“Lead, arsenic and cadmium pollution and health status of children living in low income households in Quito, Ecuador”

This study explores the effects of chronic lead exposure, as well as arsenic and cadmium, on the health status of households in three neighborhoods in Quito, Ecuador. It is based on a random subset of the NIH study, NIH R21 ES16637-01A1, Air Pollution and Atherosclerosis in Low Income Neighborhoods in Quito Ecuador, Armijos PI, which had environmental samples taken from their homes. Preliminary composition analysis done at the geology department of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) indicated high lead levels in some samples. Further investigation showed that the samples with high lead levels came mostly from the same neighborhood. It is clear that some homes are being chronically exposed to lead but more information is needed to determine the effects that it is having on the health of the residents. Exposure to lead, arsenic, and cadmium are known to be associated with detrimental health outcomes for children so the associations between heavy metal pollutant exposure, blood metal levels, and health outcomes will be examined. This study is important due to the serious, and potentially preventable, effects of exposure to these metals and because there has been no previous work regarding heavy metals and children's health in this area of Quito, Ecuador. Samples have been taken to test blood metal levels. A validated questionnaire was used for socio-demographic information and outdoor environmental particularities. A physician performed medical examinations, histories, and anthropometric evaluations. Environmental samples included air, water, and composite dust wipe samples and were evaluated with mass spectrometry. An environmental assessment check list was done based on literature review and administered by students participating in UTEP's Minority Health Integrative Research Training (MHIRT) program. Database construction and analysis will be conducted using SPSS to perform 2-tailed statistical tests with p values <0.05 being regarded as statistically significant.