Tao-Hsiang Yang1, Tzu-Hsuen Yuan2, Yaw-Huei Hwang3, Ie-Bin Lian4, Menghsiao Meng1, Che-Chun Su5. 1. Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Graduate Institute of Occupational Medicine & Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Graduate Institute of Occupational Medicine & Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Graduate Institute of Statistics and Information Science, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan. 5. Graduate Institute of Statistics and Information Science, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Bioindustry Technology, Da-Yeh University, Datsuen, Changhua, Taiwan. Electronic address: 115025@cch.org.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Heavy metal pollution in farm soils is a problem in some parts of Taiwan. Copper can be a factor associated with increased disease activities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether copper pollution in farm soils is associated with worsened RA. METHODS: Clinical parameters from 122 RA patients were collected from a medical center in central Taiwan. Levels of heavy metals in the blood were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Levels of copper in farm soils were retrieved from a national survey. These data were analyzed to find the factors related to RA disease activities. RESULTS: RA patients living where farm soils contained high levels of copper had increased white blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and disease activity score 28, compared with patients living where copper levels were low. Among the nine types of heavy metal measured in the study, blood levels of copper and nickel correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CONCLUSION: Our cross-sectional data suggest a correlation between RA disease activity and the level of copper at township farm soils samples. Further longitudinal studies using more rigorous methodologies are warranted to examine whether this correlation is causal. Copyright Â
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Heavy metal pollution in farm soils is a problem in some parts of Taiwan. Copper can be a factor associated with increased disease activities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether copper pollution in farm soils is associated with worsened RA. METHODS: Clinical parameters from 122 RApatients were collected from a medical center in central Taiwan. Levels of heavy metals in the blood were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Levels of copper in farm soils were retrieved from a national survey. These data were analyzed to find the factors related to RA disease activities. RESULTS:RApatients living where farm soils contained high levels of copper had increased white blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and disease activity score 28, compared with patients living where copper levels were low. Among the nine types of heavy metal measured in the study, blood levels of copper and nickel correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CONCLUSION: Our cross-sectional data suggest a correlation between RA disease activity and the level of copper at township farm soils samples. Further longitudinal studies using more rigorous methodologies are warranted to examine whether this correlation is causal. Copyright Â
Authors: Michał Kupiec; Paweł Pieńkowski; Beata Bosiacka; Izabela Gutowska; Patrycja Kupnicka; Adam Prokopowicz; Dariusz Chlubek; Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-06 Impact factor: 3.390