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Lu Y, Chandan AK, Mehta S, Kushwaha M, Kumar A, Ali M, Srivastava A, Ghosh AK, Bose-O'Reilly S, Nambiar L, Kass D. Assessment of prevalence of elevated blood lead levels and risk factors among children and pregnant women in Bihar, India. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 259:119528. [PMID: 38960355 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While modeled estimates and studies in contaminated areas indicate high lead exposure among children in Bihar, India, local data on lead exposure in the child population is limited. OBJECTIVES To characterize lead exposure, and assess potential sources of lead exposure among a state-representative sample of children and their pregnant mothers residing in Bihar. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 697 children under five and 55 pregnant women from eight districts in Bihar. Blood lead levels were determined using capillary blood and a portable lead analyzer. Household demographics, home environment, behavior, and nutrition information were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews with primary caregivers. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between potential risk factors and elevated blood lead levels. RESULTS More than 90% of children and 80% of pregnant women reported blood lead levels ≥5 μg/dL. Living near a lead-related industry and pica behavior of eating soil were significantly associated with increased odds of having elevated blood lead levels. Additional risk factors for having a blood level ≥5 μg/dL included the use of skin lightning cream (aOR = 5.11, 95%CI: 1.62, 16.16) and the use of eyeliners (aOR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.14, 6.93). Having blood lead levels ≥10 μg/dL was also significantly associated with the household member who had an occupation or hobby involving the use of lead (aOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.13, 2.72). DISCUSSION Elevated blood lead levels were prevalent among children and pregnant women in Bihar, indicating the urgent need for a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lu
- Vital Strategies, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Arun Kumar
- Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Mohammad Ali
- Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre, Patna, Bihar, India
| | | | | | - Stephan Bose-O'Reilly
- Pure Earth, New York, NY, USA; Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Rocabois A, Sanchez M, Philippat C, Crépet A, Vrijheid M, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Slama R. Chemical exposome and children health: Identification of dose-response relationships from meta-analyses and epidemiological studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119811. [PMID: 39159775 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health impact assessment studies quantifying the impact of the chemical exposome on children's health generally consider a small fraction of the exposome. Synthetizing available dose-response relationships is an essential step to fill this gap. We reviewed the literature for dose-response relationships relating the chemical exposome with children health. METHOD We focused on 78 substance-outcome pairs for which the level of evidence had previously been classified as 'likely' or 'very likely'. We searched for dose-response relationships for these pairs from meta-analyses and, if none was available, from single epidemiological studies, from which we conducted meta-analyses whenever possible. RESULTS We identified dose-response relationships for 50 of the 78 prioritized substance-outcome pairs (64%). Dose-response relationships stemmed from meta-analyses for 21 pairs, from de novo meta-analyses for 1 pair and single studies for 28 pairs. Dose-response relationships were available for tobacco (fetal and infant death, congenital heart defects, birth outcomes, orofacial clefts, respiratory health), lead (asthma, cognition, delayed puberty onset and iron deficiency anaemia), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) (cognition, respiratory infections and birth outcomes), bisphenol A (cognition), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (respiratory health), Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (neurodevelopment), DDT (hypospadias, cryptorchidism, miscarriage), pesticides (neurodevelopment), methylmercury (cognition), PFAS (immune system, birth weight, behavior, miscarriage), arsenic (cognition, birth weight, death, respiratory health), cadmium (cognition, birth weight), manganese (behavior), sodium (blood pressure) and thallium (birth weight). For 28 of the 78 substance-outcome pairs (36%), no dose-response relationship was available from epidemiological studies in children. CONCLUSIONS We identified dose-response relationships for 50 substance-outcome pairs, corresponding to 20 chemicals and 17 health outcomes. These can be used to perform more comprehensive quantitative health impact assessment of the exposome on child health. We also identified 28 substance-outcome pairs corresponding to 'likely' or 'very likely' effects for which research generating dose-response functions in children would be relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Rocabois
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France.
| | - Margaux Sanchez
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Risk Assessment Department, Methodology and Studies Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Claire Philippat
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Amélie Crépet
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Risk Assessment Department, Methodology and Studies Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rémy Slama
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France.
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Forsyth JE, Akhalaia K, Jintcharadze M, Nash E, Sharov P, Temnikova A, Elmera C. Reductions in spice lead levels in the republic of Georgia: 2020-2022. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118504. [PMID: 38367836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Spice adulteration using yellow lead chromate-based pigments has been documented as a growing global health concern. Spices from the Republic of Georgia with extremely high levels of lead, up to an order of magnitude higher than any other spices worldwide, have been implicated as sources of child lead poisoning. The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate lead concentrations in spices sampled across the country of Georgia between 2020 and 2022, and 2) assess factors associated with spice adulteration, specifically the role of spice quality and regulatory enforcement. Spice samples were collected from 29 cities nationwide. The most populous cities were selected in each administrative region as well as those of importance to the spice supply chain. Sampling was carried out at the largest spice bazaars in each city. The regions of Adjara and Imereti were the focus of qualitative interviews conducted in 2021 with key businesspeople selling spices with very high and low levels of lead. The same cities and bazaars were visited at each of three sampling periods between 2020 and 2022. In total, 765 spice samples were collected. Lead concentrations in spices decreased over time, with a maximum of 14,233 μg/g in 2020 down to 36 μg/g in the final sampling round of 2022. A logistic regression determined that sampling round, region and spice type were associated with elevated lead in samples. Samples from Adjara and those containing marigold had the highest lead levels. Interviews with eighteen prominent spice vendors revealed difficulties sourcing sufficient quantities of high quality, brightly colored marigold, and concerns about adulteration. Interviews with two authorities from the National Food Authority highlighted the increased attention on regulating lead in spices since 2018. Continued monitoring and periodic regulatory enforcement may adequately disincentivize further adulteration with lead chromate in the spice industry in Georgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Forsyth
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford King Center on Global Development, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Petr Sharov
- Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute, Tblisi, Georgia
| | - Alena Temnikova
- Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute, Tblisi, Georgia
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Kaplan B, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM, Hilpert M, Cohen JE. Exposure to metals among Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users in the PATH study: A longitudinal analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116032. [PMID: 37137457 PMCID: PMC10330461 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in longitudinal studies, as a potential source of metals which may have carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cardiotoxic effects. We evaluated metal body burden by ENDS use status in a longitudinal population-based national survey. METHODS We used the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study wave 1 (2013-2014), wave 2 (2014-2015), and wave 3 (2015-2016) adult data to assess urinary concentrations of seven metals among (1) ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), (2) ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123) and (3) Never users (n = 1501) of any tobacco product. RESULTS Among ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Cd and Pb were 1.25 (95%CI: 1.09-1.42) and 1.19 (95%CI: 1.05-1.34), respectively, compared to never users after adjustment for PATH Study wave, age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, secondhand smoke at home and work, and cannabis and other substance use. After the same adjustment, the corresponding GMRs were 1.48 (95%CI: 1.32-1.67) and 1.43 (95%CI: 1.28-1.60) for ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123). No difference was observed in urinary concentrations of other metals comparing ENDS users to never users of any tobacco product. DISCUSSION ENDS users show higher urinary levels of Cd and Pb, including lifetime exclusive ENDS users compared to never users of any tobacco product. These findings are limited by the small sample size and could be related to underreporting of past combustible tobacco use or other factors. Metals typical of ENDS such as nickel and chromium unfortunately are not available in PATH. Studies assessing metal exposure associated with long term lifetime exclusive ENDS use (≥5 years) with larger sample size are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bekir Kaplan
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lopez A, Nicolini CM, Aeppli M, Luby SP, Fendorf S, Forsyth JE. Assessing Analytical Methods for the Rapid Detection of Lead Adulteration in the Global Spice Market. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:16996-17006. [PMID: 36343212 PMCID: PMC9730856 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Lead adulteration of spices, primarily via Pb chromate compounds, has been documented globally as a growing public health concern. Currently, Pb detection in spices relies primarily on expensive and time-consuming laboratory analyses. Advancing rapid Pb detection methods, inclusive of their accuracy and precision, would improve field assessments by food safety inspectors, stakeholders, and the public in the hope of reducing Pb exposure risks at its source. Here, we present two field procedures for Pb detection: portable X-ray fluorescence analysis (pXRF) and a simple colorimetric test. We assess their efficacy to detect Pb and its chemical form in seven spice types, including powders, spice-salt mixtures, and dried roots, compared to the proven laboratory technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Lead concentrations measured using pXRF and ICP-MS were within 5% of each other for spice powders and 24% for dried roots. By pXRF, spice samples were analyzed within collection plastic bags without preparation, resulting in a detection limit of 2 mg Pb/kg for spice powders, which is comparable to national food standards. The colorimetric test utilized here targets hexavalent chromium, making the method selective to Pb chromate adulteration assuming that this is its dominant source in spices. Color development, and thus detection, was observed when Pb concentrations exceeded approximately 5-70 mg/kg in dried turmeric roots and 1000 mg/kg in spice powders; however, it was ineffective for the spice-salt mixture. We show that pXRF analysis and a colorimetric assay provide information that may improve field decisions about Pb adulteration in a range of spice types, helping to minimize Pb exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alandra
M. Lopez
- Earth
System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Carla M. Nicolini
- Earth
System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Meret Aeppli
- Earth
System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Stephen P. Luby
- Woods
Institute for the Environment, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Scott Fendorf
- Earth
System Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Woods
Institute for the Environment, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jenna E. Forsyth
- Woods
Institute for the Environment, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Rezaee M, Esfahani Z, Nejadghaderi SA, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Saeedi Moghaddam S, Ghanbari A, Ghamari A, Golestani A, Foroutan Mehr E, Kazemi A, Haghshenas R, Moradi M, Kompani F, Rezaei N, Larijani B. Estimating the burden of diseases attributable to lead exposure in the North Africa and Middle East region, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. Environ Health 2022; 21:105. [PMID: 36309664 PMCID: PMC9617306 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00914-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead exposure (LE) and its attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) have declined in the recent decade; however, it remains one of the leading public health concerns, particularly in regions with low socio-demographic index (SDI) such as the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region. Hence, we aimed to describe the attributable burden of the LE in this region. METHODS Data on deaths, DALYs, years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) attributable to LE in the NAME region and its 21 countries from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. RESULTS In 2019, the age-standardized death and DALY rates attributable to LE were 23.4 (95% uncertainty interval: 15.1 to 33.3) and 489.3 (320.5 to 669.6) per 100,000 in the region, respectively, both of which were higher among men than women. The overall age-standardized death and DALY rates showed 27.7% and 36.8% decreases, respectively, between 1990 and 2019. In this period, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey had the highest decreases in the age-standardized death and DALY rates, while Afghanistan, Egypt, and Yemen had the lowest ones. Countries within high SDI quintile had lower attributable burden to LE compared with the low SDI quintile. Cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney diseases accounted for the 414.2 (258.6 to 580.6) and 28.7 (17.7 to 41.7) LE attributable DALYs per 100,000 in 2019, respectively. The attributable YLDs was 46.4 (20.7 to 82.1) per 100,000 in 2019, which shows a 25.7% reduction (-30.8 to -22.5%) over 1990-2019. CONCLUSIONS The overall LE and its attributed burden by cause have decreased in the region from 1990-2019. Nevertheless, the application of cost-effective and long-term programs for decreasing LE and its consequences in NAME is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Rezaee
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Esfahani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Abbasi-Kangevari
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ghanbari
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azin Ghamari
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Golestani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elmira Foroutan Mehr
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Kazemi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rosa Haghshenas
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Moradi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Kompani
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Rezaei
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Farías P, Hernández-Bonilla D, Moreno-Macías H, Montes-López S, Schnaas L, Texcalac-Sangrador JL, Ríos C, Riojas-Rodríguez H. Prenatal Co-Exposure to Manganese, Mercury, and Lead, and Neurodevelopment in Children during the First Year of Life. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13020. [PMID: 36293596 PMCID: PMC9603303 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and manganese (Mn) are neurotoxic, but little is known about the neurodevelopmental effects associated with simultaneous prenatal exposure to these metals. We aimed to study the associations of Pb, Hg, and Mn prenatal levels (jointly and separately) with neurodevelopment in the first year of life. Methods: Pb, Hg, and Mn blood lead levels were measured in 253 pregnant women. Their offspring's neurodevelopment was assessed through the Bayley Scale of Infant Development III® at one, three, six, and twelve months. The metals' mean blood levels (µg/L) were Pb = 11.2, Hg = 2.1, and Mn = 10.2. Mean language, cognitive, and motor development scores of the infants at each age were between low-average and average. Multilevel models' results showed that language development coefficients of the offspring decreased by 1.5 points per 1 µg/dL increase in maternal blood lead levels (p = 0.002); the magnitude of the aforementioned association increased in children with maternal blood Mn < 9.6 µg/L (ß = -1.9, p = 0.003) or Hg > 1.9 µg/L (ß = -1.6, p = 0.013). Cognitive and motor development had negative associations with maternal blood Pb levels; the latter was statistically significant when the interaction term between Pb, Mn, and Hg was included (ß = -0.037, p = 0.03). Prenatal exposure to low Pb levels may impair infants' neurodevelopment in the first year of life, even more so if they are exposed to Hg or deficient in Mn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Farías
