<sec><title>Objetivos:</title><p> Analisar as percepções dos adolescentes mexicanos em relação aos riscos na saúde ambiental em áreas urbanas contaminadas, e testar a técnica da fotografia ambiental da comunidade sobre a percepção de risco local.</p></sec><sec><title>Métodos:</title><p> O estudo foi realizado com 74 adolescentes de duas comunidades na cidade de San Luis Potosi, no México. Os participantes receberam câmeras descartáveis e foram convidados a tirar fotografias de elementos e/ou situações em que acreditavam estar afetando sua saúde pessoal dentro ou fora de casa. Solicitou-se também aos participantes a descrição de cada fotografia por escrito. As fotografias e as explicações passaram pela análise de conteúdo quantitativa e qualitativa. Conhecer a percepção de risco dos adolescentes desempenha papel crucial no desenvolvimento de programas de comunicação de risco para a melhoria da saúde da comunidade. A técnica de fotografia é promissora para a pesquisa qualitativa em saúde ambiental por oferecer uma impressão realista e concisa das percepções de risco. Os adolescentes em ambas comunidades perceberam uma ampla gama de riscos de saúde ambientais prejudiciais ao seu bem-estar, por exemplo, resíduos, poluição do ar e falta de higiene. No entanto, ainda existem algumas de conhecimento que devem ser abordados.</p></sec>

<p>The objective of this study was to explore Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks in contaminated urban areas, and to test the environmental photography technique as a research tool for engaging adolescents in community-based health research. The study was conducted with 74 adolescents from two communities in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Participants were provided with disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of elements and situations which they believed affected their personal health both at home and outside their homes. They were also asked to describe each photograph in writing. Photographs and written explanations were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Risk perception plays a crucial role in the development of Risk Communication Programs (RCPs) aimed at the improvement of community health. The photography technique opens up a promising field for environmental health research since it affords a realistic and concise impression of the perceived risks. Adolescents in both communities perceived different environmental health risks as detrimental to their well-being, e.g. waste, air pollution, and lack of hygiene. Yet, some knowledge gaps remain which need to be addressed.</p>

Objetivos: Analisar as percepções dos adolescentes mexicanos em relação aos riscos na saúde ambiental em áreas urbanas contaminadas, e testar a técnica da fotografia ambiental da comunidade sobre a percepção de risco local.Métodos: O estudo foi realizado com 74 adolescentes de duas comunidades na cidade de San Luis Potosi, no México. Os participantes receberam câmeras descartáveis e foram convidados a tirar fotografias de elementos e/ou situações em que acreditavam estar afetando sua saúde pessoal dentro ou fora de casa. Solicitou-se também aos participantes a descrição de cada fotografia por escrito. As fotografias e as explicações passaram pela análise de conteúdo quantitativa e qualitativa. Conhecer a percepção de risco dos adolescentes desempenha papel crucial no desenvolvimento de programas de comunicação de risco para a melhoria da saúde da comunidade. A técnica de fotografia é promissora para a pesquisa qualitativa em saúde ambiental por oferecer uma impressão realista e concisa das percepções de risco. Os adolescentes em ambas comunidades perceberam uma ampla gama de riscos de saúde ambientais prejudiciais ao seu bem-estar, por exemplo, resíduos, poluição do ar e falta de higiene. No entanto, ainda existem algumas de conhecimento que devem ser abordados.

The objective of this study was to explore Mexican adolescents' perceptions of environmental health risks in contaminated urban areas, and to test the environmental photography technique as a research tool for engaging adolescents in community-based health research. The study was conducted with 74 adolescents from two communities in the city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Participants were provided with disposable cameras and asked to take photographs of elements and situations which they believed affected their personal health both at home and outside their homes. They were also asked to describe each photograph in writing. Photographs and written explanations were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Risk perception plays a crucial role in the development of Risk Communication Programs (RCPs) aimed at the improvement of community health. The photography technique opens up a promising field for environmental health research since it affords a realistic and concise impression of the perceived risks. Adolescents in both communities perceived different environmental health risks as detrimental to their well-being, e.g. waste, air pollution, and lack of hygiene. Yet, some knowledge gaps remain which need to be addressed.

A metallurgical industry in San Luis Potosí city, México, has contaminated the zone by lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). Since 1989 were reported by our group high concentrations of Pb in blood (PbB) and As in urine (AsU) in the local children. In present work, a Risk Communication Program (RCP) was generated to inform the children about the environmental risks of the site where they live, and to change conducts to diminish the exposure to Pb and As. We worked with 170 children (5 to 7 years) of the zone. The RCP was applied and the evaluation was realized by means of analysis of drawings, questionnaires and biological monitoring. In drawings of the children appeared toxic elements such as Pb, contaminated soil, cigarettes, among others. In the questionnaires applied to the children and family parents it was possible to estimate a change in the knowledge and in some conducts with regard to the pollutants, their effects and their exposure. There was not a decrease in the levels of PbB and in the levels of AsU. These were due probably because the principal route of exposure is not only the soil that had been contemplated previously.

