Cadmium, mercury and lead in the blood of urban women in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, China, Ecuador and Morocco (original) (raw)
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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.
Lead, cadmium, and mercury are well-known toxic metals that are widespread in the environment. These metals occur as a result of both natural processes and human activities. They can cause a wide spectrum of multisystemic adverse health effects ranging from subclinical changes in function to serious intoxication. In the last decade, a number of new studies have led to increased awareness of the health risks associated with environmental exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury, even at low levels of exposure. Exposure assessments have typically focused on children and women of childbearing age because developing children and fetuses are especially sensitive to environmental poisons. Women who are nearing menopause may be another segment of the population that is very sensitive to environmental pollutants, including toxic metals, because menopause is one of the periods during a women's life where she is at an increased risk for adverse health effects caused by these metals . Postmenopausal quality of life is of great concern, as demographic trends in Polish society indicate an increasing proportion of women at the peri-and post-menopausal stages of life [2].
Time trends in burdens of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the population of northern Sweden
Environmental Research, 2006
The time trends of exposure to heavy metals are not adequately known. This is a worldwide problem with regard to the basis for preventive actions and evaluation of their effects. This study addresses time trends for the three toxic elements cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). Concentrations in erythrocytes (Ery) were determined in a subsample of the population-based MONICA surveys from 1990, 1994, and 1999 in a total of 600 men and women aged 25-74 years. The study took place in the two northernmost counties in Sweden. To assess the effect of changes in the environment, adjustments were made for life-style factors that are determinants of exposure. Annual decreases of 5-6% were seen for Ery-Pb levels (adjusted for age and changes in alcohol intake) and Ery-Hg levels (adjusted for age and changes in fish intake). Ery-Cd levels (adjusted for age) showed a similar significant decrease in smoking men. It is concluded that for Pb and maybe also Hg the actions against pollution during recent decades have caused a rapid decrease of exposure; for Hg the decreased use of dental amalgam may also have had an influence. For Cd, the decline in Ery-Cd was seen only in smokers, indicating that Cd exposure from tobacco has decreased, while other environmental sources of Cd have not changed significantly. To further improve the health status in Sweden, it is important to decrease the pollution of Cd, and actions against smoking in the community are important.
Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in residents of Tehran
Biological trace element …, 2008
Monitoring of toxic trace elements for human blood has been of interest to researchers in the fields of environmental chemistry and medical science. The amount of blood toxic elements can reflect the disease state of the person or the environment where that person resides or works. Chronic, low-level exposure to toxic metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) is an increasing global problem. This study focuses on obtaining the usual value of Pb, Cd, and Hg in normal human blood. These elements were determined in 61 male and 40 female volunteers resident in Tehran (Iran). The subjects were non-drug abusers and aged 6-62 years old. Procedures were developed for the collection, storage, and preanalytical treatment of samples. The lead and cadmium were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and mercury was measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The blood levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg in normal volunteers living in Tehran were 123.75±56.42, 1.82±0.67, and 8.48± 4.42 μg/L. There was no significant gender-related difference in blood Cd and Hg concentrations (p<0.06 and p<0.41). However, the results indicated significantly higher content of Pb in blood of males compared to females (138.11±65.43 and 101.84±51.38 μg/L, respectively, p<0.05).
Background: Knowledge of time trends in burdens of the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are important to evaluate effects of preventive actions. This has previously been monitored in northern Sweden in samples from 1990-1999. Alpha-1microglobuline (A1M) in urine is a potential biomarker of tubular dysfunction, presumed to be effected by body burdens of cadmium. It is unknown if elements from catalytic converters, platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and palladium (Pd), cause human exposure. Objective: To continue the time trend series of body burdens of Cd, Pb and Hg and to quantify levels of Pt, Rh and Pd and alpha-1-microglobuline in samples from northern Sweden. Design: Biobanked blood samples from health screenings in the WHO MONICA-project in northern Sweden were analyzed for Cd, Pb and Hg, in two age-groups; 25-35 years and 50-60 years. In 2004, blood samples from 287 women were analysed and in 2009, blood samples from 150 men and 177 women were analyzed. Also, cadmium and A1M were analysed in urine for the 2004 and 2009 participants. Pt, Rh and Pd were analysed in blood for 26 women in ages 55-59 years from the 2009 screening. Results: There was a decline in blood levels of Pb in both men and women. Blood levels of Cd did not change over time. However, in women, levels of U-Cd were lower in 2009 as compared to 2004, also in never-smokers in the younger age-group. Due to use of erythrocytes in the previous report on data from 1990-99, body burdens of Hg could not be compared to previous data. A decrease from 2004 to 2009 was detected in B-Hg in women in the older age-group. Levels of Pd could not be quantified due to high uncertainty in the analysis. Blood levels of Pt and Rh were at levels of about one thousandth of the heavy metals. Levels of protein A1M in urine could not be compared over time, due to changes in analytical method. Levels of the protein were higher in the older age-group and men had higher levels than women in samples from 2009. Conclusion: The previously detected decline in body burdens of Pb continued from 1999 to 2009, while there is still no evident change in body burdens of Cd. We cannot evaluate the time trend of Hg body burdens after 1999 with these data. Levels of Pt and Rh are detectable. Surprisingly, men in the older age-group had higher levels than women of protein A1M. For Cd, there are indications of risk of adverse health effects at the reported levels. Efforts to reduce pollution and human exposure to all three heavy metals are important, but this is especially important for cadmium.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 2014
Objectives: To describe blood lead (Pb-B), cadmium (Cd-B) and mercury (Hg-B) levels in children living in urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city (north of Morocco) and to identify the determinants and some renal effects of exposure. Material and Methods: The study was conducted from June 2007 to January 2008 in 209 school children (113 girls, 96 boys), aged 6-12 years, from urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city. Interview and questionnaires data were obtained. Blood and urinary samples were analyzed. Results: The mean of blood lead levels (Pb-B) in our population was 55.53 μg/l (range: 7.5-231.1 μg/l). Children from the urban area had higher blood lead levels (BLLs) mean (82.36 μg/l) than children from industrial and rural areas (48.23 and 35.99 μg/l, respectively); with no significant difference between boys and girls. BLLs were associated with traffic intensity, passive smoking and infancy in the urban area. The mean of blood cadmium levels (BCLs) was 0.22 μg/l (range: 0.06-0.68 μg/l), with no difference between various areas. Rural boys had higher BCLs mean than rural girls, but no gender influence was noticed in the other areas. BCLs were associated with the number of cigarettes smoked at children's homes. The blood mercury levels (BMLs) mean was 0.49 μg/l (range: 0.01-5.31 μg/l). The BMLs mean was higher in urban and industrial areas than in the rural area with no gender-related difference. BMLs were associated with amalgam fillings and infancy in the urban area. About 8% of the children had BLLs ≥ 100 μg/l particularly in the urban area, microalbuminuria and a decrease in height were noticed in girls from the inner city of Fez and that can be related to high BLLs (89.45 μg/l). Conclusions: There is a need to control and regulate potential sources of contamination by these trace elements in children; particularly for lead.
