Evaluation of risk factors related to lead exposure in children and adolescents from Rio de Janeiro/Avaliacao dos fatores de risco relacionados a exposicao ao chumbo em criancas e adolescentes do Rio de Janeiro

The importance of atmospheric lead in environmental global contamination is receiving increasing scientific attention. The main exposure monitoring approach is biological, but the environmental one has a key role, since the environment is the major source of exposure. The study aimed to identify the contamination sources and potential risk factors of the exposure in a 64 subject group formed by 0-16 years-old children from an economically deprived community in Rio de Janeiro. Lead concentrations in soil, water, dust and air were determined and neurological and carcinogenic risk factors for ingestion and inhalation were calculated. Blood samples were collected and used in the analysis of Pb-B, ALA-D% and ALA-Dgenotyping. The observed neurological risk factor was 549 times higher than reference dose for dust and 554 times higher in the case of ingestion. The carcinogenic risk factor for ingestion was about 4 times. Mean Pb-B was 5.6/µg/dL and 40% of the children presented Pb-B levels above the 6/µg/dL cutoff value. Mean ALAD% was 40.3% and a correlation between Pb-B and ALA-D% was observed. ALAD1-2genotype was identified in 10% of the children. The results will allow the understanding of our reality, supporting public health and environment organizations to carry out control actions and all-encompassing environmental surveillance. Key words Exposure, Lead, Risk, Children, Environmental health, Contamination A importancia do chumbo atmosferico na contaminacao global do ambiente tem recebido crescente atencao cientifica. A principal forma de monitorizacao da exposicao e biologica, mas a ambiental tem um papel importante, ja que o ambiente e a principal fonte de exposicao ao chumbo. O estudo transversal busca identificar fontes de contaminacao e potenciais fatores de risco da exposicao em 64 criancas de zero a dezesseis anos de uma comunidade economicamente desfavorecida do Rio de Janeiro. Foram determinadas as concentracoes de chumbo em solo, agua, poeira e ar e calculados os fatores de risco neurologico e carcinogenico de inalacao e ingestao. O sangue coletado foi utilizado para analise de Pb-S, ALAD% e genotipagem da ALA-D. O fator de risco neurologico observado foi 549 vezes superior a dose de referencia para poeira e 554 vezes superior no caso de ingestao. O fator de risco carcinogenicopara ingestao foi de quatro vezes. A media de Pb-S foi 5,6/µg/dL e 40% das criancas apresentaram valores de Pb-S acima do ponto de corte de 6µg/dL. A media de ALA-D% foi 40,