According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead is one of the major environmental contaminants that generates health effects of special concern in children and pregnant women, triggering behavioral and learning problems. In exposed adults, it has been related to cardiovascular and neurological effects, and decreased renal function, among others. In Colombia, mining activities generate contamination with heavy metals such as Lead in the different environmental matrices, with potential effects on human health and on the components of the ecosystem, also constituting a risk factor for food safety. General Objective: Determine the exposure to lead in the population of the municipality of Aránzazu (Caldas). Materials and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was proposed, performing a non-probabilistic sampling in a group of 100 people who are environmentally exposed to lead. Measurements of this metal were carried out in biological samples (hair) and in environmental samples (water and fish). Additionally, a socio-demographic characterization was made and the work history, environmental exposure and habits of the study population were investigated. Results: From a sample of 102 individuals surveyed, 64.7% were male, the average age was 41.7 (SD: 15.2), 51% of the population works in agriculture, none of the respondents has mining as their current occupation and 53.9% were occupationally exposed to pesticides. Regarding water sources, 63.7% of the population consumes tap water and 24.5% from natural wells. Lead concentrations in hair were found to be on average 1.1 ppm (DE:1.3 R:0.1 ≤ 0.5 ≤ 4.7)), lead concentrations in water on average were 0.00334 µg/l (DE: 0.00225 µg/l, R: 0.0002 ≤ 0.0038 ≤ 0.0058) and no lead concentrations were found in fish. 58.8% reported consuming canned food and of these, 48.3% do so at least once a month. Conclusion This research showed the panorama of exposure to mixtures of chemical substances (pesticides and metals) from agricultural activities, but also from environmental contamination to which the population is exposed.