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Dirección de Salud Ambiental, Universidad 655, Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - David Hernández-Bonilla
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Dirección de Salud Ambiental, Universidad 655, Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - Hortensia Moreno-Macías
- Unidad Iztapalapa, División de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico
| | - Sergio Montes-López
- Unidad Académica Multidisciplinaria Reynosa-Aztlán, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Lago de Chapala y Calle 16, Aztlán, Reynosa 88740, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Schnaas
- Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Montes Urales 800, Lomas de Virreyes, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Dirección de Salud Ambiental, Universidad 655, Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
| | - Camilo Ríos
- Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Av. Insurgentes Sur No. 3877, La Fama, Ciudad de México 14269, Mexico
| | - Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Dirección de Salud Ambiental, Universidad 655, Col. Sta. Ma. Ahucatitlán, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
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Islam F, Shohag S, Akhter S, Islam MR, Sultana S, Mitra S, Chandran D, Khandaker MU, Ashraf GM, Idris AM, Emran TB, Cavalu S. Exposure of metal toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease: An extensive review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:903099. [PMID: 36105221 PMCID: PMC9465172 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.903099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metals serve important roles in the human body, including the maintenance of cell structure and the regulation of gene expression, the antioxidant response, and neurotransmission. High metal uptake in the nervous system is harmful because it can cause oxidative stress, disrupt mitochondrial function, and impair the activity of various enzymes. Metal accumulation can cause lifelong deterioration, including severe neurological problems. There is a strong association between accidental metal exposure and various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia that causes degeneration in the aged. Chronic exposure to various metals is a well-known environmental risk factor that has become more widespread due to the rapid pace at which human activities are releasing large amounts of metals into the environment. Consequently, humans are exposed to both biometals and heavy metals, affecting metal homeostasis at molecular and biological levels. This review highlights how these metals affect brain physiology and immunity and their roles in creating harmful proteins such as β-amyloid and tau in AD. In addition, we address findings that confirm the disruption of immune-related pathways as a significant toxicity mechanism through which metals may contribute to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahadul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Shohag
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Earth and Ocean Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shomaya Akhter
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Earth and Ocean Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Rezaul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sharifa Sultana
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saikat Mitra
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Deepak Chandran
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Amrita School of Agricultural Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
- Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Ghulam Md Ashraf, ; Abubakr M. Idris, ; Talha Bin Emran, ; Simona Cavalu,
| | - Abubakr M. Idris
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Ghulam Md Ashraf, ; Abubakr M. Idris, ; Talha Bin Emran, ; Simona Cavalu,
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh
- *Correspondence: Ghulam Md Ashraf, ; Abubakr M. Idris, ; Talha Bin Emran, ; Simona Cavalu,
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
- *Correspondence: Ghulam Md Ashraf, ; Abubakr M. Idris, ; Talha Bin Emran, ; Simona Cavalu,
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Iglesias-González A, Schweitzer M, Palazzi P, Peng F, Haan S, Letellier E, Appenzeller BMR. Investigating children's chemical exposome - Description and possible determinants of exposure in the region of Luxembourg based on hair analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107342. [PMID: 35714525 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The specific physiology and behaviour of children makes them particularly vulnerable to chemical exposure. Specific studies must therefore be conducted to understand the impact of pollution on children's health. Human biomonitoring is a reliable approach for exposure assessment, and hair, allowing the detection of parent chemicals and metabolites, and covering wider time windows than urine and blood is particularly adapted to study chronic exposure. The present study aims at assessing chemical exposure and investigating possible determinants of exposure in children living in Luxembourg. Hair samples were collected from 256 children below 13 y/o and tested for 153 compounds (140 pesticides, 4 PCBs, 7 BDEs and 2 bisphenols). Moreover, anthropometric parameters, information on diet, residence, and presence of pets at home was collected through questionnaires. Correlations, regressions, t-tests, PLS-DA and MANOVAs, were used to investigate exposure patterns. Twenty-nine to 88 (median = 61) compounds were detected per sample. The highest median concentration was observed for BPA (133.6 pg/mg). Twenty-three biomarkers were detected in ≥ 95% of the samples, including 13 in all samples (11 pesticides, BPA and BPS). Exposure was higher at younger ages (R2 = 0.57), and boys were more exposed to non-persistent pesticides than girls. Presence of persistent organic pollutants in most children suggests that exposure is still ongoing. Moreover, diet (e.g. imazalil: 0.33 pg/mg in organic, 1.15 pg/mg in conventional, p-value < 0.001), residence area (e.g. imidacloprid: 0.29 pg/mg in urban, 0.47 pg/mg in countryside, p-value = 0.03), and having pets (e.g. fipronil: 0.32 pg/mg in pets, 0.09 pg/mg in no pets, p-value < 0.001) were identified as determinants of exposure. The present study demonstrates that children are simultaneously exposed to multiple pollutants from different chemical classes, and confirms the suitability of hair to investigate exposure. These results set the basis for further investigations to better understand the determinants of chemical exposure in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Iglesias-González
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B Rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg; University of Luxembourg, 2 Avenue de l'Universite, L- 4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Mylène Schweitzer
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B Rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Paul Palazzi
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B Rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Fengjiao Peng
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B Rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Serge Haan
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Elisabeth Letellier
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Brice M R Appenzeller
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B Rue Thomas Edison, L-1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
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Updated interim reference levels for dietary lead to support FDA's Closer to Zero action plan. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 133:105202. [PMID: 35690180 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a blood lead reference value (BLRV) to identify children with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). At or above the BLRV, the CDC recommends actions be taken to reduce children's BLLs. In 2021, the CDC updated its BLRV to 3.5 μg/dL. To align with the CDC's updated BLRV, the FDA is updating its interim reference levels (IRLs) for lead from food to 2.2 μg/day for children and 8.8 μg/day for females of childbearing age. The updated FDA IRLs for lead will serve as a benchmark to evaluate whether lead exposure from food is a potential concern. The children's BLL associated with the updated IRL is less than those predicted by other agencies to result in 1 intelligence quotient point loss. Dietary lead exposure estimates for children in the U.S. suggest exposures greater than the mean may exceed the updated FDA IRL for children, indicating a need for additional efforts to reduce lead in foods consumed by young children. The US FDA is addressing this need by implementing its Closer to Zero action plan to reduce babies' and children's dietary exposure to toxic elements (e.g., lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) over time.
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11
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Krishnankutty N, Storgaard Jensen T, Kjær J, Jørgensen JS, Nielsen F, Grandjean P. Public-health risks from tea drinking: Fluoride exposure. Scand J Public Health 2022; 50:355-361. [PMID: 33557697 PMCID: PMC9096585 DOI: 10.1177/1403494821990284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Due to new evidence on fluoride neurotoxicity during early life, this study examined maternal exposure to fluoride through tea consumption in a low-fluoride region and measured fluoride releases from commercially available teas (tea bags and loose teas) to determine the need to limit fluoride exposure. METHODS Maternal urine fluoride (MUF) concentrations were measured in spot urine samples (N=118) from first-trimester pregnant women and in prepared tea infusions made with deionised water from 33 brand teas and 57 loose-tea products, as determined by the direct method of using a fluoride-selective electrode. RESULTS The fluoride concentration in the local drinking water supplies ranged from 0.10 to 0.18 mg/L, and the creatinine-adjusted MUF ranged from 0.09 to 1.57 mg/L. Seventeen per cent of the women were daily tea drinkers, and their MUFs were higher than those with no consumption (p=0.002). The fluoride concentration from tea bags ranged from 0.34 to 2.67 mg/L, while loose teas showed 0.72-4.50 mg/L (black), 0.56-1.58 mg/L (oolong), 1.28-1.50 mg/L (green), and 0.33-1.17 mg/L (white tea). CONCLUSIONS Fluoride exposure among pregnant women increases with tea consumption, with likely risks of developmental neurotoxicity to their children. As the fluoride release from tea varies widely, the fluoride concentration should be indicated on tea packages in order to allow consumers to make informed decisions on minimising their fluoride exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeannett Kjær
- Environmental Medicine, University of
Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | | | | | - Philippe Grandjean
- Environmental Medicine, University of
Southern Denmark, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Health,
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
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12
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Heng YY, Asad I, Coleman B, Menard L, Benki-Nugent S, Hussein Were F, Karr CJ, McHenry MS. Heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265536. [PMID: 35358213 PMCID: PMC8970501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of harmful environmental exposures, which disproportionately affects low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), contributes to >25% of deaths and diseases worldwide and detrimentally affects child neurodevelopment. Few resources succinctly summarize the existing literature on this topic. Our objective is to systematically review and characterize the evidence regarding the relationship between heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in LMICs. METHODS We conducted a medical librarian-curated search on multiple online databases to identify articles that included individuals <18 years living in a LMIC, quantitatively measured exposure to a heavy metal (either prenatal or postnatal), and used a standardized measurement of neurodevelopment (i.e. cognitive, language, motor, and behavior). Reviews, editorials, or case studies were excluded. Results were analyzed qualitatively, and quality was assessed. RESULTS Of the 18,043 screened articles, 298 full-text articles were reviewed, and 100 articles met inclusion criteria. The included studies represented data from 19 LMICs, only one of which was classified as a low-income country. Ninety-four percent of postnatal lead and all postnatal manganese studies showed a negative association with metal exposure and neurodevelopment, which were the strongest relationships among the metals studied. Postnatal exposure of mercury was associated with poor neurodevelopment in only half of studies. Limited data on postnatal arsenic and cadmium suggests an association with worse neurodevelopment. Findings were mixed for prenatal arsenic and lead, although some evidence supports that the neurotoxicity of lead was amplified in the presence of manganese. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT We found that lead and manganese appear to consistently have a detrimental effect on the neurodevelopment of children, and more evidence is needed for mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Better characterization of these effects can motivate and inform prioritization of much needed international policies and programs to reduce heavy metal exposures for young children within LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yan Heng
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Iqra Asad
- School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Bailey Coleman
- School of Health and Human Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Laura Menard
- Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Sarah Benki-Nugent
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Faridah Hussein Were
- Department of Chemistry, College of Biological and Physical Sciences of the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Megan S McHenry
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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13
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Grandjean P, Hu H, Till C, Green R, Bashash M, Flora D, Tellez-Rojo MM, Song PX, Lanphear B, Budtz-Jørgensen E. A Benchmark Dose Analysis for Maternal Pregnancy Urine-Fluoride and IQ in Children. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2022; 42:439-449. [PMID: 34101876 PMCID: PMC9831700 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As a guide to establishing a safe exposure level for fluoride exposure in pregnancy, we applied benchmark dose modeling to data from two prospective birth cohort studies. We included mother-child pairs from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort in Mexico and the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort in Canada. Maternal urinary fluoride concentrations (U-F, in mg/L, creatinine-adjusted) were measured in urine samples obtained during pregnancy. Children were assessed for intelligence quotient (IQ) at age 4 (n = 211) and between six and 12 years (n = 287) in the ELEMENT cohort, and three to four years (n = 407) in the MIREC cohort. We calculated covariate-adjusted regression coefficients and their standard errors to assess the association of maternal U-F concentrations with children's IQ measures. Assuming a benchmark response of 1 IQ point, we derived benchmark concentrations (BMCs) and benchmark concentration levels (BMCLs). No deviation from linearity was detected in the dose-response relationships, but boys showed lower BMC values than girls. Using a linear slope for the joint cohort data, the BMC for maternal U-F associated with a 1-point decrease in IQ scores was 0.31 mg/L (BMCL, 0.19 mg/L) for the youngest boys and girls in the two cohorts, and 0.33 mg/L (BMCL, 0.20 mg/L) for the MIREC cohort and the older ELEMENT children. Thus, the joint data show a BMCL in terms of the adjusted U-F concentrations in the pregnant women of approximately 0.2 mg/L. These results can be used to guide decisions on preventing excess fluoride exposure in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Address correspondence to Philippe Grandjean, Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winslows vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark; tel: +45 6550 3769; fax: +45 6591 1458;
| | - Howard Hu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Rivka Green
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morteza Bashash
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Flora
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martha Maria Tellez-Rojo
- Centro de Investigacion en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Peter X.K. Song
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Chesney ML, Duderstadt K. Children's Rights, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Health Policy in the United States. J Pediatr Health Care 2022; 36:3-11. [PMID: 34922676 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Environmentalists have forewarned that our planet is in peril because of serious degradation and pollution of the earth's land, air, water, and food sources. Climate change is present and worsening at an alarming rate. Gaping disparities exist between high-income and low-income countries and high-income and low-income zip codes in the United States, resulting in marginalized and vulnerable populations bearing the greatest burden from the ill effects of pollution and environmental toxins. Infants and children carry the greatest risk for pollution-related diseases and exposure to chemical toxins as their bodies are rapidly developing. This review article provides a historical overview of children's rights to protection from environmental health risks, effects of environmental injustice, and U.S. statutory and regulatory policies responsible for protecting food, air, and water quality. The authors advocate for policy and clinical strategies to support children's health and the right to environmental protection.
