Plomo en sangre de cordón umbilical de neonatos nacidos en un hospital del norte de Lima / Lead in umbilical cord blood of neonates born in northern Lima

RESUMEN

Con el objetivo de describir la concentración de plomo en sangre de cordón umbilical (SCU) de recién nacidos (RN) hijos de mujeres primíparas residentes en la zona norte de Lima (Perú) se realizó un estudio transversal en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia entre julio de 2011 a diciembre de 2012. Se incluyeron 100 RN hijos de madres primigestas, que tenían un tiempo mínimo de residencia de 5 años en la zona norte de Lima. Se midió plomo en SCU de los RN por el método de adsorción atómica. Se encontró que 30% de los RN tuvieron nivel de plomo en SCU considerados de riesgo incrementado (= 3,0 µg/dL); en el 16% de los casos se encontró niveles tóxicos de plomo en SCU (= 5 µg/dL). Se concluye que existe un gran porcentaje de neonatos contaminados con plomo entre los RN de madres primigestas residentes en la zona norte de Lima.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to describe the concentration of lead in umbilical cord blood (UCB) of neonates born from primiparous women who live in northern Lima. A cross sectional study was carried out at Cayetano Heredia National Hospital, from July 2011 to January 2012. 100 neonates born from primiparous women who lived in northern Lima in the previous 5 years or more were included. Umbilical cord lead levels were measured by the atomic adsorption method, and the demographic information and risk factors of the neonates were filled in a patient record designed to this purpose. 30% of the neonates had concentration of lead in UCB that was considered as increased risk (= 3,0 µg/dL), 16% of the cases had had toxic concentration of lead in UCB (= 5 µg/dL). We conclude that there are a high percentage of neonates contaminated with lead in the northern Lima.