Possible health effects of living in proximity to mining sites near Potosí, Bolivia.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the health effects of living downstream from mines in the Potosregion of Bolivia. Methods: Histories, physical examinations, and urinalyses were completed on adults recruited from mining and nonmining villages in Bolivia. Blood concentrations of Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined in a subset of participants. Multiple logistic re- gression analyses were performed. Results: Mining region participants had significantly higher frequencies of hypertension, hematuria, and ketonuria. Hematuria was significantly elevated among those watering livestock down- stream from mines and eating grains from their own farm (odds ratio = 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 17.7). Significantly higher blood concen- trations of Pb were observed in a subsample of participants with hematuria (4.80 μg/dL vs 10.91 μg/dL; P = 0.026). Conclusions: Efforts to abate environmental exposure to toxic metals seem warranted. T