Title: Hair mercury and urinary cadmium levels in Belgian children and their mothers within the framework of the COPHES/DEMOCOPHES projects Article Type: Full Length Article Abstract: A harmonized human biomonitoring pilot study was set up within the frame of the European projects DEMOCOPHES and COPHES. In 17 European countries, biomarkers of some environmental pollutants were measured in children and their mothers in order to obtain European-wide comparison values on these chemicals. Here we present the urinary cadmium and hair mercury levels of the 129 Belgian school children (6-11y) and their mothers (≤ 45y) living in urban and rural areas of Belgium. The geometric mean levels for mercury in hair were 0.383µg/g and 0.204µg/g for respectively mothers and children. Cadmium in mother's and children's urine was detected at a geometric mean concentration of respectively 0.21 and 0.04µg/L. For both biomarkers, levels measured in the mothers and their child were correlated. While the urinary cadmium levels increased with age, no trend was found for hair mercury content, except the fact that mothers hold higher levels than children. The hair mercury content increased significantly with the number of dental amalgam fillings, explaining partially the higher levels in the mothers by their higher presence rate of these amalgams compared to children. Fish or seafood consumption was the other main parameter determining the mercury levels in hair. No relationship was found between smoking status and cadmium or mercury levels, but the studied population included very few smokers. Urinary cadmium levels were higher in both mothers and children living in urban areas, while for mercury this difference was only significant for children. Our small population showed urinary cadmium and hair mercury levels lower than the health based guidelines suggested by the WHO or the JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives). Only 1% had cadmium level slightly higher than the German HBM-I value (1µg/l for adults), and 9% exceeded the 1µg mercury/g hair suggested by the US EPA.
Science of the Total Environment, 2016
The Cd and Pb blood contents of healthy adult subjects who are non-occupationally exposed and living in the metropolitan area of Athens (Greece) have not been assessed thus far. Additionally, Greeks rank first among EU27 in terms of smoking habits. To fill the existing gap, we aimed to evaluate the predictors and propose reference values (RVs) of the Cd (CdB) and Pb (PbB) blood concentrations in residents of the metropolitan area of Athens (Greece). Age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, educational status and nutritional habits were used as variables, with an emphasis on smoking. CdB and PbB determinations were performed directly by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following the appropriate dilution of the samples with Triton-X-100. The RVs of CdB and PbB proposed for the general adult population of the Metropolitan area of Athens, Greece (upper limit of the 95% CI of the 95th percentile of the distribution of values), were 2.3 and 88 μg L −1 (P95: 1.8 and 77 μg L −1 ; 95% CI (P95): 1.5-2.3 and 70-88 μg L −1), respectively. Males had a higher median CdB (0.69 μg L −1) than females (0.55 μg L −1). Subjects aged b 40 years had a lower median CdB (0.51 μg L −1) than the elderly (≥ 60 years; 0.60 μg L −1). The CdB in smokers (1.2 μg L −1) was almost threefold higher than in j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / s c i t o t e n v non-smokers (0.46 μg L −1). The PbB levels were higher in males (31 μg L −1) than females (20 μg L −1). Subjects aged b40 years had a lower median PbB (17 μg L −1) than the elderly (≥60 years; 32 μg L −1). A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the predictor variables for the CdB levels were the standardized beta weight, smoking, age, alcohol consumption, and intake of leafy vegetables, whereas for the PbB levels they were sex and age.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2012
Human biomonitoring is a well-recognized tool for estimating the exposure of human populations to environmental pollutants. However, information regarding biomarker concentrations of many environmental chemicals in the general population is limited for many countries. The Spanish Environment Ministry has recently funded a human biomonitoring study on the Spanish general population. This study aims to determine reference levels for several biomarkers, especially heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and cotinine, in urine, whole blood, serum and hair, and will involve 2000 volunteers throughout Spain. Samples were taken during 2009-2010 and analyses are currently underway. The results presented herein were obtained in a pilot study carried out in the Madrid region. The study group comprised 170 volunteers, of which 79% were female and 21% male (age: 23-66 years). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding diet and living habits and provides a morning urine sample. The geometric means for total mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were 1.23, 1.11 and 0.25 g/g creatinine, respectively. Levels of Pb and Hg were higher than those reported for the general population in the USA and Germany, whereas Cd was in the same range (CDC, 2009;. The values reported here are similar to those reported in other Spanish studies.