RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate whether blood cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) in children differ regionally in 9 countries, and to identify factors correlating with exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors performed a cross-sectional study of children aged 7-14 years, living in 2007-2008 in urban, rural, or potentially polluted ("hot spot") areas (ca. 50 children from each area, in total 1363 children) in 6 European and 3 non-European countries. The authors analyzed Cd, Pb, and total Hg in blood and collected information on potential determinants of exposure through questionnaires. Regional differences in exposure levels were assessed within each country. RESULTS: Children living near industrial "hot-spots" had B-Cd 1.6 (95% CI: 1.4-1.9) times higher in the Czech Republic and 2.1 (95% CI:1.6-2.8) times higher in Poland, as compared to urban children in the same countries (geometric means [GM]: 0.13 µg/l and 0.15 µg/l, respectively). Correspondingly, B-Pb in the "hot spot" areas was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.6-2.1) times higher than in urban areas in Slovakia and 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9-2.7) times higher in Poland (urban GM: 19.4 µg/l and 16.3 µg/l, respectively). In China and Morocco, rural children had significantly lower B-Pb than urban ones (urban GM: 64 µg/l and 71 µg/l, respectively), suggesting urban exposure from leaded petrol, water pipes and/or coal-burning. Hg "hot spot" areas in China had B-Hg 3.1 (95% CI: 2.7-3.5) times higher, and Ecuador 1.5 (95% CI: 1.2-1.9) times higher, as compared to urban areas (urban GM: 2.45 µg/l and 3.23 µg/l, respectively). Besides industrial exposure, traffic correlated with B-Cd; male sex, environmental tobacco smoke, and offal consumption with B-Pb; and fish consumption and amalgam fillings with B-Hg. However, these correlations could only marginally explain regional differences. CONCLUSIONS: These mainly European results indicate that some children experience about doubled exposures to toxic elements just because of where they live. These exposures are unsafe, identifiable, and preventable and therefore call for preventive actions. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):349-64.
Assuntos
Cádmio , Mercúrio , Masculino , Animais , Chumbo , Marrocos/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Equador , ChinaRESUMO
Elevated manganese (Mn) in drinking water has been reported worldwide. While, naturally occurring Mn in groundwater is generally the major source, anthropogenic contamination by Mn-containing fungicides such as mancozeb may also occur. The main objective of this study was to examine factors associated with Mn and ethylenethiourea (ETU), a degradation product of mancozeb, in drinking water samples from villages situated near banana plantations with aerial spraying of mancozeb. Drinking water samples (n = 126) were obtained from 124 homes of women participating in the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA, for its acronym in Spanish), living nearby large-scale banana plantations. Concentrations of Mn, iron (Fe), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and ethylenethiourea (ETU), a degradation product of mancozeb, were measured in water samples. Only six percent of samples had detectable ETU concentrations (limit of detection (LOD) = 0.15 µg/L), whereas 94% of the samples had detectable Mn (LOD = 0.05 µg/L). Mn concentrations were higher than 100 and 500 µg/L in 22% and 7% of the samples, respectively. Mn was highest in samples from private and banana farm wells. Distance from a banana plantation was inversely associated with Mn concentrations, with a 61.5% decrease (95% CI: -97.0, -26.0) in Mn concentrations for each km increase in distance. Mn concentrations in water transported with trucks from one village to another were almost 1000 times higher than Mn in water obtained from taps in houses supplied by the same well but not transported, indicating environmental Mn contamination. Elevated Mn in drinking water may be partly explained by aerial spraying of mancozeb; however, naturally occurring Mn in groundwater, and intensive agriculture may also contribute. Drinking water risk assessment for mancozeb should consider Mn as a health hazard. The findings of this study evidence the need for health-based World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on Mn in drinking water.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Água Potável/análise , Etilenotioureia/análise , Fungicidas Industriais/análise , Maneb/análise , Manganês/análise , Zineb/análise , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Agricultura , Costa Rica , Saúde Ambiental , Monitoramento Ambiental , Feminino , Humanos , Musa , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Manganese (Mn), an essential nutrient, is a neurotoxicant at high concentrations. We measured Mn concentrations in repeated blood and hair samples collected from 449 pregnant women living near banana plantations with extensive aerial spraying of Mn-containing fungicide mancozeb in Costa Rica, and examined environmental and lifestyle factors associated with these biomarkers. Mean blood Mn and geometric mean hair Mn concentrations were 24.4 µg/L (8.9-56.3) and 1.8 µg/g (0.05-53.3), respectively. Blood Mn concentrations were positively associated with gestational age at sampling (ß = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.2), number of household members (ß = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6), and living in a house made of permeable and difficult-to-clean materials (ß = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3 to 4.0); and inversely related to smoking (ß = -3.1; 95% CI: -5.8 to -0.3). Hair Mn concentrations were inversely associated with gestational age at sampling (% change = 0.8; 95% CI: -1.6 to 0.0); and positively associated with living within 50 m of a plantation (% change = 42.1; 95% CI: 14.2 to 76.9) and Mn concentrations in drinking water (% change = 17.5; 95% CI: 12.2 to 22.8). Our findings suggest that pregnant women living near banana plantations aerially sprayed with mancozeb may be environmentally exposed to Mn.
