1
|
Patterson KP, Nigra AE, Olmedo P, Grau-Perez M, O'Leary R, O'Leary M, Fretts AM, Umans JG, Best LG, Goessler W, Cole SA, Navas-Acien A. Geographic and dietary differences of urinary uranium levels in the Strong Heart Family Study. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41370-024-00695-6. [PMID: 38961273 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00695-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND American Indian (AI) communities are affected by uranium exposure from abandoned mines and naturally contaminated drinking water. Few studies have evaluated geographical differences across AI communities and the role of dietary exposures. OBJECTIVE We evaluated differences in urinary uranium levels by diet and geographical area among AI participants from the Northern Plains, the Southern Plains, and the Southwest enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). METHODS We used food frequency questionnaires to determine dietary sources related to urinary uranium levels for 1,682 SHFS participants in 2001-2003. We calculated adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of urinary uranium for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in self-reported food group consumption accounting for family clustering and adjusting for sociodemographic variables and other food groups. We determined the percentage of variability in urinary uranium explained by diet. RESULTS Median (IQR) urinary uranium levels were 0.027 (0.012, 0.057) μg/g creatinine. Urinary uranium levels were higher in Arizona (median 0.039 μg/g) and North Dakota and South Dakota (median 0.038 μg/g) and lower in Oklahoma (median 0.019 μg/g). The adjusted percent increase (95% confidence interval) of urinary uranium levels per IQR increase in reported food intake was 20% (5%, 36%) for organ meat, 11% (1%, 23%) for cereals, and 14% (1%, 29%) for alcoholic drinks. In analyses stratified by study center, the association with organ meat was specific to North Dakota and South Dakota participants. An IQR increase in consumption of fries and chips was inversely associated with urinary uranium levels -11% (-19%, -3%). Overall, we estimated that self-reported dietary exposures explained 1.71% of variability in urine uranium levels. IMPACT Our paper provides a novel assessment of self-reported food intake and urinary uranium levels in a cohort of American Indian participants. We identify foods (organ meat, cereals, and alcohol) positively associated with urinary uranium levels, find that organ meat consumption is only associated with urine uranium in North Dakota and South Dakota, and estimate that diet explains relatively little variation in total urinary uranium concentrations. Our findings contribute meaningful data toward a more comprehensive estimation of uranium exposure among Native American communities and support the need for high-quality assessments of water and dust uranium exposures in SHFS communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P Patterson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Anne E Nigra
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Grau-Perez
- Area of Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk, Biomedical Research Institute Hospital Clinic of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rae O'Leary
- Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc, Eagle Butte, SD, USA
| | - Marcia O'Leary
- Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc, Eagle Butte, SD, USA
| | - Amanda M Fretts
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jason G Umans
- MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lyle G Best
- Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc, Eagle Butte, SD, USA
| | | | - Shelley A Cole
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martinez-Morata I, Sobel M, Tellez-Plaza M, Navas-Acien A, Howe CG, Sanchez TR. A State-of-the-Science Review on Metal Biomarkers. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:215-249. [PMID: 37337116 PMCID: PMC10822714 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00402-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Biomarkers are commonly used in epidemiological studies to assess metals and metalloid exposure and estimate internal dose, as they integrate multiple sources and routes of exposure. Researchers are increasingly using multi-metal panels and innovative statistical methods to understand how exposure to real-world metal mixtures affects human health. Metals have both common and unique sources and routes of exposure, as well as biotransformation and elimination pathways. The development of multi-element analytical technology allows researchers to examine a broad spectrum of metals in their studies; however, their interpretation is complex as they can reflect different windows of exposure and several biomarkers have critical limitations. This review elaborates on more than 500 scientific publications to discuss major sources of exposure, biotransformation and elimination, and biomarkers of exposure and internal dose for 12 metals/metalloids, including 8 non-essential elements (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, uranium) and 4 essential elements (manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc) commonly used in multi-element analyses. RECENT FINDINGS We conclude that not all metal biomarkers are adequate measures of exposure and that understanding the metabolic biotransformation and elimination of metals is key to metal biomarker interpretation. For example, whole blood is a good biomarker of exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and tin, but it is not a good indicator for barium, nickel, and uranium. For some essential metals, the interpretation of whole blood biomarkers is unclear. Urine is the most commonly used biomarker of exposure across metals but it should not be used to assess lead exposure. Essential metals such as zinc and manganese are tightly regulated by homeostatic processes; thus, elevated levels in urine may reflect body loss and metabolic processes rather than excess exposure. Total urinary arsenic may reflect exposure to both organic and inorganic arsenic, thus, arsenic speciation and adjustment for arsebonetaine are needed in populations with dietary seafood consumption. Hair and nails primarily reflect exposure to organic mercury, except in populations exposed to high levels of inorganic mercury such as in occupational and environmental settings. When selecting biomarkers, it is also critical to consider the exposure window of interest. Most populations are chronically exposed to metals in the low-to-moderate range, yet many biomarkers reflect recent exposures. Toenails are emerging biomarkers in this regard. They are reliable biomarkers of long-term exposure for arsenic, mercury, manganese, and selenium. However, more research is needed to understand the role of nails as a biomarker of exposure to other metals. Similarly, teeth are increasingly used to assess lifelong exposures to several essential and non-essential metals such as lead, including during the prenatal window. As metals epidemiology moves towards embracing a multi-metal/mixtures approach and expanding metal panels to include less commonly studied metals, it is important for researchers to have a strong knowledge base about the metal biomarkers included in their research. This review aims to aid metals researchers in their analysis planning, facilitate sound analytical decision-making, as well as appropriate understanding and interpretation of results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martinez-Morata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Marisa Sobel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Maria Tellez-Plaza
- Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Tiffany R Sanchez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ong JX, Lee KM, Koh SP, Wu Y, Chan SH. A study on natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in farmed fish and shellfish in Singapore. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
4
|
Hoover JH, Erdei E, Begay D, Gonzales M, Jarrett JM, Cheng PY, Lewis J. Exposure to uranium and co-occurring metals among pregnant Navajo women. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 190:109943. [PMID: 32750552 PMCID: PMC7530024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Navajo Nation residents are at risk for exposure to uranium and other co-occurring metals found in abandoned mine waste. The Navajo Birth Cohort Study (NBCS) was initiated in 2010 to address community concerns regarding the impact of chronic environmental exposure to metals on pregnancy and birth outcomes. The objectives of this paper were to 1) evaluate maternal urine concentrations of key metals at enrollment and delivery from a pregnancy cohort; and 2) compare the NBCS to the US general population by comparing representative summary statistical values. Pregnant Navajo women (N = 783, age range 14-45 years) were recruited from hospital facilities on the Navajo Nation during prenatal visits and urine samples were collected by trained staff in pre-screened containers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health's (NCEH) Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) analyzed urine samples for metals. Creatinine-corrected urine concentrations of cadmium decreased between enrollment (1st or 2nd trimester) and delivery (3rd trimester) while urine uranium concentrations were not observed to change. Median and 95th percentile values of maternal NBCS urine concentrations of uranium, manganese, cadmium, and lead exceeded respective percentiles for National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) percentiles for women (ages 14-45 either pregnant or not pregnant.) Median NBCS maternal urine uranium concentrations were 2.67 (enrollment) and 2.8 (delivery) times greater than the NHANES median concentration, indicating that pregnant Navajo women are exposed to metal mixtures and have higher uranium exposure compared to NHANES data for women. This demonstrates support for community concerns about uranium exposure and suggests a need for additional analyses to evaluate the impact of maternal metal mixtures exposure on birth outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Hoover
- Montana State University BIllings, Billings, MT, United States.
| | - Esther Erdei
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - David Begay
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Melissa Gonzales
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, Albuquerque, NM, United States; University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jeffery M Jarrett
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Po-Yung Cheng
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Johnnye Lewis
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Evaluation of daily intake for some elements of radiation protection concern by inhabitants of Greater Cairo Area, Egypt. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrras.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
6
|
Martins AC, Gallimberti M, de Oliveira Souza VC, Rocha BA, Barbosa F. Biomonitoring for uranium exposure among young children living in nineteen states across five regions of Brazil. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-5964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
7
|
Bjørklund G, Christophersen OA, Chirumbolo S, Selinus O, Aaseth J. Recent aspects of uranium toxicology in medical geology. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 156:526-533. [PMID: 28431380 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Uranium (U) is a chemo-toxic, radiotoxic and even a carcinogenic element. Due to its radioactivity, the effects of U on humans health have been extensively investigated. Prolonged U exposure may cause kidney disease and cancer. The geological distribution of U radionuclides is still a great concern for human health. Uranium in groundwater, frequently used as drinking water, and general environmental pollution with U raise concerns about the potential public health problem in several areas of Asia. The particular paleo-geological hallmark of India and other Southern Asiatic regions enhances the risk of U pollution in rural and urban communities. This paper highlights different health and environmental aspects of U as well as uptake and intake. It discusses levels of U in soil and water and the related health issues. Also described are different issues of U pollution, such as U and fertilizers, occupational exposure in miners, use and hazards of U in weapons (depleted U), U and plutonium as catalysts in the reaction between DNA and H2O2, and recycling of U from groundwater to surface soils in irrigation. For use in medical geology and U research, large databases and data warehouses are currently available in Europe and the United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | | | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Olle Selinus
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Innlandet Hospital Trust and Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Çulha ST, Yabanlı M, Baki B, Yozukmaz A. Heavy metals in tissues of scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) caught from Black Sea (Turkey) and potential risks to human health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:20882-20892. [PMID: 27484202 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7337-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) is a demersal fish species commercially important for its of which meat is tough and delicious. The aim of this study was to determine heavy metal (Al, Cu, Ni, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, U) concentrations in this fish species which is traditionally consumed in the Black Sea Area and, to compare the concentrations of various toxic elements in different organs of the fish specimens (muscle, liver, gill, and skin). Within this scope, the mineralization was performed using microwave digestion system. Thirty-two scorpionfish caught from Sinop Inland Port during 2010 were analyzed. The heavy metal concentrations were determined with the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Verification of the method was demonstrated by analysis of standard reference material (NRCC-TORT-2 lobster hepatopancreas). After evaluation of the results, it was determined that the highest heavy metal accumulation was generally found in the liver. The maximum aluminum level and the minimum uranium level were found in the analyzed tissues. In terms of heavy metals, Al, Cu, Cd, and Hg showed a statistically significant difference between tissues (p < 0.05). It was determined that heavy metal concentrations obtained from the muscle tissues did not exceed the national and international recommended limits; and also it was found that daily intake amounts did not exceed tolerable daily intake amounts. Furthermore, in THQ based risk evaluation, the value 1 which is crucial for children and adults was not surpassed. In terms of public health, it was found out that there was not any risk in consumption of scorpionfish in the study area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saniye Türk Çulha
- Fisheries Faculty, Department of Hydrobiology, Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Murat Yabanlı
- Fisheries Faculty, Department of Hydrobiology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Birol Baki
- Fisheries Faculty, Department of Aquaculture, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
| | - Aykut Yozukmaz
- Fisheries Faculty, Department of Hydrobiology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|