Does Involving Parents in Soil Sampling Identify Causes of Child Exposure to Lead? A Case Study of Community Engagement in Mining‐Impacted Towns in Peru

摘要

Over a million people in Peru may be exposed to lead (Pb) due to past or present mining‐related activities; however, neither soil Pb nor blood Pb are routinely monitored throughout the country. Because little is known about Pb contamination in smaller mining‐impacted towns, soil Pb was mapped in four such towns with a portable X‐ray fluorescence analyzer in 2015. The roadside mapping delineated hotspots of highly contaminated soil (1,000–6,000 mg/kg Pb) in two of the towns. The local health department, provided with a LeadCare II analyzer, then measured blood‐Pb levels >5 in 65% and >10 μg/dL in 15% of children (n = 200) up to 6 years of age in these same four communities. There were no clear relations between child blood‐Pb levels and Pb levels in soil samples collected inside (n = 50) or outside the home (n = 50). Increased child blood Pb was associated with decreased level of cleanliness of parent clothing (n = 136) and shoes (n = 138), linking a possible behavioral factor for transferring contaminated soil and dust to children. In order to explore individual exposure and variations in soil Pb, 10 parents of children with blood Pb >10 μg/dL and 10 parents of children with blood Pb <5 μg/dL were invited to collect soil samples in areas where their children play and screen it for Pb using a color‐based field procedure. Importantly, parents identified a new hotspot of Pb contamination that had been missed by the previous portable X‐ray fluorescence soil mapping. The findings highlight the feasibility and value of involving families impacted by environmental contamination to identify and reduce environmental health risk. Plain Language Summary While many people in Peru live near sites of mining activities, few realize these places put them at risk of exposure to lead, a toxic heavy metal. This study sought to determine if it was possible to involve parents in sampling and testing soil for lead as a potential way of increasing awareness and reducing exposure. Our team of researchers first tested soil for lead using a portable instrument in four small towns affected by mining. We found areas with high levels of lead 3 to 15 times above the U.S. standard for soil where children play. The local health department found that blood lead levels in 30 out of 200 children exceeded the Peruvian standard and 130 exceeded the U.S. reference level. While we found no clear relationship between blood lead levels in children and lead levels in soil, the data do show that cleanliness of parent clothing and shoes reduces child exposure to lead. Twenty parents then collected and tested soil where their children play using a color‐based field test and found a new area of contamination. This form of community engagement in environmental could be expanded to other mining areas and even other environmental health risks. Key Points Parents in four small mining‐impacted towns in Peru successfully collected soil samples from areas where their children play Parents analyzed samples with trained help using a field procedure that led to the identification of a new hotspot of Pb contamination Child blood‐Pb was associated with parent shoe and clothing cleanliness as well as education level, but not with Pb in soil