Lead exposure in children around a Lead Battery Recycling Plant: an environmental health approach for clinical and community management

The prenatal period and childhood are particularly vulnerable to lead toxicity. Lead battery recy- cling plants (LBRP) can pose a health concern due to potential community exposure. A community-based intervention using an environmental health approach was implemented in a municipality near an LBRP. Methods: A joint Clinical Action Plan was implemented in Bonmatí (Catalonia, Spain), including training for local health professionals and public information sessions. Children <15 years and pregnant women were invited to blood lead testing and an environmental clinical screening (Green Page) to identify exposure and potential sources. Municipal air, soil, and water were analysed for lead; geometric means and multivariable analyses of sociodemographic variables and environmental risks were computed.