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Strieker S, Radon K, Forster F, Örnek ÖK, Wengenroth L, Schmotz W, Sonnemann F, Hoopmann M, Hepp M, Nowak D, Weinmann T, Rakete S. Biomonitoring of lead in blood of children living in a former mining area in Lower Saxony, Germany. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-32719-x. [PMID: 38594562 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32719-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to lead substantially decreased over the past decades. However, soil of former mining areas still contains high lead levels. We therefore performed a biomonitoring study among children living in two former mining communities in Lower Saxony, Germany. In these communities, soil contains lead levels of 1000 to 30,000 mg/kg. Overall, 75 children (6-10 years of age) attending the two primary schools of the study area took part in the study. Parents completed a short questionnaire on sociodemographics, and children provided capillary whole blood samples. We analysed lead using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometer. We compared the results to current German (20 μg/l for boys, 15 μg/l for girls) and US (35 μg/l) reference values. Potential associations between questionnaire information and lead results were tested using lead as continuous outcome and using lead dichotomized at the reference values. Finally, we analysed spatial patterns of elevated biomonitoring results. Of all children, 48% exceeded the German reference values for lead (5% expected) and 8% the US reference value (2.5% expected). Children 6-8 years of age were more likely to exceed German reference values (63%) than 9-10 year old children were (32%; pFisher = 0.01). No other questionnaire information was statistically significantly associated with biomonitoring results. Additionally, we did not find any indication of spatial clustering. In conclusion, we observed elevated blood lead levels in primary school children living in a former mining area. In the next step, exposure pathways need to be identified to implement effective public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Strieker
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Radon
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Forster
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Özlem Köseoglu Örnek
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
- Department of Nursing Science, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Laura Wengenroth
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Walter Schmotz
- District of Goslar, Department of Construction & Environment-Soil Protection and Waste Monitoring, Goslar, Germany
| | - Finn Sonnemann
- District of Goslar, Department of Construction & Environment-Soil Protection and Waste Monitoring, Goslar, Germany
| | | | - Martin Hepp
- District of Goslar, Department of Public Health Services, Goslar, Germany
| | - Dennis Nowak
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Rakete
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336, Munich, Germany
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Markovic A, Wengenroth L, Schlüter J, Kerber K, Parisi C, Strieker S, Bartelt A, Heinen F, Landgraf MN. 9/m mit unklaren Impulsdurchbrüchen. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00112-022-01662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Strieker S, Weinmann T, Gerlich J, von Mutius E, Nowak D, Radon K, Wengenroth L. Farm living and allergic rhinitis from childhood to young adulthood - prospective results of the GABRIEL study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 150:1209-1215.e2. [PMID: 35779667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing up on a farm is associated with a reduced prevalence of respiratory allergies in childhood. It is unknown whether this protective effect remains into adulthood. OBJECTIVES We aimed to prospectively investigate the relationship between farm exposure and prevalence of allergic rhinitis and wheeze from childhood to early adulthood. METHODS Participants from phase 2 of the GABRIEL (Multidisciplinary Study to Identify the Genetic and Environmental Causes of Asthma in the European Community) study living in southern Germany (aged 6-11 years at baseline; 20-25 at follow-up) were invited to complete a questionnaire on sociodemographic data, farm contact, respiratory symptoms, and potential confounders. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were modelled using generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS Of the 2,276 phase 2 participants, 1,501 (66%) answered the follow-up questionnaire of which 1,333 could be included in the analyses. Living on a farm was associated with reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis (persistent farm living OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.6; only baseline farm living 0.4; 0.2-0.8). The odds ratio for developing symptoms from baseline to follow-up was almost three (OR 2.7; 95% CI 2.1-3.3), irrespective of farm living. For symptoms of wheeze, no statistically significant association with farm living was observed. CONCLUSIONS The protective effect of farm living on allergic rhinitis persists from childhood to early adulthood. Continuing exposure over puberty does not add to the effect. This confirms that the window of opportunity for a protective effect might be found in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Strieker
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Jessica Gerlich
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; Munich Centre of Health Sciences (MC-Health), Munich, Germany
| | - Erika von Mutius
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; Dr. v. Haunersches Kinderspital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention (IAP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)
| | - Dennis Nowak
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Radon
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; Munich Centre of Health Sciences (MC-Health), Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Wengenroth
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital. LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany; Munich Centre of Health Sciences (MC-Health), Munich, Germany.
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