Title
Comunicable diseases, mental health and exposure to environmental pollutants in population living near las bambas mining project before exploitation phase, peru 2006
Other title
Enfermedades transmisibles, salud mental y exposición a contaminantes ambientales en población aledaña al proyecto minero las bambas antes de la fase de explotación, perú 2006
Date Issued
01 January 2010
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
del Carmen Gastañaga M.
Oblitas T.
Sabastizagal I.
Lucero M.
del Milagro Abadíe J.
Muñoz M.E.
Valverde A.
Suarez M.
Publisher(s)
Instituto Nacional de Salud
Abstract
Objective. To determine the prevalence of communicable diseases, mental health and environmental pollutants exposure in population living near Las Bambas mining project before exploitation phase. Material and methods. Cross sectional study performed in 453 subjects (children and adults) living in three Apurimac region districts: Haquira, Chalhuahuacho and Progreso. Psychomotor development, intelligence quotient, anxiety and depression levels and the presence of communicable diseases (viral hepatitis B, C and delta, syphilis and HIV) were evaluated, as well as heavy metals (lead in blood, and cadmium, arsenic and mercury in urine samples) and serum cholinesterase levels. Results. Mean age was 29 ± 17.25 years, 59.2% were female and a range of 6 to 15 years of living in the area was found. No cases of HIV, hepatitis C and delta were found, 1.4% were positive for syphilis and in relation to hepatitis B, we found 1,7% of subjects positive to total anti HBc and 0.5% positive for HBsAg. Heavy metal testing identified people with exceeding limits of mercury in 1.8% arsenic in 4.6%, lead in 24.3% and cadmium in 43.9%. Besides, 29.1% of the population had cholinesterase levels below normal range. Among children, 12.5% were at psychomotor development levels of risk; 2.1% and 3.1% suffered from mild and borderline intellectual disability (mental retardation), respectively. 34.3% of subjects older than 12 had anxiety and 17.5% depression. Conclusions. Evidence of heavy metal environmental pollution and presence of communicable diseases in this population were already found. Future careless mining activity could worsen the current health situation.
Start page
512
End page
519
Volume
27
Issue
4
Language
Spanish
OCDE Knowledge area
Psiquiatría Salud pública, Salud ambiental Neurología clínica
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-78751470627
Source
Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Publica
ISSN of the container
17264634
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus