Jillian Ashley-Martin1, Lora Iannotti2, Carolyn Lesorogol2, Charles E Hilton3, Charles Owuor Olungah4, Theodore Zava5, Belinda L Needham6, Yuhan Cui2, Eleanor Brindle7, Bilinda Straight8. 1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University in St Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 2. Brown School, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA. 3. Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. 4. Institute of Anthropology, Gender & African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. 5. ZRT Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon, USA. 6. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. 7. Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. 8. Department of Gender & Women's Studies, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To measure heavy metal concentrations among Kenyan youth and quantify associations with sociocultural, demographic, and health factors as well as anthropometry. METHODS: Using data from a study of semi-nomadic pastoralists in Samburu County, Kenya, we measured blood concentrations of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in 161 adolescents. We identified sociocultural, demographic and health characteristics associated with each metal and quantified the association between metals and adolescent anthropometry. RESULTS: Median blood concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Hg were 1.82 µg/dL, 0.24 µg/L and 0.16 µg/L, respectively. Place of residence (highlands vs lowlands) was a determinant of metal concentrations. Hg was inversely related to anemia, and metals were not associated with anthropometry. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of Samburu adolescents, median Pb and Cd blood concentrations were higher than other North American or European biomonitoring studies. These findings motivate further investigation into the environmental sources of metals in this community.
OBJECTIVES: To measure heavy metal concentrations among Kenyan youth and quantify associations with sociocultural, demographic, and health factors as well as anthropometry. METHODS: Using data from a study of semi-nomadic pastoralists in Samburu County, Kenya, we measured blood concentrations of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in 161 adolescents. We identified sociocultural, demographic and health characteristics associated with each metal and quantified the association between metals and adolescent anthropometry. RESULTS: Median blood concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Hg were 1.82 µg/dL, 0.24 µg/L and 0.16 µg/L, respectively. Place of residence (highlands vs lowlands) was a determinant of metal concentrations. Hg was inversely related to anemia, and metals were not associated with anthropometry. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of Samburu adolescents, median Pb and Cd blood concentrations were higher than other North American or European biomonitoring studies. These findings motivate further investigation into the environmental sources of metals in this community.
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