[Acute effects of air pollution on health: evidence from epidemiological studies]. / Los efectos agudos de la contaminación del aire en la salud de la población: evidencias de estudios epidemiológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the evidence of acute health effects from exposure to particulate matter and ozone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed using random effect models, to summarize the health effects of pollution, published in major international and Mexican journals up to June 2000. RESULTS: Results were given as percent increase in ten units of PM10 (microgram/m3) and ozone (ppb). PM10 was found to have an effect on mortality (0.96%), hospital admissions (1.39%), emergency room visits (3.11%), respiratory symptoms (7.72%), pulmonary forced vital capacity (1.42%), and restricted activity days (7.74%). Ozone effects were equally significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show the great impact that air pollutants may have on the health of populations living in large metropolis.

[Lead blood levels in mothers and newborn infants covered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Niveles de plomo sanguíneo en madres y recién nacidos derechohabientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the relation between maternal blood lead (MBL) and umbilical cord blood lead (CBL) levels during delivery, and to determine the major predictors for MBL in women covered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (MISS), in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1991 to 1993, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four MISS hospitals, among normal pregnant women who volunteered to participate. Blood samples were taken from women and from the umbilical cord during delivery. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and simple and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,404 mother-newborn pairs were studied. Mean maternal age was 25 years. MBL average was 10.7 +/- 6.5 micrograms/dl; no significant differences were found by hospital, age, or marital status. Mean CBL was 10.4 +/- 6.2 micrograms/dl. A log unit increase in MBL corresponded to a log increase of 0.62 in CBL (p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation was 0.61 (p < 0.01). The main predictors of MBL were: Use of lead-glazed ceramic (positively associated) and milk and orange juice intake (negatively associated). Forty-seven percent of mothers and 50 percent of the newborn babies had values higher than 10 micrograms/dl, and 578 of them had blood lead levels higher than their mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies should be carried out in order to identify necessary interventions.

Metals in lung tissue from autopsy cases in Mexico City residents: comparison of cases from the 1950s and the 1980s.

In autopsies performed on residents of Mexico City during the 1950s and 1980s (45 males and 24 females and 42 males and 42 females, respectively), concentrations of cadmium, copper, cobalt, nickel, and lead in the lungs were studied by atomic absorption spectrometry. Sharp increases were noted in samples taken in the 1980s compared to those from the 1950s. In samples from both time periods, the concentrations were influenced by gender. Smoking was not associated with higher levels of the metals. Only lead seemed to have a relation with age. The enormous differences by gender in the 1950s could be due to different patterns of exposure. The differences among samples from both periods appear to be associated with the increase of air pollutants in the metropolitan areas of Mexico City during the years under study. These results reinforce the importance of studying lung tissue to monitor air pollution by metals.

[Private medicine in Mexico: the results of the National Census of Private Hospital Units]. / La medicina privada en México: resultados del Censo Nacional de Unidades Hospitalarias Privadas.

A census of private health establishments was carried out by the Secretary of Health, in order to quantify its resources and to describe their geographical distribution. The census, conducted in 1994, was limited to private units which offered hospitalization services, and the reference period was the previous year. Results showed that there are 2,723 private hospitalization units in Mexico, and nearly a half of the units are concentrated in the Federal District, and the states of Mexico, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Baja California and Veracruz. The number of private hospitalization beds registered in the country are 33,937, these figures indicate that private medicine is the main hospital care provider in the national health system. Similar results were obtained regarding other material and human resources. It is important to stress the need for further research regarding the role of private medicine in Mexico, including aspects related to the quality of the services being provided.

[Living conditions and gastroenteritis in the low income population of Tijuana, Mexico]. / Condiciones de vida y gastroenteritis en la población de bajo ingreso de Tijuana, México.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in the low income population of certain areas of the city of Tijuana, Mexico. Data collected showed that these suburban areas are inhabited by people from rural areas of Mexico, with minimum education, that basically work at the "maquiladoras". General hygienic conditions were poor and the services insufficient. The prevalence of diarrheas among the population was extremely high in the two weeks previous to the study, being highest for children less than one year old, in which the proportion with at least one episode of diarrhea was 47 per cent.