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15
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Harutyunyan AA, Harutyunyan HA, Yenkoyan KB. Novel Probable Glance at Inflammatory Scenario Development in Autistic Pathology. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:788779. [PMID: 35002805 PMCID: PMC8727757 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.788779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted-repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. ASD is generally associated with chronic inflammatory states, which are linked to immune system dysfunction and/or hyperactivation. The latter might be considered as one of the factors damaging neuronal cells. Several cell types trigger and sustain such neuroinflammation. In this study, we traced different markers of immune system activation on both cellular (immune cell phenotypes) and mediatory levels (production of cytokines) alongside adverse hematology and biochemistry screening in a group of autistic children. In addition, we analyzed the main metabolic pathways potentially involved in ASD development: energy (citric acid cycle components), porphyrin, and neurotransmitter metabolism. Several ASD etiological factors, like heavy metal intoxication, and risk factors-genetic polymorphisms of the relevant neurotransmitters and vitamin D receptors-were also analyzed. Finally, broad linear regression analysis allowed us to elucidate the possible scenario that led to the development of chronic inflammation in ASD patients. Obtained data showed elevated levels of urinary cis-aconitate, isocitrate, alfa-ketoglutarate, and HMG. There were no changes in levels of metabolites of monoamine neurotransmitters, however, the liver-specific tryptophan kinurenine pathway metabolites showed increased levels of quinolinate (QUIN) and picolinate, whereas the level of kynurenate remained unchanged. Abovementioned data demonstrate the infringement in energy metabolism. We found elevated levels of lead in red blood cells, as well as altered porphyrin metabolism, which support the etiological role of heavy metal intoxication in ASD. Lead intoxication, the effect of which is intensified by a mutation of the VDR-Taq and MAO-A, leads to quinolinic acid increase, resulting in energy metabolism depletion and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, our data backing the CD4+CD3+ T-cell dependence of mitochondrial dysfunction development in ASD patients reported in our previous study leads us to the conclusion that redox-immune cross-talk is considered a main functional cell damaging factor in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida A. Harutyunyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yerevan State Medical University After Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hayk A. Harutyunyan
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University After Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Konstantin B. Yenkoyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yerevan State Medical University After Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Cobrain Center, Yerevan State Medical University After Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
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16
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Davies S, Briand V, Accrombessi M, Fievet N, Le Bot B, Durand S, Agbota G, Yovo E, Vianou B, Sossou D, Martin-Prevel Y, Massougbodji A, Cot M, Glorennec P, Bodeau-Livinec F. Pre-conception serum ferritin concentrations are associated with metal concentrations in blood during pregnancy: A cohort study in Benin. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111629. [PMID: 34242675 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency that impacts maternal health and fetal development and is also associated with increased uptake of toxic metals. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are highly exposed to both iron deficiency and metals in the environment. As research on the developmental origins of health and disease increasingly shows impacts of pre-conception maternal health on pregnancy and fetal health, these environmental exposures are of concern. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the association between iron status pre-pregnancy and blood metal concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy with potential implications for iron supplementation. METHODS Pre-conception and first trimester blood samples taken from 262 Beninese women were tested for serum ferritin, inflammation markers, manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper, zinc, selenium, mercury and arsenic. Associations between serum ferritin adjusted for inflammation and metal concentrations were analyzed using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS Women with iron deficiency before conception (13%) were more likely to remain iron deficient in the first trimester (4%) (adjusted OR = 41.2, 95%CI 6.2; 275.0) even within the context of routine iron supplementation during pregnancy. Lower pre-pregnancy serum ferritin concentrations were significantly related to higher concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the first trimester. Every 1% increase in serum ferritin concentration was associated with a 0.13% decrease in Mn (adjusted β = -0.13, 95%CI -0.18; -0.07), a 0.22% decrease in Cd (adjusted β = -0.22, 95%CI -0.28; -0.15) and a 0.06% decrease in Pb concentration (adjusted β = -0.06, 95%CI -0.12; -0.006). DISCUSSION These results suggest that increasing iron stores prior to pregnancy may prevent excessive uptake of toxic concentrations of the metals Mn, Cd and Pb and argue in favour of testing the effects of iron supplementation prior to pregnancy on metal concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Davies
- Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique (METIS), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP), F-35000, Rennes, France; Université de Paris, Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)-UMR1153, F-75004, Paris, France.
| | - Valérie Briand
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), University of Bordeaux, Inserm, UMR 1219, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, Cedex, France; Université de Paris, MERIT, IRD, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Manfred Accrombessi
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris Descartes Université, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Barbara Le Bot
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Séverine Durand
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Gino Agbota
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Emmanuel Yovo
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Bertin Vianou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Darius Sossou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Yves Martin-Prevel
- Nutripass Research Unit, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, SupAgro, Montpellier, France.
| | | | - Michel Cot
- Université de Paris, MERIT, IRD, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Philippe Glorennec
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Florence Bodeau-Livinec
- Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique (METIS), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP), F-35000, Rennes, France; Université de Paris, Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)-UMR1153, F-75004, Paris, France.
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17
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Tammone A, Caselli AE, Condorí WE, Fernandez V, Estein SM, Vanstreels RET, Sosa C, Delaloye A, Uhart MM. Lead exposure in consumers of culled invasive alien mammals in El Palmar National Park, Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:42432-42443. [PMID: 33813701 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13654-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of meat from animals hunted with Pb ammunition can cause toxic accumulation with consequent health risks, even if relatively small amounts are consumed in each exposure. In El Palmar National Park, Argentina, invasive alien mammals, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis), are culled with Pb ammunition and their meat is consumed. In this study, we evaluated blood Pb concentrations in 58 consumers of culled game and examined Pb exposure risk according to their demographics, duty, and consumption habits. Likewise, the likelihood of exposure was evaluated by quantifying Pb concentrations in meat samples of seven culled axis deer. Twenty-seven participants (46%) had detectable blood Pb levels (limit of detection = 3.3 μg/dL), with an average 4.75 ± 1.35 μg/dL (geometric mean ± geometric S.D.); the average for all participants was 3.25 ± 1.51 μg/dL. Blood Pb concentrations were significantly higher in hunters, in participants who reported consuming game meat more than 5 times per week, and in participants who reported frequently consuming cured game meat (compared to cooked or pickled). Pb concentration varied significantly along the trajectory of the bullet in deer muscle, being highest at mid-point but with detectable Pb levels even in distant tissue samples (control), suggesting potential for dietary intake by consumers. These findings provide evidence of Pb exposure risk in consumers and emphasize the relevance of replacing Pb ammunition with non-toxic alternatives. This change would reduce dietary exposure in frequent consumers and allow the use of game meat as safe food for people whilst eliminating collateral risks to wild animals and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Tammone
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria Tandil (CONICET-CIVETAN), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Programa de Conservación Comunitaria del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrea Elsa Caselli
- Programa de Conservación Comunitaria del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Walter Ezequiel Condorí
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria Tandil (CONICET-CIVETAN), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Programa de Conservación Comunitaria del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valentina Fernandez
- Programa de Conservación Comunitaria del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia Marcela Estein
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria Tandil (CONICET-CIVETAN), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Reabilitação de Animais Marinhos (IPRAM), Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Cristian Sosa
- Parque Nacional El Palmar, Administración Nacional de Parques Nacionales Argentina, Ubajay, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Aldo Delaloye
- Parque Nacional El Palmar, Administración Nacional de Parques Nacionales Argentina, Ubajay, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Marcela María Uhart
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Skogheim TS, Weyde KVF, Engel SM, Aase H, Surén P, Øie MG, Biele G, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Caspersen IH, Hornig M, Haug LS, Villanger GD. Metal and essential element concentrations during pregnancy and associations with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106468. [PMID: 33765546 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to toxic metals or variations in maternal levels of essential elements during pregnancy may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. OBJECTIVES We investigated whether maternal levels of toxic metals and essential elements measured in mid-pregnancy, individually and as mixtures, were associated with childhood diagnosis of ADHD or ASD. METHODS This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and included 705 ADHD cases, 397 ASD cases and 1034 controls. Cases were identified through linkage with the Norwegian Patient Registry. Maternal concentrations of 11 metals/elements were measured in blood at week 17 of gestation; cadmium; cesium; cobalt; copper; lead; magnesium; manganese; selenium; zinc; total arsenic; and total mercury. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine associations between quartile levels of individual metals/elements and outcomes. We also investigated non-linear associations using restricted cubic spline models. The joint effects of the metal/element mixture on ASD and ADHD diagnoses were estimated using a quantile-based g-computation approach. RESULTS For ASD, we identified positive associations (increased risks) in the second quartile of arsenic [OR = 1.77 (CI: 1.26, 2.49)] and the fourth quartiles of cadmium and manganese [OR = 1.57 (CI: 1.07 2.31); OR = 1.84 (CI: 1.30, 2.59)], respectively. In addition, there were negative associations between cesium, copper, mercury, and zinc and ASD. For ADHD, we found increased risk in the fourth quartiles of cadmium and magnesium [OR = 1.59 (CI: 1.15, 2.18); [OR = 1.42 (CI: 1.06, 1.91)]. There were also some negative associations, among others with mercury. In addition, we identified non-linear associations between ASD and arsenic, mercury, magnesium, and lead, and between ADHD and arsenic, copper, manganese, and mercury. There were no significant findings in the mixture approach analyses. CONCLUSION Results from the present study show several associations between levels of metals and elements during gestation and ASD and ADHD in children. The most notable ones involved arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, manganese, magnesium, and lead. Our results suggest that even population levels of these compounds may have negative impacts on neurodevelopment. As we observed mainly similarities among the metals' and elements' impact on ASD and ADHD, it could be that the two disorders share some neurochemical and neurodevelopmental pathways. The results warrant further investigation and replication, as well as studies of combined effects of metals/elements and mechanistic underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea S Skogheim
