research guide - UTEP Magazine - University of Texas at El Paso

Encuentros
Studying lead exposure in border children
The El Paso-Juárez area shares a
history of mining, industrial activity, heavy
vehicle emissions and neighborhoods with
old homes—factors that increase the risk of
childhood exposure to lead. Lead poisoning
can cause learning disabilities and behavioral
problems.
Researchers headed by Nursing
Professor Maria Amaya, Ph.D., embarked on
the Encuentros Binational Community Lead
Project, an ambitious study designed to gather
an accurate picture of lead contamination
throughout the metroplex by measuring the
metal’s levels in the environment as well as in
the blood of children.
Preliminary results show higher lead levels
around the industrial districts in the urban
core of El Paso, including the area near a
closed smelter.
Amaya’s team will gather measurements
in Juárez, Mexico, to get a binational grasp of
the lead problem. The Encuentros project also
will develop a strategy with community partners
to educate the public about the health risks of
lead contamination.
Encuentros is supported by a $1.76 million
grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Maria Amaya, Ph.D.
“Poorly educated people on our
border need to realize that lead
exposure for young children can
cause learning disabilities and that
may be why children are having
such a hard time learning English.”
Research Guide | 27