scholarly journals Levels and Influencing Factors of Heavy Metals in Human Hairs from Five Provinces in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renjie Qin ◽  
Meiqing Jia ◽  
Wei Luo ◽  
Guanghong Wu

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in 150 human hairs samples collected from five provinces in China to investigate heavy metal exposure levels and influencing factors. The gender, age, diet and lifestyle habits of the volunteers were investigated through questionnaires to analyze their effects on hair element concentrations. Metal concentrations in hair were 1.62 μg/g (Mn), 0.99 μg/g (Co), 0.22 μg/g (Cd) and 8.49 μg/g (Pb), which were low compared with those reported in mine contaminated areas. Cd concentration was higher in females than males, Pb concentration was lower in the elder group and the younger group. No difference of Cd and Co concentrations among rice consumers and/or wheat consumers was found. Pb concentration in rice consumers were higher than those in rice and/or wheat consumers. Fish consumption were a factor affecting hair Cd and Pb levels, while smoking was not one main pathway of hair Cd and Pb exposure.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saima Naz ◽  
Borhan Mansouri ◽  
Ahmad Manan Mustafa Chatha ◽  
Qudrat Ullah ◽  
Zain Ul Abadeen ◽  
...  

Abstract This study was conducted to calculate the burden of heavy metals i.e., aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba) and lead (Pb) in the river water of Punjnad Headworks, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. For this purpose, samples were collected from surface water, bed sediments and planktons during autumn, winter and spring seasons (September 2018 to May 2019). The results showed that in surface water Pb concentration was highest (453.87 mg L-1), while in sediments and plankton, Al concentration was highest (370.24 µg g-1 and 315.05 µg g-1, respectively). A significant difference (p < 0.000) in metal concentrations was found among surface water, bed sediments and plankton at different sampling stations during various seasons. However, findings of this study showed no adverse effects of heavy metal concentrations on human health. This study provided better understanding of various pollutants and their concentrations in water sources at the studied location.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Ato Armah ◽  
Reginald Quansah ◽  
Isaac Luginaah

Heavy metal accumulation in the food chain is an issue of global concern because it eventually leads to toxic effects on humans through the water we drink, contaminated soils, crops, and animals. Reports of toxicant levels in environmental media (air, water, and soil) and biota in Ghana were sought in SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Of 1004 bibliographic records identified, 54 studies were included in evidence synthesis. A disproportionately large number of papers (about 80%) focused exclusively on environmental media. Papers focusing on biomonitoring and human health were relatively few. Studies reported a high degree of spatial variability for the concentrations of 8 metals in groundwater. Generally, heavy metal concentrations in soil reported by the studies reviewed were higher than metal concentrations in riverine sediments. Urine and hair were the most common biological markers of heavy metal exposure used by the studies reviewed unlike nails, which were sparingly used. By and large, published results on the levels of heavy metals in goldmine and non-mine workers yielded contradictory results. Mostly, concentrations of heavy metals reported by the studies reviewed for nails were higher than for hair. A high degree of variability in the heavy metal concentrations in human subjects in the studies reviewed is likely due to heterogeneity in physiological states, excretion profiles, and body burdens of individuals. These, in turn, may be a product of genetic polymorphisms influencing detoxification efficiency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Finkelstein ◽  
Heather Guetterman ◽  
Amy Fothergill ◽  
Christina Johnson ◽  
Wesley Bonam ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To examine biomarkers of heavy metal exposure in women of reproductive age as part of an ongoing periconceptional surveillance program in Southern India. Methods Participants were women of reproductive age (15–40 y) who were not pregnant or lactating and resided in households within the 50 km2 catchment area of our community-based research site. Venous blood samples were collected in metal-free blue top K2EDTA vacutainers, and urine samples were collected in acid-washed containers. Plasma and red blood cells were separated by centrifugation, processed, and stored <−80 °C until analysis. Heavy metal concentrations of lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium were measured via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in a pilot sub-sample (n = 70). Descriptive statistics for plasma heavy metal concentrations were reported (median, interquartile range [IQR]). Results Half of participants had at least one heavy metal detected in plasma (48.6%). For lead, 30.0% of women had detectable concentrations in plasma (median (IQR): 0.2 (0.2, 0.2) µg/dL), with 1.4% having plasma lead concentrations ≥0.5 µg/dL. For mercury, 17.1% of participants had detectable concentrations in plasma (median (IQR): 4.5 (2.0, 8.0) µg/L) and 7.1% of samples were >5.8 µg/L. A total of 31.1% of participants had detectable chromium plasma concentrations (median (IQR): 2.5 (1.0, 15.0) µg/L), with 15.7% of samples >2.1 µg/L. Concentrations of two or more heavy metals detected in plasma were found in 41.4% of participants: 7.1% lead and mercury, 18.6% lead and chromium, 10.0% mercury and chromium, and 5.7% with all three detected in plasma. No participants in this pilot sub-sample had plasma concentrations of arsenic or cadmium above the detection limit for this method (≥1.0 µg/L). Conclusions Findings from this pilot study provide preliminary evidence of heavy metal exposure – including lead, mercury, and chromium – in women of reproductive age in this setting. Because of potential interactions between exposure to heavy metals and folate status that may impact the risk of birth defects, biomarker surveillance of heavy metals remains a critical component of this program. Funding Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AF was supported by the National Institutes of Health #5 T32 HD087137


Geologija ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audronė Jankaitė ◽  
Pranas Baltrėnas ◽  
Agnė Kazlauskienė

Author(s):  
Liping Li ◽  
Yuqing Zhang ◽  
James A. Ippolito ◽  
Weiqin Xing ◽  
Chen Tu

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