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kjell Vegard F Weyde
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie M Engel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA
| | - Heidi Aase
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Surén
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete G Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
| | - Guido Biele
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida H Caspersen
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mady Hornig
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W 168th St, Rm. 736, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Line S Haug
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gro D Villanger
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway
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Chowdhury KIA, Nurunnahar S, Kabir ML, Islam MT, Baker M, Islam MS, Rahman M, Hasan MA, Sikder A, Kwong LH, Binkhorst GK, Nash E, Keith J, McCartor A, Luby SP, Forsyth JE. Child lead exposure near abandoned lead acid battery recycling sites in a residential community in Bangladesh: Risk factors and the impact of soil remediation on blood lead levels. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110689. [PMID: 33412099 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that is particularly detrimental to children's cognitive development. Batteries account for at least 80% of global lead use and unsafe battery recycling is a major contributor to childhood lead poisoning. Our objectives were to assess the intensity and nature of child lead exposure at abandoned, informal used lead acid battery (ULAB) recycling sites in Kathgora, Savar, Bangladesh, as well as to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a soil remediation effort to reduce exposure. ULAB recycling operations were abandoned in 2016 due to complaints from residents, but the lead contamination remained in the soil after operations ceased. We measured soil and blood lead levels (BLLs) among 69 children living within 200 m of the ULAB recycling site once before, and twice after (7 and 14 months after), a multi-part remediation intervention involving soil capping, household cleaning, and awareness-raising activities. Due to attrition, the sample size of children decreased from 69 to 47 children at the 7-month post-intervention assessment and further to 25 children at 14 months. We conducted non-parametric tests to assess changes in soil lead levels and BLLs. We conducted baseline surveys, as well as semi-structured interviews and observations with residents throughout the study period to characterize exposure behaviors and the community perceptions. We conducted bivariate and multivariate regression analyses of exposure characteristics to determine the strongest predictors of baseline child BLLs. Prior to remediation, median soil lead concentrations were 1400 mg/kg, with a maximum of 119,000 mg/kg and dropped to a median of 55 mg/kg after remediation (p < 0.0001). Among the 47 children with both baseline and post-intervention time 1 measurements, BLLs dropped from a median of 21.3 μg/dL to 17.0 μg/dL at 7 months (p < 0.0001). Among the 25 children with all three measurements, BLLs dropped from a median of 22.6 μg/dL to 14.8 μg/dL after 14 months (p < 0.0001). At baseline, distance from a child's residence to the nearest abandoned ULAB site was the strongest predictor of BLLs and baseline BLLs were 31% higher for children living within 50 m from the sites compared to those living further away (n = 69, p = 0.028). Women and children spent time in the contaminated site daily and relied on it for their livelihoods and for recreation. Overall, this study highlights the intensity of lead exposure associated with the ULAB recycling industry. Additionally, we document the feasibility and effectiveness of a multi-part remediation intervention at a contaminated site embedded within a residential community; substantially reducing child BLLs and soil lead concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Syeda Nurunnahar
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Musa Baker
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - M Saiful Islam
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - M Aziz Hasan
- Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Arif Sikder
- Pure Earth, New York, NY, USA; Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Laura H Kwong
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Stephen P Luby
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jenna E Forsyth
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Ericson B, Hu H, Nash E, Ferraro G, Sinitsky J, Taylor MP. Blood lead levels in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Lancet Planet Health 2021; 5:e145-e153. [PMID: 33713615 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30278-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the global phase-out of leaded petrol, reports have suggested that lead exposure remains substantial or is increasing in some low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, few studies have attempted to systematically assess blood lead levels over the full range of LMICs. We aimed to describe values for blood lead level in LMICs. METHODS In this systematic review, we searched PubMed for studies published between Jan 1, 2010, and Oct 31, 2019, that reported blood lead levels in the 137 countries in World Bank LMIC groupings. Studies were reviewed for inclusion if they contained blood lead level data from human populations residing in any given country; comprised at least 30 participants; presented blood lead level data derived from venous, capillary, or umbilical cord samples of whole blood; had data that were collected after Dec 31, 2004; and were published in English. Data on blood lead level were extracted and pooled, as appropriate, to make country-specific estimates of the distribution of background blood lead levels among children and adults, along with information on specific sources of exposure where available. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018108706. FINDINGS Our search yielded 12 695 studies, of which 520 were eligible for inclusion (1100 sampled populations from 49 countries comprising 1 003 455 individuals). Pooled mean blood lead concentrations in children ranged from 1·66 μg/dL (SD 3·31) in Ethiopia to 9·30 μg/dL (11·73) in Palestine, and in adults from 0·39 μg/dL (1·25) in Sudan to 11·36 μg/dL (5·20) in Pakistan. Background values for blood lead level in children could be pooled in 34 countries and were used to estimate background distributions for 1·30 billion of them. 632 million children (95% CI 394 million-780 million; 48·5%) were estimated to have a blood lead level exceeding the US Centers for Disease Control's reference value of 5 μg/dL. Major sources of lead exposure were informal lead acid battery recycling and manufacture, metal mining and processing, electronic waste, and the use of lead as a food adulterant, primarily in spices. INTERPRETATION Many children have a blood lead level exceeding 5 μg/dL in LMICs, despite leaded petrol phase-outs. Given the toxicity of lead, even at low amounts of exposure, urgent attention is required to control exposures and to expand population-based sampling in countries with no or scant data. FUNDING This work was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (Cooperative Agreement number AID-OAA-A-16-00019).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret Ericson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Howard Hu
- University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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21
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Finch CE, Morgan TE. Developmental Exposure to Air Pollution, Cigarettes, and Lead: Implications for Brain Aging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-devpsych-042320-044338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Brain development is impaired by maternal exposure to airborne toxins from ambient air pollution, cigarette smoke, and lead. Shared postnatal consequences include gray matter deficits and abnormal behaviors as well as elevated blood pressure. These unexpectedly broad convergences have implications for later life brain health because these same airborne toxins accelerate brain aging. Gene-environment interactions are shown for ApoE alleles that influence the risk of Alzheimer disease. The multigenerational trace of these toxins extends before fertilization because egg cells are formed in the grandmaternal uterus. The lineage and sex-specific effects of grandmaternal exposure to lead and cigarettes indicate epigenetic processes of relevance to future generations from our current and recent exposure to airborne toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb E. Finch
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0191, USA;,
| | - Todd E. Morgan
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0191, USA;,
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Van Landingham C, Fuller WG, Schoof RA. The effect of confounding variables in studies of lead exposure and IQ. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 50:815-825. [PMID: 33300851 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1842851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Methods proposed to address confounding variables frequently do not adequately distinguish confounding from covariation. A confounder is a variable that correlates both with the outcome and the major exposure variable. Accurate treatment of confounding is crucial to low dose extrapolation of the effects of chemical exposures based on epidemiology studies. This study explores the limitations of current regression models in extrapolation to the low dose region of the dose-response curve due to the existence of unrecognized and uncontrolled confounding, using epidemiological data for lead. Based on the reported data in analyses by Lanphear and colleagues and Crump and colleagues, and drawing on other studies, Wilson and Wilson considered maternal IQ, HOME score, SES, parental education, birthweight, smoking, and race as characteristic variables which may have interaction effects. This analysis identifies confounding variables based on the seven longitudinal cohorts in analyses conducted by Lanphear and colleagues and by Crump and colleagues and confirms maternal IQ, HOME score, maternal education and maternal marital status at birth are "Highly Likely" confounders, while race is a "Likely" confounder. The cohort data were reanalyzed using the methods presented by Crump and colleagues while also considering the interaction among the identified confounding variables. This analysis determined that confounders influence IQ estimates in a quantifiable way that may exceed or at least obscure previously-reported effects of blood lead on IQ with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL; however, limitations in the datasets make predictions of the low dose dose-response analysis questionable.
