Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium
Abstract Background A previous study revealed an environmental contamination by heavy metals in the vicinity of two non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium. The purpose of the current cross-sectional study was to estimate exposure of the population to heavy metals in the vicinity of the plants, in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Archives of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-016-0154-8 |
| _version_ | 1811221381860294656 |
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| author | Sébastien Fierens Javiera Rebolledo Ann Versporten Ethel Brits Vincent Haufroid Pierre De Plaen An Van Nieuwenhuyse |
| author_facet | Sébastien Fierens Javiera Rebolledo Ann Versporten Ethel Brits Vincent Haufroid Pierre De Plaen An Van Nieuwenhuyse |
| author_sort | Sébastien Fierens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A previous study revealed an environmental contamination by heavy metals in the vicinity of two non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium. The purpose of the current cross-sectional study was to estimate exposure of the population to heavy metals in the vicinity of the plants, in comparison with population living further away. Methods We did a random sampling in the general population of Ath in two areas: a central area, including the plants, and a peripheral area, presumably less exposed. We quantified cadmium, lead, nickel, chromium and cobalt in blood and/or urine of children and adults in three age groups: (i) children aged 2.5 to 6 years (n = 98), (ii) children aged 7 to 11 years (n = 74), and (iii) adults aged 40 to 60 years (n = 106). We also studied subclinical health effects by quantifying retinol-binding protein and microalbuminuria, and by means of a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results We obtained a participation rate of 24 %. Blood lead levels were significantly higher in young children living in the central area (18.2 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 15.9–20.9) compared to the peripheral area (14.8 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 12.6–17.4). We observed no other significant mean difference in metal concentrations between the two areas. In the whole population, blood lead levels were higher in men (31.7 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 27.9–36.1) than in women (21.4 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 18.1–25.3). Urine cadmium levels were 0.06 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.05–0.07), 0.21 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.17–0.27), and 0.25 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.20–0.30) for children, men, and women, respectively. Conclusions Despite higher blood lead levels in young children living close to the plants, observed metal concentrations remain in the range found in other similar biomonitoring studies in the general population and are below the levels of concern for public health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:58:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb2f0472f7f540e3afeb3ba2d8437c43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-3258 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:58:18Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb2f0472f7f540e3afeb3ba2d8437c432022-12-22T03:41:25ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582016-10-0174111110.1186/s13690-016-0154-8Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, BelgiumSébastien Fierens0Javiera Rebolledo1Ann Versporten2Ethel Brits3Vincent Haufroid4Pierre De Plaen5An Van Nieuwenhuyse6Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Department of Clinical Biology, Laboratory of Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, University Hospital Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Direction of Public Health and Surveillance, Health and Environment Service, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP)Abstract Background A previous study revealed an environmental contamination by heavy metals in the vicinity of two non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium. The purpose of the current cross-sectional study was to estimate exposure of the population to heavy metals in the vicinity of the plants, in comparison with population living further away. Methods We did a random sampling in the general population of Ath in two areas: a central area, including the plants, and a peripheral area, presumably less exposed. We quantified cadmium, lead, nickel, chromium and cobalt in blood and/or urine of children and adults in three age groups: (i) children aged 2.5 to 6 years (n = 98), (ii) children aged 7 to 11 years (n = 74), and (iii) adults aged 40 to 60 years (n = 106). We also studied subclinical health effects by quantifying retinol-binding protein and microalbuminuria, and by means of a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results We obtained a participation rate of 24 %. Blood lead levels were significantly higher in young children living in the central area (18.2 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 15.9–20.9) compared to the peripheral area (14.8 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 12.6–17.4). We observed no other significant mean difference in metal concentrations between the two areas. In the whole population, blood lead levels were higher in men (31.7 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 27.9–36.1) than in women (21.4 μg/l ; 95 % CI: 18.1–25.3). Urine cadmium levels were 0.06 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.05–0.07), 0.21 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.17–0.27), and 0.25 μg/g creatinine (95 % CI: 0.20–0.30) for children, men, and women, respectively. Conclusions Despite higher blood lead levels in young children living close to the plants, observed metal concentrations remain in the range found in other similar biomonitoring studies in the general population and are below the levels of concern for public health.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-016-0154-8Human biomonitoringHeavy metalsLeadCadmiumBiomarkersRetinol-binding protein |
| spellingShingle | Sébastien Fierens Javiera Rebolledo Ann Versporten Ethel Brits Vincent Haufroid Pierre De Plaen An Van Nieuwenhuyse Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium Archives of Public Health Human biomonitoring Heavy metals Lead Cadmium Biomarkers Retinol-binding protein |
| title | Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium |
| title_full | Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium |
| title_fullStr | Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium |
| title_short | Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium |
| title_sort | human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non ferrous metal plants in ath belgium |
| topic | Human biomonitoring Heavy metals Lead Cadmium Biomarkers Retinol-binding protein |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-016-0154-8 |
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