Neste trabalho, determinou-se o nível de chumbo (Pb) presente no ar em ambientes externos e na poeira doméstica de residências localizadas próximo a uma reformadora de baterias (RB). Uma das principais fontes de exposição ao Pb são empresas do setor de RB, que ainda utilizam processos e tecnologia obsoletos em instalações precárias. Na área externa à RB foram realizadas coletas em seis pontos localizados a aproximadamente 25m e a 500m da RB. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o limite para Pb no ar atmosférico (Pb-Ar) de 1,5µg Pb.m-3 foi excedido em 50% das amostras coletadas, variando de 0,03 a 183,3µg Pb.m-3. As coletas nas dependências internas e externas das residências foram realizadas em seis pontos de quatorze residências localizadas a aproximadamente 25m, 50m e a 500m da RB. O limite de Pb na poeira doméstica (Pb-Pd) de 1.500µg Pb.m-2 foi excedido em 44% das amostras coletadas, apresentando valores variáveis de 2,2 a 54.338,9µg Pb.m-2.

No abstract

Lead levels in the air surrounding a battery repair shop (BRS) located in the Olaria neighborhood (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) were monitored from April to July 1999. Most of the samples collected within 25 meters of the BRS exceeded the limit of 1.5 micro g.Pb.m-3 established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These results were published in a previous article (Quiterio et al., 2001). In the current study, installation of a Venture ventilation system and some changes in the operational procedure were proposed. After the modifications in the BRS, a new monitoring campaign was performed (August and September, 2000). Three points were selected for air collection, corresponding to the most critical points found in the previous assessments. The new concentrations ranged from 0.8 to 17.6 micro g.Pb.m-3, showing that lead emissions into the environment had decreased adequately. However, concentration at the chimney exhaust was still higher than EPA limits, and further improvements in the installations and procedures are definitely needed.

Purpose: to examine the influence of familial environment, parental perception, and socioeconomic conditions on the receptive vocabulary of elementary school children. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional observational study. The students were selected by stratified proportional sampling, using the Receptive Vocabulary Test. Those responsible for the children answered the anamnesis and the inventory of family environmental resources. Initially, a bivariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test, considering p<0.20. In the multivariate analysis of binary logistic regression, p<0.05 was considered, and the quality of the model was evaluated through the Hosmer-Lemeshow method. Results: out of the 263 students, 131 were males, 142 were in the third grade and were on average 7.6 years old (±0.57), and 111 had a low receptive vocabulary. In the bivariate analysis, there was a relationship between parental perception about learning to read and write, school failure, and the outcome (p<0.05). The variables environment, resources, and stability of family life were also used for multivariate analysis (p<0.20). Conclusion: Parental perception of difficulty in reading and writing and a lack of family stability were factors associated with poor receptive vocabulary.

This paper presents technical improvements, inside the manufacture, in the place of work of small enterprises. These techniques are been applied to contaminated inhabit of work in factories, battery recovery companies and lead foundry. The contamination was verified by clinical and ambient evaluation. Lead exposure investigation and contamination of workers accomplished it so as ambient contamination of surrounding areas around those enterprises. This paper was generated by a project under development in CESTEH/ENSP/ FIOCRUZ with two main objectives: a) to develop a biological indicator of effect, in order to prevent possible health damages to the workers; b) to identify low cost techniques looking for air quality improvement around works place of those enterprises.