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23
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Grandjean P, Hu H, Till C, Green R, Bashash M, Flora D, Tellez-Rojo MM, Song P, Lanphear B, Budtz-Jørgensen E. A Benchmark Dose Analysis for Maternal Pregnancy Urine-Fluoride and IQ in Children. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020:2020.10.31.20221374. [PMID: 33173917 PMCID: PMC7654913 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.31.20221374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
As a safe exposure level for fluoride in pregnancy has not been established, we used data from two prospective studies for benchmark dose modeling. We included mother-child pairs from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort in Mexico and the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort in Canada. Children were assessed for IQ at age 4 (n=211) and between 6 and 12 years (n=287) in the ELEMENT cohort and between ages 3 and 4 years (n=512) in the MIREC cohort. We calculated covariate-adjusted regression coefficients and their standard errors to explore the concentration-effect function for maternal urinary fluoride with children's IQ, including possible sex-dependence. Assuming a benchmark response of 1 IQ point, we derived benchmark concentrations (BMCs) of maternal urinary fluoride and benchmark concentration levels (BMCLs). No deviation from linearity was detected from the results of the two studies. Using a linear slope, the BMC for maternal urinary fluoride associated with a 1-point decrease in IQ scores of preschool-aged boys and girls was 0.29 mg/L (BMCL, 0.18 mg/L). The BMC was 0.30 mg/L (BMCL, 0.19 mg/L) when pooling the IQ scores from the older ELEMENT children and the MIREC cohort. Boys showed slightly lower BMC values compared with girls. Relying on two prospective studies, maternal urine-fluoride exposure at levels commonly occurring in the general population, the joint data showed BMCL results about 0.2 mg/L. These results can be used to guide decisions on preventing excess fluoride exposure in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Grandjean
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Howard Hu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Rivka Green
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morteza Bashash
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Flora
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martha Maria Tellez-Rojo
- Centro de Investigacion en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Peter Song
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
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Ericson B, Gabelaia L, Keith J, Kashibadze T, Beraia N, Sturua L, Kazzi Z. Elevated Levels of Lead (Pb) Identified in Georgian Spices. Ann Glob Health 2020; 86:124. [PMID: 33042779 PMCID: PMC7528690 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human lead (Pb) exposure can result in a number of adverse health outcomes, particularly in children. Objective An assessment of lead exposure sources was carried out in the Republic of Georgia following a nationally representative survey that found elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children. Methods A range of environmental media were assessed in 25 homes and four bazaars spanning five regions. In total, 682 portable X-Ray Fluorescence measurements were taken, including those from cookware (n = 53); paint (n = 207); soil (n = 91); spices (n = 128); toys (n = 78); and other media (n = 125). In addition, 61 dust wipes and 15 water samples were collected and analyzed. Findings Exceptionally high lead concentrations were identified in multiple spices. Median lead concentrations in six elevated spices ranged from 4-2,418 times acceptable levels. Median lead concentrations of all other media were within internationally accepted guidelines. The issue appeared to be regional in nature, with western Georgia being the most highly affected. Homes located in Adjara and Guria were 14 times more likely to have lead-adulterated spices than homes in other regions. Conclusions Further study is required to determine the source of lead contamination in spices. Policy changes are recommended to mitigate potential health impacts. The results of this study contribute to a growing body of evidence that points to adulterated spices as a significant source of human lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Levan Gabelaia
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, GE
| | | | - Tamar Kashibadze
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, GE
| | - Nana Beraia
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, GE
| | - Lela Sturua
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, GE
- Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy, Tbilisi, GE
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25
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Schupp T, Damm G, Foth H, Freyberger A, Gebel T, Gundert-Remy U, Hengstler JG, Mangerich A, Partosch F, Röhl C, Wollin KM. Long-term simulation of lead concentrations in agricultural soils in relation to human adverse health effects. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2319-2329. [PMID: 32372210 PMCID: PMC7367917 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02762-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) exposure of consumers and the environment has been reduced over the past decades. Despite all measures taken, immission of Pb onto agricultural soils still occurs, with fertilizer application, lead shot from hunting activities, and Pb from air deposition representing major sources. Little is known about the intermediate and long-term consequences of these emissions. To gain more insight, we established a mathematical model that considers input from fertilizer, ammunition, deposition from air, uptake of Pb by crops, and wash-out to simulate the resulting Pb concentrations in soil over extended periods. In a further step, human oral exposure by crop-based food was simulated and blood concentrations were derived to estimate the margin of exposure to Pb-induced toxic effects. Simulating current farming scenarios, a new equilibrium concentration of Pb in soil would be established after several centuries. Developmental neurotoxicity represents the most critical toxicological effect of Pb for humans. According to our model, a Pb concentration of ~ 5 mg/kg in agricultural soil leads to an intake of approximately 10 µg Pb per person per day by the consumption of agricultural products, the dose corresponding to the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Therefore, 5 mg Pb/kg represents a critical concentration in soil that should not be exceeded. Starting with a soil concentration of 0.1 mg/kg, the current control level for crop fields, our simulation predicts periods of ~ 50 and ~ 175 years for two Pb immission scenarios for mass of Pb per area and year [scenario 1: ~ 400 g Pb/(ha × a); scenario 2: ~ 175 g Pb/(ha × a)], until the critical concentration of ~ 5 mg/kg Pb in soil would be reached. The two scenarios, which differ in their Pb input via fertilizer, represent relatively high but not unrealistic Pb immissions. From these scenarios, we calculated that the annual deposition of Pb onto soil should remain below ~ 100 g/(ha × a) in order not to exceed the critical soil level of 5 mg/kg. We propose as efficient measures to reduce Pb input into agricultural soil to lower the Pb content of compost and to use alternatives to Pb ammunition for hunting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schupp
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Muenster University of Applied Science, Stegerwaldstrasse 39, 48565 Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Georg Damm
- Department für Hepatobiliäre Chirurgie und Viszerale Transplantation, Universität Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heidi Foth
- Institut für Umwelttoxikologie, Martin Luther Universität Halle, Franzosenweg 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alexius Freyberger
- Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft, Aprather Weg 18a, 421113 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Thomas Gebel
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25, 44149 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ursula Gundert-Remy
- Charité, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan G. Hengstler
- Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung an der TU Dortmund (IfADo), Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Aswin Mangerich
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Box 628, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Falko Partosch
- Institut für Arbeitsmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Waldweg 37b, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Röhl
- Department of Environmental Health Protection, Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Social Services, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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Zajac L, Kobrosly RW, Ericson B, Caravanos J, Landrigan PJ, Riederer AM. Probabilistic estimates of prenatal lead exposure at 195 toxic hotspots in low- and middle-income countries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109251. [PMID: 32311907 PMCID: PMC7176741 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior estimates of pediatric lead-related disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) used population estimates of maternal blood lead levels (BLLs). This approach may underestimate fetal BLLs by not considering potentially high prenatal lead exposure from toxic hotspots. OBJECTIVES: We developed a probabilistic approach to using the Adult Lead Methodology (ALM) to estimate fetal BLLs from prenatal exposure to lead-contaminated soil at hotspots in the Toxic Site Identification Program (TSIP). METHODS We created distributions for each ALM parameter using published literature and extracted soil lead measurements from the TSIP database. Each iteration of the probabilistic ALM randomly selected values from the input distributions to generate a site-specific fetal BLL estimate. For each site, we ran 5000 model iterations, producing a site-specific fetal BLL distribution. RESULTS 195 TSIP sites, in 33 LMICs, met our study inclusion criteria; an estimated 820,000 women of childbearing age are at risk for lead exposure at these sites. The predicted geometric means (GM) for site-specific fetal BLLs ranged from 3.3 μg/dL to 534 μg/dL, and 98% of sites had estimated GM fetal BLLs >5 μg/dL, the current reference level of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while 11 sites had estimated GM fetal BLLs above the CDC chelation threshold of 45 μg/dL. DISCUSSION The TSIP soil lead data and this probabilistic approach to the ALM show that pregnant women living near TSIP sites may have BLLs that put their fetus at risk for neurologic damage and other sequelae, underscoring the need for interventions to reduce lead exposure at toxic hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Zajac
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Roni W Kobrosly
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bret Ericson
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY, 10115, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jack Caravanos
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, 665 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Philip J Landrigan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Anne M Riederer
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY, 10115, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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27
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Yan Y, Yang S, Zhou Y, Song Y, Huang J, Liu Z, Wang Y, Wei S. Estimating the national burden of mild intellectual disability in children exposed to dietary lead in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105553. [PMID: 32086077 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The effects of lead as a dietary pollutant remain a global public health concern that needs urgent resolution. Children are highly susceptible to the adverse outcomes of lead pollution, as even low levels of lead may cause irreversible damage to intellectual development. Since several sources of lead exposure are present in the environment, it is necessary to identify the attributable burden of lead-related diseases arising from different exposure sources. In the present study, we used epidemiological data from studies around the nation to estimate the burden of mild intellectual disability (MID) attributed to lead exposure sources by using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). To this end, a dose-response approach was used and a model comprising three components was established: exposure, dose-response, and DALYs module. In Chinese children aged 0-6 years, blood lead levels (BLLs) of 5.34 ± 3.09 μg/dL resulted in a MID incidence rate of 12.84 cases per 1000 children, with an estimated burden of disease (BoD) of 42.23 DALYs per 1000 children. Owing to dietary lead exposure, 36.64 healthy life years per 1000 children were lost, which was notably higher than the outcomes associated with exposure from other sources. This was consistent with the result that dietary exposure was the main contributor to children's lead exposure, accounting for 86.76%. According to the regional distribution based on the existing literature, the areas in China with higher BLLs were Heilongjiang, Shanxi, and Jiangxi. Our findings provided the information for lead risk management decisions and policies making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhong Yan
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Sulian Yang
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yujing Zhou
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yan Song
- National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center, Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, Beijing 10022, China.
| | - Jiao Huang
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhaoping Liu
- National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center, Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, Beijing 10022, China.
| | - Yibaina Wang
- National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center, Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, Beijing 10022, China.
| | - Sheng Wei
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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Taylor MP, Lanphear BP. Blood lead levels in children have fallen, but vigilance is still needed. Med J Aust 2020; 212:161-162. [PMID: 32045017 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.50495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Stierman B, Hauptman M, Woolf AD. Severe lead poisoning requiring hospitalization: A case report. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 2020; 50:100757. [PMID: 32122813 DOI: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2020.100757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cases of severe childhood lead poisoning (a blood lead level (BLL) ≥45 mcg/dL) in the United States have decreased with time. Clinicians will encounter such cases only rarely. When such cases arise, however, recognizing their complexities and identifying resources that can help in management are important. We present here a case of severe childhood lead poisoning, highlighting the variable presentation, the rebound phenomenon of BLL after chelation, the usefulness of the zinc protoporphyrin as an adjunctive monitoring parameter, and the importance of early involvement of an inter-professional team.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Stierman
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Environmental Health Center, Boston Children's Hospital; 300 Longwood Ave; Boston 02115, MA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, United States; Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marissa Hauptman
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Environmental Health Center, Boston Children's Hospital; 300 Longwood Ave; Boston 02115, MA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, United States; Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alan D Woolf
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Environmental Health Center, Boston Children's Hospital; 300 Longwood Ave; Boston 02115, MA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, United States; Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, MA, United States.
