Long-Term Effects of Heavy Metals on Children’s Health

Research in Mexico is looking at the effect of metals on children (Photo provided by Trygve Bolstad/Panos)

Many communities in Mexico are impacted by the increased industrialization with many of the environmental pollutant effects observedin children.  A prime example of this occurs when ore smelters are located in residential areas. Region Lagunera, located in the central part of Northern Mexico, has several health conditions in children derived from chronic arsenic and lead exposure. The largest nonferrous complex in Latin America is located in Torreon, Coahuila where previous studies have shown abnormally high blood levels of lead. The long-term effects of chronic exposure to lead and other elements present in the environment surrounding smelters and mines are not well known. Therefore, there is a need to conduct follow-up studies to evaluate the effects of multi-element exposure and their repercussion on health later in life. 

The objective of this study is:

• To establish a prospective cohort study of children chronically exposed to lead and other metals in Region Lagunera, Torreon, State of Coahuila, Mexico.  The purpose will be to evaluate potential adverse health effects on the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad in a prepubertal cohort.

Health parameters to be tested include:

• Morphometrics
• Immunological
• Neurodevelopment
• Endocrine disruption
  
  

The project will also be used to help define what measures can be taken in the community to lower the impact of heavy metals to children and verify if the measures are correlated with lowered health impacts.

Project Contacts:

Sun setting in the Lagunera Region - Torreon, Coahuila (Photo provided by Denise Moreno)

Dr. A. Jay Gandolfi The University of Arizona Principal Investigator – U.S. gandolfi@pharmacy.arizona.edu	Dr. Walter Klimecki The University of Arizona Principal Investigator – U.S. walt@resp-sci.arizona.edu
Dr. Gonzalo Garcia Vargas Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango Principal Investigator – Mexico ggarcia_vargas@hotmail.com	Dr. Mariano E. Cebrian Garcia Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Principal Investigator – Mexico mcebrian@cinvestav.mx
Dr. Lizbeth Teresita Lopez Carrillo Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica Investigator - Mexico lizbeth@insp.mx	Dr. Maria Guerrero-Almeida Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango Investigator- Mexico mlguerrero@prodigy.net.mx

To learn more about the components of the project, please click on the icons below:

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