Abstract
Lead is one of the most harmful toxic metals to humans. In Mexico, though most potters still use a lead-based glazing process, a new lead-free glaze has been introduced to the production of pottery. The Approved Pottery Program (APP) promotes the production of lead-free pottery. As a component of the APP, we aimed to document in this pilot study the blood lead levels (BLLs) of a sample of potters and the association with the type of glaze used. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on information from 46 potters grouped by 26 workshops. We measured general sociodemographic characteristics, capillary BLLs, and the lead levels of the dirt floors of the workshops. The evaluation of associations and comparisons between glaze types was performed based on a regression model clustered by workshop. The median BLL measured was 13.6 μg/dl (IQR: 7.8–20.4 μg/dl), and 70% of the BLLs were greater than 10 μg/dl. Workshop managers presented higher BLLs compared to others working in the same workshop (median of 14.1 μg/dl (IQR: 11.6–25.3 μg/dl) versus 10.1 μg/dl (IQR: 5.2–16.7 μg/dl), respectively). The median BLLs of potters who used lead-free glaze in at least 80% of production were 8.8 μg/dl (95% CI: −17.3 to −0.3 μg/dl) lower than the BLLs of those who used lead-free glaze in less than 30% of production, adjusted by workshop role. Additionally, the lead levels were significantly lower in workshop dirt floors where lead-free glaze was used in at least 80% of the production compared to those that use less than 30% (180 versus 916 mg/kg; p < 0.05). The use of lead-free glaze in the production of pottery was associated with both lower BLLs in potters and lower soil lead levels in the workshop area.
Highlights
Blood lead levels (BLLs) in the Mexican population have declined significantly in the last 25 years following the elimination of lead in gasoline (Pantic et al, 2018; Rothenberg et al, 1998), toxic exposure persists in the general population due to the presence of lead in food and beverages cooked or stored in low-temperature glazed pottery (LTGP) (Rojas-Lopez et al, 1994; Romieu et al, 1994; Tellez-Rojo et al, 2017; Tellez-Rojo et al, 2019), despite a national law that has established lead limits in pottery (NOM-011-SSA1, 1993)
The primary objective of this study was to document the blood lead levels (BLLs) of a sample of adult potters from Tlayacapan County, Morelos, in central Mexico, to analyze how lead levels vary according to the use of lead-based versus lead-free glaze
One workshop used 90% leadfree glaze. One of these three lead-free or nearly lead-free workshops was led by a woman, which is contrary to the norm of male leaders in pottery communities
Summary
Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal (NRC, 1993). After entering the human body, it targets multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, liver, and bones (Silbergeld et al, 1993), causing chronic intoxication. Blood lead levels (BLLs) in the Mexican population have declined significantly in the last 25 years following the elimination of lead in gasoline (Pantic et al, 2018; Rothenberg et al, 1998), toxic exposure persists in the general population due to the presence of lead in food and beverages cooked or stored in low-temperature glazed pottery (LTGP) (Rojas-Lopez et al, 1994; Romieu et al, 1994; Tellez-Rojo et al, 2017; Tellez-Rojo et al, 2019), despite a national law that has established lead limits in pottery (NOM-011-SSA1, 1993). The reference in Mexico for lead levels in an occupationally exposed population, which includes potters, is 10 μg/dl in whole blood for women (regardless of pregnancy status) and 30 μg/dl for men (NOM-047-SSA1, 2011)
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