María Teresa Llorente Ballesteros1, Irene Navarro Serrano2, Silvia Izquierdo Álvarez3. 1. Institute of Toxicology of Defence, Gómez Ulla Central Hospital of Defence, Glorieta del Ejército s/n, 28047 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: mllobal@oc.mde.es. 2. Institute of Toxicology of Defence, Gómez Ulla Central Hospital of Defence, Glorieta del Ejército s/n, 28047 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: irene.navarroserrano@gmail.com. 3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Miguel Servet University Hospital, C/Padre Arrupe, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: sizquierdoalvarez@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hair samples are used as a tool to evaluate environmental exposure to contaminants and metabolic status in the individual. However, the use of human hair is controversial, mainly because of the lack of well-defined reference levels. In the case of Spain, very few biomonitoring studies have investigated these issues in infants, children or adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To establish reference levels for trace elements in children and teenagers in Madrid, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure Al, As, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Tl and Zn levels in hair samples from 648 healthy children and adolescents (253 boys and 395 girls) between April 2008 and December 2009. RESULTS: Median levels were as follows: Al 18.5μg/g, As 0.07μg/g, Ag 196ng/g, Ba 0.5μg/g, Bi 0.01μg/g, Cd 18.3ng/g, Cr 0.4μg/g, Co 14.5ng/g, Cu 25.7μg/g, Fe 15.5μg/g, Mn 328ng/g, Mo 0.04μg/g, Ni 0.5μg/g, Pb 0.70μg/g, Se 0.5μg/g, Sr 1.29μg/g, Tl 0.28ng/g and Zn 121μg/g. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The values of trace elements here described could be considered as possible reference ranges for hair samples from children and adolescents aged 0-18 years living in the Madrid region (central Spain). These values could also be selected as a preliminary screening tool to assess exposure sources and to generate information needed to develop prevention strategies and likewise could be a complement to other diagnostic procedures.
INTRODUCTION: Hair samples are used as a tool to evaluate environmental exposure to contaminants and metabolic status in the individual. However, the use of human hair is controversial, mainly because of the lack of well-defined reference levels. In the case of Spain, very few biomonitoring studies have investigated these issues in infants, children or adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To establish reference levels for trace elements in children and teenagers in Madrid, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure Al, As, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Tl and Zn levels in hair samples from 648 healthy children and adolescents (253 boys and 395 girls) between April 2008 and December 2009. RESULTS: Median levels were as follows: Al 18.5μg/g, As 0.07μg/g, Ag 196ng/g, Ba 0.5μg/g, Bi 0.01μg/g, Cd 18.3ng/g, Cr 0.4μg/g, Co 14.5ng/g, Cu 25.7μg/g, Fe 15.5μg/g, Mn 328ng/g, Mo 0.04μg/g, Ni 0.5μg/g, Pb 0.70μg/g, Se 0.5μg/g, Sr 1.29μg/g, Tl 0.28ng/g and Zn 121μg/g. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The values of trace elements here described could be considered as possible reference ranges for hair samples from children and adolescents aged 0-18 years living in the Madrid region (central Spain). These values could also be selected as a preliminary screening tool to assess exposure sources and to generate information needed to develop prevention strategies and likewise could be a complement to other diagnostic procedures.
Authors: Julián Campos-Pérez; Ricardo N M J Páscoa; João Almeida Lopes; Fernando Cámara-Martos Journal: Biol Trace Elem Res Date: 2021-03-01 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Maria Luisa Astolfi; Georgios Pietris; Corrado Mazzei; Elisabetta Marconi; Silvia Canepari Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-21 Impact factor: 3.390