Assuntos
Exposição Ambiental/análise , Cabelo/química , Manganês/análise , Gravidez/metabolismo , Adolescente , Adulto , Agricultura/métodos , Costa Rica , Feminino , Fungicidas Industriais , Humanos , Maneb/farmacocinética , Manganês/sangue , Manganês/farmacocinética , Gravidez/sangue , Adulto Jovem , Zineb/farmacocinéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to make an international comparison of blood levels of cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) of women in seven European, and three non-European cities, and to identify determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 50 women (age: 46-62) from each city were recruited (totally 480) in 2006-2009. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. Blood samples were analysed in one laboratory to avoid interlaboratory variation. RESULTS: Between the European cities, the B-Pb and B-Cd results vary little (range of geometric means: 13.5-27.0 µg/l and 0.25-0.65 µg/l, respectively); the variation of B-Hg was larger (0.40-1.38 µg/l). Between the non-European cities the results for B-Pb, B-Cd and B-Hg were 19.2-68.0, 0.39-0.99 and 1.01-2.73 µg/l, respectively. Smoking was a statistically significant determinant for B-Cd, while fish and shellfish intakes contributed to B-Hg and B-Pb, amalgam fillings also contributed to B-Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The present results confirm the previous results from children; the exposure to lead and cadmium varies only little between different European cities suggesting that other factors than the living area are more important. The study also confirms the previous findings of higher cadmium and lead levels in some non-European cities. The geographical variation for mercury is significant.
Assuntos
Cádmio/sangue , Doença Ambiental/sangue , Chumbo/sangue , Mercúrio/sangue , População Urbana , Saúde da Mulher , Croácia/epidemiologia , República Tcheca/epidemiologia , Equador/epidemiologia , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Doença Ambiental/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Marrocos/epidemiologia , Polônia/epidemiologia , Eslováquia/epidemiologia , Eslovênia/epidemiologia , Suécia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Children's blood-lead concentration (B-Pb) is well studied, but little is known about cadmium (B-Cd) and mercury (B-Hg), in particular for central Europe. Such information is necessary for risk assessment and management. Therefore, we here describe and compare B-Pb, B-Cd and B-Hg in children in six European, and three non-European cities, and identify determinants of these exposures. About 50 school children (7-14 years) from each city were recruited (totally 433) in 2007-2008. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. A blood sample was analyzed: only two laboratories with strict quality control were used. The European cities showed only minor differences for B-Cd (geometric means 0.11-0.17 µg/L) and B-Pb (14-20 µg/L), but larger for B-Hg (0.12-0.94 µg/L). Corresponding means for the non-European countries were 0.21-0.26, 32-71, and 0.3-3.2 µg/L, respectively. For B-Cd in European samples, traffic intensity close to home was a statistically significant determinant, for B-Hg fish consumption and amalgam fillings, and for B-Pb sex (boys higher). This study shows that European city children's B-Cd and B-Pb vary only little between countries; B-Hg differs considerably, due to varying tooth restoration practices and fish intake. Traffic intensity seemed to be a determinant for B-Cd. The metal concentrations were low from a risk perspective but the chosen non-European cities showed higher concentrations than the cities in Europe.
Assuntos
Cádmio/sangue , Exposição Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricos , Poluentes Ambientais/sangue , Chumbo/sangue , Mercúrio/sangue , Adolescente , Criança , China , Cidades/estatística & dados numéricos , Dieta/estatística & dados numéricos , Equador , Monitoramento Ambiental , Europa (Continente) , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Marrocos , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
Traditional gold mining, using metallic mercury (Hg(0)) to form gold amalgam, followed by burning to remove the Hg(0), is widely used in South America, Africa and Asia. The gold is sold to merchants who burn it again to eliminate remaining Hg(0). In Ecuador, 200 gold miners, 37 gold merchants and 72 referents were studied. The median Hg concentrations in urine (U-Hg) were 3.3 (range 0.23-170), 37 (3.2-420), and 1.6 (0.2-13)µg/g creatinine, respectively, and in whole blood (B-Hg) were 5.2, 30, and 5.0 µg/L, respectively. Biomarker concentrations among merchants were statistically significantly higher than among miners and referents; also the miners differed from the referents. Burning of gold amalgam among miners was intermittent; U-Hg decreased in the burning-free period. In computerized neuromotor examinations, B-Hg and U-Hg concentrations were associated with increases in the centre frequency of the tremor, as well as in reaction time and postural stability.Retention of Hg (B-Hg), and the elimination rate (U-Hg) appears to be modified by polymorphism in a gene of an enzyme in the glutathione synthesis (GCLM), but there were no significant genetic modifications for the associations between exposure and neurotoxicity.Thus, the gold merchants have a much higher exposure and risk than the miners, in whom the exposure varies over time. The metabolism of Hg is modified by genetic traits. The present exposure to Hg had limited neurotoxic effects.
Assuntos
Mercúrio/toxicidade , Mineração , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Adulto , Biomarcadores/urina , Equador , Glutamato-Cisteína Ligase/genética , Ouro , Humanos , Masculino , Mercúrio/urina , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Desempenho Psicomotor/efeitos dos fármacos , Tempo de Reação/efeitos dos fármacos , Tremor/induzido quimicamenteRESUMO
Since 2006, three studies have reported elevated levels of lead (Pb) among the indigenous population of the Corrientes river, in the Amazon basin of Peru. Due to the large evidence of environmental pollution related to oil exploitation in the area, this activity has been suggested as the source of exposure. This study aimed to evaluate Pb levels in the population and environment of two communities exposed and one community non-exposed to the oil exploitation activity. Blood lead levels (BLL) were determined by the instrument Leadcare. A comparison with the graphite furnace atomic absorption technique was performed in order to validate the Leadcare results. Environmental samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Among 361 capillary samples, the mean BLL was 9.4 µg/dl. Mean BLL of the communities exposed (n=171, x¯=9.5 µg/dl) and non-exposed (n=190, x¯=9.2 µg/dl) to the oil activity were not significantly different. Pb levels in environmental samples were below the maximum permissible levels. The sources of exposure could not be identified. Elevated levels of Pb in the oil-non-exposed community pointed out at other sources not yet clarified.