Guadalupe Aguilar-Madrid

Globalization and the transfer of hazardous industry: asbestos in Mexico, 1979-2000.

Abstract This study quantified asbestos use in Mexico in the past decade and evaluated available data on mortality due to malignant mesothelioma in Mexico between 1979 and 2000. Mortality data were analyzed from secondary databases of the Mexican Social Security System and the Ministry of Health. Data on the import and export of asbestos in Mexico were obtained from the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development of Mexico. Deaths due to pleural mesothelioma significantly increased in this period. Although the import of asbestos declined, the number of Mexican products that contain asbestos tripled. Export of Mexican asbestos-containing products to Central America grew rapidly in the last ten years of the study. Mexico continues the appreciable use of asbestos and has experienced a significant increase in the occurrence of the sentinel asbestos-related disease, malignant mesothelioma. Given the many limitations to the control of hazardous work exposures in Mexico, a ban on asbestos is advocated as the most feasible means of limiting an epidemic of asbestos-related disease.

Exposición ocupacional a plomo inorgánico en una imprenta de la Ciudad de México

Objective. To describe occupational lead exposure and its biological indicators in workers in a printing company. Material and methods. An epidemiological and industrial hygiene research was undertaken. Lead was measured in the air of work environment and on the hands of the participants; additionally, subjects underwent a venous blood samples for the determination of whole blood lead by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; and a bone lead measurement using a spot-source 109 Cd K-X-ray fluorescence instrument. Also, a standardized questionnaire was applied. We obtained information on demographic and life styles factors, work history, type of work, position and activity within the company. Results. Of the 209 workers, 117 agreed to participate and 90 (83.3% males and 16.7% females) completed all phases of the study. The average lead concentrations were: in air samples, of 0.94 μg/m 3 ; in hands before washing, of 6 802 μg/m2 ; in hands after washing, of 194 μg/m2 ; in whole blood, of 12.3 μg/dl; and in tibia and fibula, of 25.9 and 43.3 μg Pb/g of bone mineral, respectively. Important variations in these measurements were observed according to the workers post. Conclusions. Worldwide, lead exposure levels have been used to evaluate acute exposures being in the workplace. The higher lead levels find in the bone of the workers in this study are similar to other occupational studies in the United States of America

Variability of mercury in urine among Mexican women residing in a mining area.

Objective: To know the variability of the creatinine-adjusted inorganic mercury (HgUCr) levels in women aged ≥12 years to evaluate the impact of residing at a site contaminated by mercury in soil. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted, in which 122 women participated, in whom, HgUCr was determined. Simultaneously, a questionnaire was applied for evaluate the different factors of mercury exposure, sociodemographic characteristics, and dietary hygiene measures. The environmental exposures were evaluated by measure Hg in soil and mining dumps. Results: Women aged >30 years residing in areas contaminated by Hg in soil (>625 ppb) had 212% more HgUCr than the women who living in areas least contaminated, while women with amalgam dental fillings had 120% more HgUCr than women without these. Conclusion: In conclusion, exposure to different physicochemical forms of Hg by environmental mechanisms and factors intrinsic to the women are probably responsible for HgUCr-level variability in the women.

Biomarkers for Predicting Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a Mexican Population

Background: Diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains a challenge, especially when resources in pathology are limited. The study aimed to evaluate cost-effective tumor markers to predict the probability of MPM in plasma samples in order to accelerate the diagnostic workup of the tissue of potential cases. Methods: We conducted a case-control study stratified by gender, which included 75 incident cases with MPM from three Mexican hospitals and 240 controls frequency-matched by age and year of blood drawing. Plasma samples were obtained to determine mesothelin, calretinin, and thrombomodulin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). We estimated the performance of the markers based on the area under the curve (AUC) and predicted the probability of an MPM diagnosis of a potential case based on the marker concentrations. Results: Mesothelin and calretinin, but not thrombomodulin were significant predictors of a diagnosis of MPM with AUCs of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85-0.95), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82-0.94), and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.41-0.61) in males, respectively. For MPM diagnosis in men we estimated a true positive rate of 0.79 and a false positive rate of 0.11 for mesothelin. The corresponding figures for calretinin were 0.81 and 0.18, and for both markers combined 0.84 and 0.11, respectively. Conclusions: We developed prediction models based on plasma concentrations of mesothelin and calretinin to estimate the probability of an MPM diagnosis. Both markers showed a good performance and could be used to accelerate the diagnostic workup of tissue samples in Mexico.

Perfil salud-enfermedad en los trabajadores de una empresa en el valle de México

espanolIntroduccion: Los estudios de salud en el trabajo, abordan puntualmente algun efecto adverso a la salud de los trabajadores. El objetivo es, determinar el perfil salud-enfermedad de los trabajadores de una empresa. Material y metodos: Se realizo un estudio transversal al 90% del personal. Se utilizo el Programa para la Evaluacion y el Seguimiento de la Salud de los Trabajadores, para determinar el perfil salud enfermedad y determinar algunos de sus predictores. Resultados: Se estudiaron a 121 trabajadores. En los trabajadores del almacen, son mayores los riesgos y las exigencias laborales (83%) y las patologias estudiadas (52%). Los sintomas psicosomaticos se incrementan por: ser vendedor b=2.91, con el indice de riesgos y exigencias b=0.11; disminuyen cuando el salario es suficiente b=-2.98, y por contar con otro trabajo b=-2.66 (p Discusion y conclusiones: Los vendedores y administrativos presentan incremento en los sintomas psicosomaticos y tension arterial; a pesar de reportar menos riesgos y exigencias, con relacion a los almacenistas. La satisfaccion salarial y tener otro trabajo, disminuyen los sintomas psicosomaticos en estos trabajadores. EnglishIntroduction: Occupational health studies promptly address some adverse effect on workers health. The aim was to determine the health-disease profile of workers in a company. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 90% of the staff. Program for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Workers Health was used to determine the health-disease profile and to determine some of its predictors. Results: 121 workers were studied. Greater risks and job demands (83%), and pathologies studied (52%) are present in warehouse workers. Psychosomatic symptoms are increased in salesmen b=2.91, with risks and job demand index b=0.11; these decrease when wage is sufficient b=-2.98, and having another job b=-2.66 (p