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30
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Li MM, Gao ZY, Dong CY, Wu MQ, Yan J, Cao J, Ma WJ, Wang J, Gong YL, Xu J, Cai SZ, Chen JY, Xu SQ, Tong S, Tang D, Zhang J, Yan CH. Contemporary blood lead levels of children aged 0-84 months in China: A national cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105288. [PMID: 31765862 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite the global abundance of studies on children's lead (Pb) exposure, the magnitude of Pb exposure among children across China remains unclear, especially for rural areas. In 2000, Pb was removed from petrol, marking a change in the sources of Pb exposure in China. To better understand children's Pb exposure and inform potential approaches to exposure reduction, we conducted a national blood Pb survey of 31,373 children (0-84 months old) from May 2013 to March 2015, using a multi-stage and multi-strata sampling method. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were tested using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with a detection limit of 1 µg/L. The results show that Chinese children had a contemporary geometric mean (GM) BLL of 26.7 μg/L, with 8.6% of BLLs exceeding 50 µg/L. Boys had higher BLLs (GM 27.2 μg/L) compared to girls (GM: 25.9 μg/L) (p < 0.001). Children at the age of 0-36 months had a lower PbB (GM 25.7 μg/L) level compared with those aged 36-84 months (GM 27.9 μg/L) (p < 0.001). When taking into account sociodemographic factors, a multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the odds ratios (OR) of having a BLL of 27 µg/dL (i.e., median BLL of this study) or higher were 1.88 (95% CI: 1.76, 2.02) and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.22, 1.49) for homes using coal and biomass fuels, respectively, compared to those using gas or electricity. Meanwhile, children in homes close to roads were more likely to have BLLs exceeding 27 µg/dL (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.20). In China, rural children had higher BLLs compared to urban children. As a result of pediatric exposure to Pb, there were approximately 144 million and 36 million IQ points lost for rural children and urban children, respectively, revealing a disparity of Pb exposure between rural and urban areas in China. Cleaner domestic fuels and improved cooking/heating equipment will reduce contemporary Pb exposure in rural areas. In addition, the association between contemporary BLLs and distance away from roads further suggests that resuspension of legacy soil/dust Pb should not be neglected in future remediation programs and household interventions. As a large scale survey, this study provides evidence for revising the reference value of BLL, improving the guideline for clinical and public health management, and implementing interventions to prevent adverse health outcomes associated with low-level Pb exposure in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ming Li
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Children's Health Department, Shanghai Center for Women and Children's Health, Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Zhen-Yan Gao
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Chen-Yin Dong
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Mei-Qin Wu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jin Yan
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jia Cao
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Wen-Juan Ma
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Ju Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Ying-Liang Gong
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jian Xu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Shi-Zhong Cai
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jing-Yuan Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, PR China
| | - Shun-Qing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, PR China
| | - Shilu Tong
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Pudong, Shanghai 200127, PR China; Institute of Environment and Population Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China; School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, 4056 QLD, Australia
| | - Deliang Tang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Chong-Huai Yan
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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Grandjean P. Developmental fluoride neurotoxicity: an updated review. Environ Health 2019; 18:110. [PMID: 31856837 PMCID: PMC6923889 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0551-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the discovery of fluoride as a caries-preventing agent in the mid-twentieth century, fluoridation of community water has become a widespread intervention, sometimes hailed as a mainstay of modern public health. However, this practice results in elevated fluoride intake and has become controversial for two reasons. First, topical fluoride application in the oral cavity appears to be a more direct and appropriate means of preventing caries. Second, systemic fluoride uptake is suspected of causing adverse effects, in particular neurotoxicity during early development. The latter is supported by experimental neurotoxicity findings and toxicokinetic evidence of fluoride passing into the brain. METHOD An integrated literature review was conducted on fluoride exposure and intellectual disability, with a main focus on studies on children published subsequent to a meta-analysis from 2012. RESULTS Fourteen recent cross-sectional studies from endemic areas with naturally high fluoride concentrations in groundwater supported the previous findings of cognitive deficits in children with elevated fluoride exposures. Three recent prospective studies from Mexico and Canada with individual exposure data showed that early-life exposures were negatively associated with children's performance on cognitive tests. Neurotoxicity appeared to be dose-dependent, and tentative benchmark dose calculations suggest that safe exposures are likely to be below currently accepted or recommended fluoride concentrations in drinking water. CONCLUSION The recent epidemiological results support the notion that elevated fluoride intake during early development can result in IQ deficits that may be considerable. Recognition of neurotoxic risks is necessary when determining the safety of fluoride-contaminated drinking water and fluoride uses for preventive dentistry purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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Forsyth JE, Nurunnahar S, Islam SS, Baker M, Yeasmin D, Islam MS, Rahman M, Fendorf S, Ardoin NM, Winch PJ, Luby SP. Turmeric means "yellow" in Bengali: Lead chromate pigments added to turmeric threaten public health across Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 179:108722. [PMID: 31550596 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Adulteration is a growing food safety concern worldwide. Previous studies have implicated turmeric as a source of lead (Pb) exposure due to the addition of lead chromate (PbCrO4), a yellow pigment used to enhance brightness. We aimed to assess the practice of adding yellow pigments to turmeric and producer- consumer- and regulatory-factors affecting this practice across the supply chain in Bangladesh. We identified and visited the nine major turmeric-producing districts of Bangladesh as well as two districts with minimal turmeric production. In each district, we conducted semi-structured interviews and informal observations with individuals involved in the production, consumption, and regulation of turmeric. We explored perceptions of and preferences for turmeric quality. We collected samples of yellow pigments and turmeric from the most-frequented wholesale and retail markets. We collected samples of turmeric, pigments, dust, and soil from turmeric polishing mills to assess evidence of adulteration. Interviews were analyzed through an inductive, thematic coding process, with attention focused on perceptions of and preferences for turmeric quality. Samples were analyzed for Pb and chromium (Cr) concentrations via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and x-ray fluorescence. In total, we interviewed 152 individuals from across the supply chain and collected 524 samples of turmeric, pigments, dust, and soil (Table S3, Table S4). Turmeric Pb and Cr concentrations were highest in Dhaka and Munshiganj districts, with maximum turmeric powder Pb concentrations of 1152 μg/g, compared to 690 μg/g in the 9 major turmeric-producing districts. We found evidence of PbCrO4-based yellow pigment adulteration in 7 of the 9 major turmeric-producing districts. Soil samples from polishing mills contained a maximum of 4257 μg/g Pb and yellow pigments contained 2-10% Pb by weight with an average Pb:Cr molar ratio of 1.3. Turmeric wholesalers reported that the practice of adding yellow pigments to dried turmeric root during polishing began more than 30 years ago and continues today, primarily driven by consumer preferences for colorful yellow curries. Farmers stated that merchants are able to sell otherwise poor-quality roots and increase their profits by asking polishers to adulterate with yellow pigments. Adulterating turmeric with lead chromate poses significant risks to human health and development. The results from this study indicate that PbCrO4 is being added to turmeric by polishers, who are unaware of its neurotoxic effects, in order to satisfy wholesalers who are driven by consumer demand for yellow roots. We recommend immediate intervention that engages turmeric producers and consumers to address this public health crisis and ensure a future with Pb-free turmeric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Forsyth
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Syeda Nurunnahar
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Shariful Islam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Musa Baker
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dalia Yeasmin
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Saiful Islam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Scott Fendorf
- Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nicole M Ardoin
- Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter J Winch
- Department of International Health, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Stephen P Luby
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Doyi INY, Isley CF, Soltani NS, Taylor MP. Human exposure and risk associated with trace element concentrations in indoor dust from Australian homes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 133:105125. [PMID: 31634663 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This study examines residential indoor dust from 224 homes in Sydney, Australia for trace element concentrations measured using portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) and their potential risk of harm. Samples were collected as part of a citizen science program involving public participation via collection and submission of vacuum dust samples for analysis of their As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations. The upper 95% confidence level of the mean values for 224 samples (sieved to <250 μm) were 20.2 mg/kg As, 99.8 mg/kg Cr, 298 mg/kg Cu, 247 mg/kg Mn, 56.7 mg/kg Ni, 364 mg/kg Pb and 2437 mg/kg Zn. The spatial patterns and variations of the metals indicate high homogeneity across Sydney, but with noticeably higher Pb values in the older areas of the city. Potential hazard levels were assessed using United States Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA) carcinogenic, non-carcinogenic and Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model human health risk assessment tools for children and adults. US EPA hazard indexes (HI) for Cr and Pb were higher than the safe level of 1.0 for children. HI > 1 suggests potential non-carcinogenic health effects. Carcinogenic risks were estimated for As, Cr and Pb whose carcinogenic slope factors (CSF) were available. Only the risk factor for Cr exceeded the US EPA's carcinogenic threshold (1 × 10-4) for children. Children aged 1-2 years had the highest predicted mean child blood lead (PbB) of 4.6 μg/dL, with 19.2% potentially having PbB exceeding 5 μg/dL and 5.80% exceeding 10 μg/dL. The Cr and Pb levels measured in indoor dust therefore pose potentially significant adverse health risks to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel N Y Doyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Cynthia Faye Isley
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Neda Sharifi Soltani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
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Forsyth JE, Weaver KL, Maher K, Islam MS, Raqib R, Rahman M, Fendorf S, Luby SP. Sources of Blood Lead Exposure in Rural Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:11429-11436. [PMID: 31525910 PMCID: PMC7705119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) exposure is a major public health problem worldwide. Although high levels of Pb in blood in Bangladesh have been documented, the dominant Pb sources contributing to human exposure in rural Bangladesh have not been determined. Here, we first obtained blood from pregnant women from three rural Bangladeshi districts who were previously assessed by a case-control and sampling study, and we then conducted semistructured in-depth interviews to understand Pb exposure behavior and finally collected samples of the suspected Pb sources. We measured the Pb isotopic composition of both potential Pb sources and 45 blood samples in order to understand which of three sources predominate: (1) food from Pb-soldered cans, (2) turmeric, or (3) geophagous materials (clay, soil, or ash). The Pb isotope ratios of the three sources are distinct (p = 0.0001) and blood isotope ratios are most similar to turmeric. Elevated lead and chromium (Cr) concentrations in turmeric and a yellow pigment used in turmeric processing are consistent with reported consumption behavior that indicated turmeric as a primary contributor to blood Pb. The Pb isotopic composition analyses combined with a case-control and sampling approach provides evidence that turmeric adulterated with the yellow Pb-bearing pigment is the main Pb exposure source in these districts and illustrates the need to assess drivers and practices of turmeric adulteration, as well as the prevalence of adulteration across South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | | | - Stephen P Luby
- Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, and
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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35
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Kullar SS, Shao K, Surette C, Foucher D, Mergler D, Cormier P, Bellinger DC, Barbeau B, Sauvé S, Bouchard MF. A benchmark concentration analysis for manganese in drinking water and IQ deficits in children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 130:104889. [PMID: 31200154 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Manganese is an essential nutrient, but in excess, can be a potent neurotoxicant. We previously reported findings from two cross-sectional studies on children, showing that higher concentrations of manganese in drinking water were associated with deficits in IQ scores. Despite the common occurrence of this neurotoxic metal, its concentration in drinking water is rarely regulated. OBJECTIVE We aimed to apply a benchmark concentration analysis to estimate water manganese levels associated with pre-defined levels of cognitive impairment in children, i.e. drop of 1%, 2% and 5% in Performance IQ scores. METHODS Data from two studies conducted in Canada were pooled resulting in a sample of 630 children (ages 5.9-13.7 years) with data on tap water manganese concentration and cognition, as well as confounders. We used the Bayesian Benchmark Dose Analysis System to compute weight-averaged median estimates for the benchmark concentration (BMC) of manganese in water and the lower bound of the credible interval (BMCL), based on seven different exposure-response models. RESULTS The BMC for manganese in drinking water associated with a decrease of 1% Performance IQ score was 133 μg/L (BMCL, 78 μg/L); for a decrease of 2%, this concentration was 266 μg/L (BMCL, 156 μg/L) and for a decrease of 5% it was 676 μg/L (BMCL, 406 μg/L). In sex-stratified analyses, the manganese concentrations associated with a decrease of 1%, 2% and 5% Performance IQ in boys were 185, 375 and 935 μg/L (BMCLs, 75, 153 and 386 μg/L) and 78, 95, 192 μg/L (BMCLs, 9, 21 and 74 μg/L) for girls. CONCLUSION Studies suggest that a maximum acceptable concentration for manganese in drinking water should be set to protect children, the most vulnerable population, from manganese neurotoxicity. The present risk analysis can guide decision-makers responsible for developing these standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savroop S Kullar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kan Shao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Céline Surette
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Delphine Foucher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Donna Mergler
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Biology, Health, Society and Environment (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Cormier
- School of Psychology, Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Benoit Barbeau
- Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, 2900 Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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36