Una industria metalúrgica en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí, México ha contaminado el sitio con plomo (Pb) y arsénico (As) principalmente. Desde 1989 se han reportado por nuestro grupo altas concentraciones de Pb en sangre (PbS) y As en orina (AsO) en los niños del lugar. En el presente estudio se generó un Programa de Comunicación Riesgos (PCR) para informar a los niños sobre los riesgos ambientales del sitio donde viven y que cambiaran conductas para disminuir la exposición al Pb y al As. Se trabajó con 170 niños (5 a 7 años) de la zona. Se aplicó el PCR y se realizó la evaluación mediante análisis de dibujos, cuestionarios y monitoreo biológico. En los dibujos de los niños se encontraron elementos tóxicos tales como el Pb, la tierra contaminada, entre otros. En los cuestionarios aplicados a los niños y a los padres de familia se pudo apreciar un cambio en los conocimientos y en algunas conductas respecto a los contaminantes, sus efectos y su exposición. No se encontró una disminución en los niveles de PbS ni de AsO. Esto quizás porque la principal ruta de exposición no es únicamente el suelo, como se había contemplado anteriormente.

A metallurgical industry in San Luis Potosí city, México, has contaminated the zone by lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). Since 1989 were reported by our group high concentrations of Pb in blood (PbB) and As in urine (AsU) in the local children. In present work, a Risk Communication Program (RCP) was generated to inform the children about the environmental risks of the site where they live, and to change conducts to diminish the exposure to Pb and As. We worked with 170 children (5 to 7 years) of the zone. The RCP was applied and the evaluation was realized by means of analysis of drawings, questionnaires and biological monitoring. In drawings of the children appeared toxic elements such as Pb, contaminated soil, cigarettes, among others. In the questionnaires applied to the children and family parents it was possible to estimate a change in the knowledge and in some conducts with regard to the pollutants, their effects and their exposure. There was not a decrease in the levels of PbB and in the levels of AsU. These were due probably because the principal route of exposure is not only the soil that had been contemplated previously.

Una industria metalúrgica en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí, México ha contaminado el sitio con plomo (Pb) y arsénico (As) principalmente. Desde 1989 se han reportado por nuestro grupo altas concentraciones de Pb en sangre (PbS) y As en orina (AsO) en los niños del lugar. En el presente estudio se generó un Programa de Comunicación Riesgos (PCR) para informar a los niños sobre los riesgos ambientales del sitio donde viven y que cambiaran conductas para disminuir la exposición al Pb y al As. Se trabajó con 170 niños (5 a 7 años) de la zona. Se aplicó el PCR y se realizó la evaluación mediante análisis de dibujos, cuestionarios y monitoreo biológico. En los dibujos de los niños se encontraron elementos tóxicos tales como el Pb, la tierra contaminada, entre otros. En los cuestionarios aplicados a los niños y a los padres de familia se pudo apreciar un cambio en los conocimientos y en algunas conductas respecto a los contaminantes, sus efectos y su exposición. No se encontró una disminución en los niveles de PbS ni de AsO. Esto quizás porque la principal ruta de exposición no es únicamente el suelo, como se había contemplado anteriormente.

After a brief introduction on the Mexican environmental context, this work describes some initiatives of institutionalization of the environmental and sustainability perspective in higher education. They include the Mexican Consortium of University Environmental Programs for Sustainable Development; the Action Plan for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutions; the national and state strategies in environmental education and sustainable development; and the National Commitment for the Decade and its concepts of environmental education and sustainability. Finally, we argument the challenges of its incipient institutionalization and raise proposals on public policies and educational programs.

Después de una breve introducción sobre el contexto ambiental mexicano, en este trabajo describimos algunas iniciativas de institucionalización de la perspectiva ambiental y de la sostenibilidad en la educación superior. Entre ellas se encuentra el Consorcio Mexicano de Programas Ambientales Universitarios para el Desarrollo Sustentable; el Plan de Acción para el Desarrollo Sustentable en Instituciones de Educación Superior; las estrategias nacionales y estatales en educación ambiental y desarrollo sostenible; y el Compromiso Nacional para la Década y su concepto de educación ambiental y sostenibilidad. Finalmente argumentamos los desafíos de su incipiente institucionalización y planteamos propuestas dirigidas al ámbito de las políticas públicas y programas educativos.