = 16). Most studies were conducted in areas with known lead exposure sources, similar to the earlier review. The percentage of children at risk of lead poisoning in the region remains unknown because few studies have published data on environmental exposure levels and most samples were relatively small. The recommendation to identify and control sources of lead exposure was maintained, while further suggestions for establishing a systematic public health surveillance system for lead were proposed to help reduce the knowledge gap and inform public health policy-making in LAC.

Avaliação de risco à saúde humana associada a exposição inalatória de arsênio, níquel e chumbo no MP10 de fonte veicular, na cidade de São Paulo, SP / Assessment of human health risks associated with airborne arsenic, nickel and lead exposure in PM10 from vehicular sources in Sao Paulo city

Introdução. O material particulado (MP) emitido pela queima de combustíveis fósseis de origem veicular é a principal fonte de exposição ambiental à elementos potencialmente tóxicos (EPTs) presentes no ar atmosférico dos centros urbanos, entre eles arsênio, níquel e chumbo. Objetivos. Este estudo avaliou os riscos à saúde humana de efeitos não carcinogênicos e efeitos carcinogênicos associados a exposição inalatória de arsênio, níquel e chumbo no MP10 de origem veicular, coletado em uma das estações de monitoramento da qualidade do ar, na cidade de São Paulo, ao longo dos anos 2002, 2006, 2009 e 2012. Métodos. Os dados de concentração dos EPTs foram obtidos pela Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB) e estão disponíveis no website da agência. As amostras semanais foram coletadas em todas as estações do ano, durante 2002, 2006, 2009 e 2012 na estação de monitoramento Cerqueira César, localizada próximo a uma via de intenso tráfego veicular. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando o Software R (versão 4.0.5) e RStudio (versão 1.2). O software ProUCL foi usado para estimar os valores UCL95%. A avaliação de risco à saúde humana foi realizada de acordo com os métodos da United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Resultados. As concentrações de arsênio e chumbo no ar apresentaram médias mais elevadas durante o inverno do que nas outras estações (p <0,05). O chumbo apresentou o maior risco de efeitos não carcinogênicos (HQ> 1,0). Arsênio e níquel apresentaram o maior risco de efeitos carcinogênicos, inclusive acima de 1E-06. O risco para ambos os efeitos foi maior no inverno. Conclusão. Esses achados destacam a importância da poluição do ar como fator de risco para a saúde da população, principalmente em centros urbanos com intenso tráfego veicular. Ações para reduzir a exposição à poluição do ar ambiente devem ser priorizadas nas agendas de políticas ambientais e de saúde.

Background. Particulate matter (PM) emitted from the burning of fuels by vehicles is the main source of environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) present in atmospheric air in urban centers, between them arsenic, nickel and lead. Objective. This study evaluated the risk to human health from non-carcinogenic effects and carcinogenic effects associated with airborne arsenic, nickel and lead in PM10 exposure of the vehicular source collected at one of the air quality monitoring stations in the city of Sao Paulo over the years 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2012. Methods. The concentration data of the PTEs were obtained by the Sao Paulo State Environmental Protection Agency (CETESB) and are available on the agency's website. The statistical analysis was performed using the Software R (version 4.0.5) and RStudio (version 1.2). ProUCL software was used to estimate UCL95% values. The risk assessment for human health was carried out according to the methods of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Results. Airborne arsenic and lead concentrations showed higher means during the winter than in other seasons (p<0.05). Lead had the greatest risk of non-carcinogenic effects (HQ>1.0). Arsenic and nickel had the highest risk of carcinogenic effects, including above 1E-06. The risk for both effects was greatest in winter. Conclusion. These findings highlight the importance of air pollution as a risk factor for population health, especially in urban centers with high vehicular traffic. Actions to reduce air pollution exposure should be prioritized in environmental and health policies agendas.

Aluminum as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

The purpose of the study was to condense existing scientific evidence about the relation between aluminum (Al) exposure and risk for the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), evaluating its long-term effects on the population's health. A systematic literature review was carried out in two databases, MEDLINE and LILACS, between 1990 and 2005, using the uniterms: "Aluminum exposure and Alzheimer Disease" and "Aluminum and risk for Alzheimer Disease". After application of the Relevance Test, 34 studies were selected, among which 68% established a relation between Al and AD, 23.5% were inconclusive and 8.5% did not establish a relation between Al and AD. Results showed that Al is associated to several neurophysiologic processes that are responsible for the characteristic degeneration of AD. In spite of existing polemics all over the world about the role of Al as a risk factor for AD, in recent years, scientific evidence has demonstrated that Al is associated with the development of AD.

Aluminum as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease / Alumínio como fator de risco para a doença de Alzheimer / Aluminio como factor de riesgo para la enfermedad de Alzheimer

The purpose of the study was to condense existing scientific evidence about the relation between aluminum (Al) exposure and risk for the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), evaluating its long-term effects on the population's health. A systematic literature review was carried out in two databases, MEDLINE and LILACS, between 1990 and 2005, using the uniterms: "Aluminum exposure and Alzheimer Disease" and "Aluminum and risk for Alzheimer Disease". After application of the Relevance Test, 34 studies were selected, among which 68 percent established a relation between Al and AD, 23.5 percent were inconclusive and 8.5 percent did not establish a relation between Al and AD. Results showed that Al is associated to several neurophysiologic processes that are responsible for the characteristic degeneration of AD. In spite of existing polemics all over the world about the role of Al as a risk factor for AD, in recent years, scientific evidence has demonstrated that Al is associated with the development of AD.

El objetivo del estudio fue condensar la evidencia científica existente entre la exposición al aluminio (Al) y el riesgo para el desarrollo de la Enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA), evaluando los efectos para la salud de la población a largo plazo. Una revisión sistemática de la literatura científica existente entre 1990 y 2005, fue realizada en dos bases de datos, MEDLINE y LILACS, utilizando los unitermos: "Aluminium exposure and Alzheimer Disease" y "Aluminium and risk for Alzheimer Disease". Fueron seleccionados 34 trabajos para la investigación, de los cuales 68 por ciento establecieron relação entre el Al y la EA, 23,5 por ciento no presentaron datos conclusivos y 8,5 por ciento no establecieron ninguna relación entre el Al y la EA. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, se verifica que el Al interviene en diversos procesos neurofisiológicos responsables por la degeneración característica de la EA. A pesar de la polémica existente en el médio científico, la evidencia científica demuestra a lo largo de los últimos años que el Al es uno de los determinantes para el desenvolvimiento de la EA.

O objetivo do estudo foi condensar a evidência científica existente entre a exposição ao alumínio (Al) e risco para o desenvolvimento da doença de Alzheimer (DA), avaliando os efeitos para saúde da população, a longo prazo. Realizou-se revisão sistemática de literatura produzida entre 1990 e 2005, conduzida em duas bases de dados, MEDLINE e LILACS, utilizando os unitermos: "Aluminium exposure and Alzheimer Disease" e "Aluminium and risk for Alzheimer Disease". Foram selecionados 34 trabalhos para a pesquisa, desses, 68 por cento estabeleceram relação entre o Al e a DA, 23,5 por cento não apresentaram dados conclusivos e 8,5 por cento não estabeleceram nenhuma relação entre o Al e DA. A partir dos resultados obtidos, verifica-se que o Al intervém em diversos processos neurofisiológicos responsáveis pela degeneração característica da DA. Apesar da polêmica existente, a evidência científica demonstra, ao longo dos últimos anos, que o Al se associa com o desenvolvimento da DA.