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Taylor MP, Isley CF, Glover J. Prevalence of childhood lead poisoning and respiratory disease associated with lead smelter emissions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 127:340-352. [PMID: 30954720 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The city of Port Pirie in South Australia has been a world leading centre for lead and zinc smelting and processing since 1889 that continues to cause contamination of its environment and resident population. This study quantifies the effect of lead and SO2 emissions from Nyrstar Port Pirie Pty Ltd's smelter on blood lead and respiratory health outcomes, respectively, and establishes what air quality values are required to better protect human health. METHOD Blood lead and emergency department presentation data collected by South Australia Health (SA Health) and lead in air and SO2 data collected by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (SAEPA) were obtained and analysed to quantify health outcomes due to smelter emissions in Port Pirie. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the concentration of lead in air and children's blood lead levels between the years of available data: 2003 to 2017. Ambient SO2 concentrations (SAEPA) measured continuously between 2008 and 2018 were 24-hour averaged and compared to daily local emergency department respiratory presentation rates (available from July 2012 to October 2018). Rates of emergency department respiratory presentations at Port Pirie and regional comparators were calculated as age-standardised rates. RESULTS The data show that increases in ambient SO2 concentrations are associated with increased rates of emergency department respiratory presentations of Port Pirie residents, in which children are over-represented. The 30-day rolling average of respiratory presentations was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with incremental increases in SO2. Analysis of the relationship between lead in air and blood lead shows that annual geometric mean air lead concentrations need to be <0.11 μg/m3 to ensure the geometric mean blood lead of Port Pirie children under 5 years is ≤5 μg/dL. For children aged 24 months, lead in air needs to be no greater than 0.082 μg/m3 (annual geometric mean) to ensure geometric mean blood lead does not exceed 5 μg/dL. CONCLUSION Current smelting emissions continue to pose a clear risk of harm to Port Pirie children. Allowable emissions must be lowered significantly to limit adverse childhood health outcomes including respiratory illness and IQ, academic achievement and socio-behavioural problems that are associated with lead exposure at levels experienced by Port Pirie children. Current SO2 levels are likely to be responsible for increased rates of emergency department respiratory presentations in Port Pirie compared with other South Australian locations. As a minimum, Australian SO2 air quality standards need to be enforced in Port Pirie to better protect human health. Lead in air needs to be approximately 80% lower than the current national standard (0.5 μg/m3) to ensure that the geometric blood lead of children under 5 years is less than or equal to 5 μg/dL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Cynthia Faye Isley
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - John Glover
- Public Health Information Development Unit, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Verhougstraete MP, Gerald JK, Gerba CP, Reynolds KA. Cost-benefit of point-of-use devices for lead reduction. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:260-265. [PMID: 30690272 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead exposure represents a significant human health concern that often occurs with little warning to the consumer. Water lead levels can be mitigated by point-of-use (POU) devices such as reverse osmosis, distillation, or activated carbon with lead reduction media. OBJECTIVES This study assessed a partial cost-benefit of residential installation of POU devices to reduce lead concentrations in drinking water and examined the economic impact at the community level based on exposures reported in Flint, Michigan. METHODS We calculated the individual consumer breakeven point for each lead abatement option by subtracting the lifetime cost of device installation and maintenance from the lifetime cost of lead exposure through its impact on intelligence (IQ) and lifetime earnings. This approach was then extrapolated to the community level based on reported lead exposures in Flint, Michigan. RESULTS Based on operating POU device costs, lead absorption from water, and economic losses associated with reduced IQ, initial water lead levels associated with consumer breakeven points for reverse osmosis (7.31 µg/L), activated carbon (3.73 µg/L), and distillation (12.0 µg/L) were calculated. For example, an individual consuming water with 25 µg/L of lead, similar to the 90th percentile of concentrations measured in Flint, Michigan, would have an expected blood lead level of 1.25 µg/dL, a corresponding loss of 0.641 IQ points, and a lifetime economic earnings loss of $14,284. Over 70 years of continued use, activated carbon with lead reduction media is the least expensive device to maintain and operate as compared to reverse osmosis and distillation. CONCLUSIONS Infrastructure failures related to drinking water are unpredictable and exposure to contaminates can have significant economic ramifications. POU devices represent a cost-effective option to reduce the impact of lead exposure, particularly when water lead concentrations exceed regulated levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Verhougstraete
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295N. Martin Ave., PO Box 245210, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
| | - Joe K Gerald
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Charles P Gerba
- Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kelly A Reynolds
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Landrigan PJ, Fuller R, Fisher S, Suk WA, Sly P, Chiles TC, Bose-O'Reilly S. Pollution and children's health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:2389-2394. [PMID: 30292994 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
FINDINGS The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health found that pollution - air, water, soil, and chemical pollution - was responsible in 2016 for 940,000 deaths in children worldwide, two-thirds of them in children under the age of 5. Pollution is inequitably distributed, and the overwhelming majority of pollution-related deaths in children occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most were due to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases caused by polluted air and water. Pollution is linked also to multiple non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children including low birth weight, asthma, cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders, and these diseases are on the rise. The full impact of pollution, especially chemical pollution on the global burden of pediatric disease is not yet known, but almost certainly is undercounted because patterns of chemical exposure are not well charted and the potential toxicity of many chemical pollutants has not been characterized. The list of pediatric NCDs attributed to pollution will likely expand as the health effects of newer chemical pollutants are better defined and additional associations between pollution and disease are discovered. CONCLUSION Pollution prevention presents a major, largely unexploited opportunity to improve children's health and prevent NCDs, especially in LMICs. Failure to incorporate pollution prevention into NCD control programs is a major missed opportunity for disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Fuller
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, 860, New York, NY 10115, USA
| | - Samantha Fisher
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, 860, New York, NY 10115, USA
| | - William A Suk
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Peter Sly
- Child Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, St. Lucia, 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas C Chiles
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Stephan Bose-O'Reilly
- University Hospital Munich, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, Unit Global Environmental Health, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany; Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT (University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology), Hall i.T., Austria
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Galvez M, Collins G, Amler RW, Dozor A, Kaplan-Liss E, Forman J, Laraque-Arena D, Lawrence R, Miller R, Miller K, Sheffield P, Zajac L, Landrigan PJ. Building New York State Centers of Excellence in Children's Environmental Health: A Replicable Model in a Time of Uncertainty. Am J Public Health 2019; 109:108-112. [PMID: 30496005 PMCID: PMC6301385 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2018.304742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Public health programs may be seriously affected in periods of federal retrenchment. During these times, state-based strategies provide an alternate pathway for advancing public health.A 12-year campaign to secure state support for a network of Centers of Excellence in Children's Environmental Health (CEH) promoting health of children across New York State is described. It was driven by rising rates of asthma, birth defects, developmental disorders, and other noncommunicable diseases in children; growing evidence associating hazardous environmental exposures with these conditions; and recognition that federal resources in CEH are insufficient.Critical campaign elements were (1) formation of a statewide coalition of academic health centers, health care providers, public health officials, community advocates, and other stakeholders; (2) bipartisan collaborations with legislative champions and government leaders; (3) assessment of the burden of developmental disorders and noncommunicable diseases associated with environmental exposures among children; (4) maps documenting the presence of environmental hazards in every county statewide; (5) iterative charting of a changing political landscape; and (6) persistence. The 2017 award of a 5-year, $10 million contract to establish Centers of Excellence in CEH demonstrates the value of this statewide strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maida Galvez
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Geoffrey Collins
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Robert W Amler
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Allen Dozor
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Evonne Kaplan-Liss
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Joel Forman
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Danielle Laraque-Arena
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Ruth Lawrence
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Richard Miller
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Karen Miller
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Perry Sheffield
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Lauren Zajac
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
| | - Philip J Landrigan
- Maida Galvez, Geoffrey Collins, Joel Forman, Perry Sheffield, Lauren Zajac, and Philip J. Landrigan are with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Robert W. Amler and Allen Dozor are with the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Health Science & Practice, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Evonne Kaplan-Liss is with the Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth. Danielle Laraque-Arena is with the Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY. Ruth Lawrence and Richard Miller are with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY. Karen Miller is with the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Huntington, NY
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Lee H, Lee M, Kim HK, Kim YO, Kwon JT, Kim HJ. Influence of clozapine on neurodevelopmental protein expression and behavioral patterns in animal model of psychiatric disorder induced by low-level of lead. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 2019; 23:467-474. [PMID: 31680768 PMCID: PMC6819901 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2019.23.6.467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to lead during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to low levels of lead acetate (0.2%) in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation causes behavioral impairment and affects the expression of proteins associated with neurodevelopment. Lead exposure altered several parameters in rat offspring compared with those unexposed in open-field, social interaction, and pre-pulse inhibition tests. These parameters were restored to normal levels after clozapine treatment. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampus revealed that several neurodevelopmental proteins were downregulated in lead-exposed rats. The expression was normalized after clozapine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, postnatal day 35–56). These findings demonstrate that downregulation of several proteins in lead-exposed rats affected subsequent behavioral changes. Our results suggest that lead exposure in early life may induce psychiatric disorders and treatment with antipsychotics such as clozapine may reduce their incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwayoung Lee
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea
| | - Minyoung Lee
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea
| | - Hyung-Ki Kim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea
| | - Young Ock Kim
- Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Jun-Tack Kwon
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea
| | - Hak-Jae Kim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan 31151, Korea
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Ericson B, Dowling R, Dey S, Caravanos J, Mishra N, Fisher S, Ramirez M, Sharma P, McCartor A, Guin P, Taylor MP, Fuller R. A meta-analysis of blood lead levels in India and the attributable burden of disease. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:461-470. [PMID: 30273869 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies in India have found elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in target populations. However the data have not yet been evaluated to understand population-wide exposure levels. We used arithmetic mean blood lead data published from 2010 to 2018 on Indian populations to calculate the average BLLs for multiple subgroups. We then calculated the attributable disease burden in IQ decrement and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Our Pubmed search yielded 1066 articles. Of these, 31 studies representing the BLLs of 5472 people in 9 states met our study criteria. Evaluating these, we found a mean BLL of 6.86 μg/dL (95% CI: 4.38-9.35) in children and 7.52 μg/dL (95% CI: 5.28-9.76) in non-occupationally exposed adults. We calculated that these exposures resulted in 4.9 million DALYs (95% CI: 3.9-5.6) in the states we evaluated. Population-wide BLLs in India remain elevated despite regulatory action to eliminate leaded petrol, the most significant historical source. The estimated attributable disease burden is larger than previously calculated, particularly with regard to associated intellectual disability outcomes in children. Larger population-wide BLL studies are required to inform future calculations. Policy responses need to be developed to mitigate the worst exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret Ericson
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Russell Dowling
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Subhojit Dey
- Indian Institute of Public Health, Plot No. 47, Sector 44, Institutional Area Gurgaon, 122002 Delhi, Delhi NCR, India
| | - Jack Caravanos
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA; College of Global Public Health, New York University, 41 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Navya Mishra
- Public Health Foundation of India, Plot No. 47, Sector 44, Institutional Area Gurgaon, 122002, Delhi NCR, India
| | - Samantha Fisher
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Myla Ramirez
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Promila Sharma
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Andrew McCartor
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Pradeep Guin
- Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat Narela Road, Sonipat 131001, Haryana, India
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Richard Fuller
- Pure Earth, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 860, New York, NY 10025, USA
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Campbell PM, Corneau E, Nishimura D, Teng E, Ekoualla D. Cost-benefit analysis for a lead wheel weight phase-out in Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 637-638:79-90. [PMID: 29742477 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Lead wheel weights (LWWs) have been banned in Europe, and some US States, but they continue to dominate the market in Canada. Exposure to lead is associated with numerous health impacts and can result in multiple and irreversible health problems which include cognitive impairment when exposure occurs during early development. Such impacts incur high individual and social costs. The purpose of this study was to assess the costs and public health benefits of a Risk Management Strategy (RMS) that would result from a LWW phase-out in Canada and compare this to a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario. The contribution of LWWs to lead concentrations in media including roadway soil/dust, ambient and indoor air, and indoor dust were estimated. The Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (IEUBK) was used to develop estimates for the blood lead levels (BLLs) in children (μg/dL) associated with the BAU and the RMS. The BLLs estimated via the IEUBK model were then used to assess the IQ decrements associated with the BAU that would be avoided under the RMS. The subsequent overall societal benefits in terms of increased lifetime earning potential and reduced crime rate, were then estimated and compared to industry and government costs. LWWs form 72% of the Canadian wheel weight market and >1500 tonnes of lead as new LWWs attached to vehicles enters Canadian society annually. We estimate that 110-131 tonnes of lead in detached WWs are abraded on roadways in Canada each year. A LWW phase-out was predicted to result in a drop in pre-school BLLs of up to 0.4 μg/dL. The estimated net benefits associated with the RMS based on cognitive decrements avoided and hence increased lifetime earning potential (increased productivity) and reduced crime are expected to be: C$248 million (8% discount rate) to C$1.2 billion (3% discount rate) per year.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Campbell
- Toxecology - Environmental Consulting Ltd, The Paris Block, 204-53 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G4, Canada.
