The cultural parameters of lead poisoning: A medical anthropologist's view of intervention in environmental lead exposure

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.908979· OSTI ID:5718272

Trotter, II, R T ^[1]

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1. Northern Arizona Univ., Flagstaff (USA)

This article identifies four culturally shaped sources of lead exposure in human societies: modern and historic technological sources; food habits; culturally defined health beliefs; and beauty practices. Examples of these potential sources of lead poisoning are presented from current cultures. They include the use of lead-glazed cooking pottery in Mexican-American households; folk medical use of lead in Hispanic, Arabic, South Asian, Chinese, and Hmong communities; as well as the use of lead as a cosmetic in the Near East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Four interacting cultural conditions that create barriers to the reduction of lead exposure and lead poisoning are identified and discussed. These are knowledge deficiencies, communication resistance, cultural reinterpretations, and incongruity of explanatory models.

• OSTI ID: 5718272
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Vol. 89; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEAD COMPOUNDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FOOD
POISONING
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology