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Heavy metals screening model in primary care: Experience in the Sierra Minera de Cartagena (Spain)

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dc.contributor.authorOrtega García, Juan Antonio
dc.contributor.authorFrancisco Díaz Martínez
dc.contributor.authorLaura Rubio Roca
dc.contributor.authorIsabel Martínez Frutos
dc.contributor.authorClaudia Ortiz-Fernández
dc.contributor.authorMaria Luisa Gil del Castillo
dc.contributor.authorFrancisco Pacheco Martínez
dc.contributor.departmentCirugía, Pediatría y Obstetricia y Ginecología
dc.contributor.otherFacultades de la UMU::Facultad de Medicina
dc.date.accessioned2026-04-15T11:02:19Z
dc.date.available2026-04-15T11:02:19Z
dc.date.copyright© Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under embargo until 17 December 2025.
dc.date.created2024-11-26
dc.date.issued2024-12-17
dc.descriptionThis is the accepted manuscript of an article published in Medicina Clínica: Ortega-García JA et al. Med Clin (Barc). 2025;164(8):410–417. doi:10.1016/j.medcli.2024.10.025. The final authenticated version is available via the publisher
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Soils contaminated by heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic represent a significant health risk. The Sierra Minera of Cartagena (Spain) is an area historically contaminated by mining activities. This study evaluates the exposure to heavy metals and proposes a clinical screening model for its management in primary care. Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between 2017 and 2020 with volunteers from the Sierra Minera of Cartagena who provided blood and urine samples. Primary care health professionals were trained in sample collection and analysis, risk communication, and clinical protocols on heavy metals were implemented. Results: 203 participants, 66.5% women and 38 (18.7%) under 16 years old. The majority resided in Zone 0 (contaminated area). Mean blood lead level was 1.78μg/dl and 2.22μg/dl in those under 16 years old, with. Metal concentrations, particularly lead, increased with age, male sex, Arab ethnicity, and proximity to contaminated areas. Tobacco smoke was identified as a main source of lead exposure in children under 16 years. The primary care clinical screening model identified 12 (7%) and 22 (11%) participants exceeding 5μg/dl and 3.5μg/dl respectively, particularly six children and one pregnant woman, with significant levels that normalized within 2-3 months following PEHSU's clinical guidelines. Conclusions: The implementation of clinical and analytical screening for heavy metals in primary care, supported by pediatric environmental health units (PEHSU), proved effective in screening and reducing in children blood lead levels in a short period. Training health professionals is crucial to adequately address environmental risks and protect the health of affected populations.
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dc.identifier.citationOrtega-García JA, Díaz-Martínez F, Rubio-Roca L, Martínez-Frutos I, Ortiz-Fernández C, Gil-Del Castillo ML, Pacheco-Martínez F. Heavy metals screening model in primary care: Experience in the Sierra Minera de Cartagena (Spain). Med Clin (Barc). 2025;164(8):410-417.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.medcli.2024.10.025
dc.identifier.eissn1578-8989
dc.identifier.issn0025-7753
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10201/225781
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relationThis research was supported by the Environmental Health Pro-file for Children in the Murcia Region Project in the Foundationfor Formation and Research (FFIS) funded by Sociedad PediatriaSureste of Spain (SPSE.ES) (FFIS-DF-2022-36).
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-medicina-clinica-2-articulo-heavy-metals-screening-model-in-S0025775324007097
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International*
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/*
dc.subjectSoil pollutants
dc.subjectLead poisoning
dc.subjectHeavy metal poisoning
dc.subjectEnvironmental pollution
dc.subjectPrimary health care
dc.subject.odsObjetivo 10: Reducir las desigualdades entre países y dentro de ellos
dc.subject.odsObjetivo 3: Salud
dc.titleHeavy metals screening model in primary care: Experience in the Sierra Minera de Cartagena (Spain)
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
dspace.entity.typePublicationes
relation.isAuthorOfPublication625b99b7-d25c-49eb-b53c-f389378e6993
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery625b99b7-d25c-49eb-b53c-f389378e6993
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