| | - E Corneau
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 351 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - D Nishimura
- Toxecology - Environmental Consulting Ltd, The Paris Block, 204-53 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G4, Canada
| | - E Teng
- Toxecology - Environmental Consulting Ltd, The Paris Block, 204-53 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G4, Canada
| | - D Ekoualla
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 351 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3, Canada
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French infant total diet study: Exposure to selected trace elements and associated health risks. Food Chem Toxicol 2018; 120:625-633. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2018.07.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Olympio KPK, Silva JPDR, Silva ASD, Souza VCDO, Buzalaf MAR, Barbosa F, Cardoso MRA. Blood lead and cadmium levels in preschool children and associated risk factors in São Paulo, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 240:831-838. [PMID: 29783200 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In Brazil, there are scarce data on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contamination, especially for more vulnerable populations such as preschool children. In this paper, we answer two questions: (1) What are the exposure levels of lead and cadmium in preschool children, in Sao Paulo, Brazil? and (2) What are the risk factors associated with this exposure? This cross-sectional study included 50 day care centers (DCCs), totaling 2463 children aged 1-4 years. Venous blood samples were analyzed by ICP-MS. Questionnaires were administered to the parents. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify associations between blood lead levels (BLLs) and blood cadmium levels (BCLs) and potential risk factors. The geometric mean for BLLs was 2.16 μg/dL (95% CI: 2.10-2.22 μg/dL), and the 97.5th percentile was 13.9 μg/dL (95% CI: 10.0-17.3 μg/dL). For cadmium exposure, the geometric mean for BCLs was 0.48 μg/L (95% CI: 0.47-0.50 μg/L), and the 95th percentile was 2.57 μg/L (95% CI: 2.26-2.75 μg/L). The DCCs' geographic region was associated with high BLLs and BCLs, indicating hot spots for lead and cadmium exposures. In addition, it was found that the higher the vehicles flow, the higher were the BLLs in children. Red lead in household gates was also an important risk factor for lead exposure. Comparing these results with the findings of the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals by CDC-2013, it was found that in Brazilian preschool children the BLLs are almost three times higher (97.5th percentile) and the BCLs are almost twelve times higher (95th percentile) than those in U.S. children. This information is essential to formulate public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Agnes Soares da Silva
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health (CDE), Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vanessa Cristina de Oliveira Souza
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Alves Cardoso
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Lead Affects Vitamin D Metabolism in Rats. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10030264. [PMID: 29495376 PMCID: PMC5872682 DOI: 10.3390/nu10030264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A negative association between blood lead and vitamin D concentrations has been reported, however, experimental data on the effect of lead (Pb) on vitamin D metabolism is scarce. We investigated the effects of Pb on serum vitamin D metabolites, vitamin D activating enzymes and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in rats. Newborn Wistar rat pups were exposed to 0.2% Pb-acetate via their dams’ drinking water from post-natal day (PND) 1 to 21 and directly in drinking water until PND30. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was analyzed with LC-MS/MS and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D with an immunoassay. Tissue expression of vitamin D activating enzymes and VDR were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was significantly decreased at both PND21 and PND30, whereas 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was decreased (p < 0.05) only at PND21 in the Pb-exposed rats. Expression of renal 1-α-hydroxylase was decreased by Pb only at PND21 (p < 0.05) but the brain 1-α-hydroxylase was not affected. Hepatic 25-hydroxylase expression was significantly decreased at PND21 but significantly increased at PND30 by Pb exposure. VDR expression in the brain was increased at both PND21 and PND30 (p < 0.05). These results suggest that Pb interferes with vitamin D metabolism by affecting the expression of its metabolizing enzymes.
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Zhou X, Taylor MP, Davies PJ, Prasad S. Identifying Sources of Environmental Contamination in European Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Using Trace Elements and Lead Isotopic Compositions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:991-1001. [PMID: 29249154 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Trace element concentrations (As, Mn, Pb, and Zn) and Pb isotopic compositions were analyzed in honey bees, wax, and honey along with co-located soil and dust samples from Sydney metropolitan and Broken Hill, Australia. Compared with the other trace elements, Pearson correlations show that Pb concentrations in soil and dust had the strongest relationship to corresponding values in honey bees and their products. Dust Pb was not only highly correlated to corresponding soil values (r = 0.806, p = 0.005), it was the strongest predictor of Pb concentrations in honey bees, wax, and honey (p = 0.001, 0.007, 0.017, respectively). Lead isotopic compositions (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb) showed that honey bees and their products from Broken Hill were nearly identical (95-98%) to the composition of the local ore body. Samples of honey bees and their products collected from background sites adjacent to national parks in Sydney had Pb isotopic compositions (206Pb/207Pb = 1.138-1.159, 208Pb/207Pb = 2.417-2.435) corresponding to local geogenic values (206Pb/207Pb = 1.123-1.176, 208Pb/207Pb = 2.413-2.500). By contrast, honey bees and their products from Sydney metropolitan (206Pb/207Pb = 1.081-1.126, 208Pb/207Pb = 2.352-2.408) were similar to aerosols measured during the period of leaded petrol use (206Pb/207Pb = 1.067-1.148, 208Pb/207Pb = 2.341-2.410). These measurements show Pb concentrations and its isotopic compositions of honey bees, and their products can be used to trace both legacy and contemporary environmental contamination, particularly where sources are well documented. Moreover, this study demonstrates that legacy Pb emissions continue to be remobilized in dust, contaminating both food and ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shiva Prasad
- Analytical Service Branch, National Measurement Institute , Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Government, Riverside Corporate Park, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
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Ericson B, Caravanos J, Depratt C, Santos C, Cabral MG, Fuller R, Taylor MP. Cost Effectiveness of Environmental Lead Risk Mitigation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. GEOHEALTH 2018; 2:87-101. [PMID: 32159011 PMCID: PMC7007121 DOI: 10.1002/2017gh000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental remediation efforts in low- and middle-income countries have yet to be evaluated for their cost effectiveness. To address this gap we calculate a cost per Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) averted following the environmental remediation of the former lead smelter and adjoining residential areas in Paraiso de Dios, Haina, the Dominican Republic, executed from 2009 to 2010. The remediation had the effect of lowering surface soil lead concentrations to below 100 mg/kg and measured geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) from 20.6 μg/dL to 5.34 ug/dL. Because BLLs for the entire impacted population were not available, we use environmental data to calculate the resulting disease burden. We find that before the intervention 176 people were exposed to elevated environmental lead levels at Paraiso de Dios resulting in mean BLLs of 24.97 (95% CI: 24.45-25.5) in children (0-7 years old) and 13.98 μg/dL (95% CI: 13.03-15) in adults. We calculate that without the intervention these exposures would have resulted in 133 to 1,096 DALYs and that all of these were averted at a cost of USD 392 to 3,238, depending on assumptions made. We use a societal perspective, meaning that we include all costs regardless of by whom they were incurred and estimate costs in 2009 USD. Lead remediation in low- and middle-income countries is cost effective according to World Health Organization thresholds. Further research is required to compare the approach detailed here with other public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret Ericson
- Pure EarthNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and EngineeringMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- College of Global Public HealthNew York UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Jack Caravanos
- College of Global Public HealthNew York UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Conrado Depratt
- The Autonomous University of Santo DomingoSanto DomingoDominican Republic
| | - Cynthia Santos
- Department of Emergency Medicine, ToxicologyRutgers University HospitalNewarkNJUSA
| | | | | | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and EngineeringMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Energy and Environmental Contaminants Research CentreMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Schmidt CW. After the Screening: What Happens Next for Children with Elevated Blood Lead? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:102001. [PMID: 29068317 PMCID: PMC5933304 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
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Entwistle JA, Hunt A, Boisa N, Dean JR. Enhancing the interpretation of in vitro bioaccessibility data by using computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) at the individual particle level. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 228:443-453. [PMID: 28558285 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The adverse health effects resulting from exposure to contaminated soil on internally displaced populations in Mitrovica, Kosovo can be determined by how the potentially harmful elements are bound in the soils. Certainly this was the case for Pb, present at concentrations ranging from 624 to 46,900 mg/kg, and at bioaccessibilities ranging <5% to nearly 90%. To assess why the soil Pb might differ so markedly in terms of its bioaccessibility, computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) was employed to determine how the Pb was associated with other elements at the individual particle (IP) level in soils from the area. It was found that the Pb-bearing particle types were, for the most part, different in each sample. We consider these differences as the main control on Pb bioaccessibility in these soils. Pb solubility at the IP level was evaluated by examining Pb-particles from these soils in the electron microscope before and after successive immersions in a simulated gastric fluid. This analysis (differential IP analysis) confirmed the CCSEM characterization that Pb associated with other higher atomic number elements (Fe, Zn, Cu and Ni) was less soluble than when it was present as isolated phases (e.g., as carbonate) or when it was bound with lower atomic number elements (Na, Al, Si, K, Ca). The heterogeneity in solubility and composition of the Pb-particles suggested that the Pb originated from a range of different anthropogenic activities. The nature of these different anthropogenic activities created the wide differences in Pb-bioaccessibilty by producing Pb bound in many different forms in the soil particles. This type of Pb-particle characterization highlights the role CCSEM analysis, and IP acid extraction, can play in providing supporting evidence alongside bioaccessibility data for applications in human health risk assessment and management of contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane A Entwistle
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - Andrew Hunt
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
| | - Ndokiari Boisa
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - John R Dean
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
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50
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Bornman MS, Aneck-Hahn NH, de Jager C, Wagenaar GM, Bouwman H, Barnhoorn IEJ, Patrick SM, Vandenberg LN, Kortenkamp A, Blumberg B, Kimmins S, Jegou B, Auger J, DiGangi J, Heindel JJ. Endocrine Disruptors and Health Effects in Africa: A Call for Action. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:085005. [PMID: 28935616 PMCID: PMC5783641 DOI: 10.1289/ehp1774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Africa faces a number of unique environmental challenges. Unfortunately, it lacks the infrastructure needed to support the comprehensive environmental studies that could provide the scientific basis to inform environmental policies. There are a number of known sources of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other hazardous chemicals in Africa. However, a coordinated approach to identify and monitor these contaminants and to develop strategies for public health interventions has not yet been made. OBJECTIVES This commentary summarizes the scientific evidence presented by experts at the First African Endocrine Disruptors meeting. We describe a "call to action" to utilize the available scientific knowledge to address the impact of EDCs on human and wildlife health in Africa. DISCUSSION We identify existing knowledge gaps about exposures to EDCs in Africa and describe how well-designed research strategies are needed to address these gaps. A lack of resources for research and a lag in policy implementation slows down intervention strategies and poses a challenge to advancing future health in Africa. CONCLUSION To address the many challenges posed by EDCs, we argue that Africans should take the lead in prioritization and evaluation of environmental hazards, including EDCs. We recommend the institution of education and training programs for chemical users, adoption of the precautionary principle, establishment of biomonitoring programs, and funding of community-based epidemiology and wildlife research programs led and funded by African institutes and private companies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1774.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Bornman
- Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Natalie H Aneck-Hahn
- Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Urology, University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christiaan de Jager
- Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gesina M Wagenaar
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg , Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Hindrik Bouwman
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University , Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | - Sean M Patrick
- Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences , Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London , Uxbridge, UK
| | - Bruce Blumberg
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine , Irvine, California, USA
| | - Sarah Kimmins
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | - Bernard Jegou
- Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (IRSET-INSERM UMR 1085 ), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) , Rennes, France
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) , Rennes, France
| | - Jacques Auger
- INSERM U1016, Equipe Génomique, Epigénétique et Physiologie de la Reproduction, Institut Cochin, Université Paris Descartes , Paris, France
| | - Joseph DiGangi
- International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) , Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jerrold J Heindel
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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