Children's blood lead levels in Latin America and the Caribbean – Recommendations to combat this well-known persistent public health problem

Abstract

This review provides recent evidence on blood lead levels (BLLs) of children living in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and identifies the most recent findings on recommendations to combat this public health problem. Most of the articles reviewed evaluate BLL in areas with the potential risk of lead contamination, but a small number investigated associations with health outcomes. The results show that, of the few studies reviewed evaluating BLL, almost half showed average concentrations that exceeded recommended limits. The recommendations we have provided represent the most current set for the prevention of childhood lead contamination. However, the main obstacle to implementation is the non-prioritization of actions in political processes, a barrier that needs to be overcome.