[A decade of lead monitoring in schoolchildren in the metropolitan area of Monterrey NL, Mexico].

Objective: To establish the blood lead concentration and associated risk factors in schoolchildren during 1998 and 2008.
Materials and Methods: A blood lead screening was conducted in schoolchildren of 6-12 years of age, enrolled in 17 elementary schools of the metropolitan area of Monterrey, México, during 1998 and 2008.
Results: The mean blood lead level were 9.6 ± 3.0 (µg/dL range of 3.18 to 20.88) in 1998 and 4.5±4.8 µg/dL (range of 3.3 to 53.7) showing a 2.1-times reduction in blood lead levels (p<0.01).
Conclusions: This reduction in blood lead levels demonstrate environmental and industrial control improvements and the benefits of fading out the leaded gasoline during the 1990's.