Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
J Immigr Minor Health. 2013 Dec;15(6):1048-56. doi: 10.1007/s10903-013-9820-x.
Immigrants lack appropriate health care access and other resources needed to reduce their exposure to preventable environmental health risks. Little is known about the impact of lead exposure and oxidative stress among immigrants. Thus, this study was to examine the differences between the blood lead levels (BLLs) and oxidative stress levels of immigrants and non-immigrants, and to investigate the determinants of increased BLLs or oxidative stress levels among immigrants. We collected demographic data of 239 immigrant women and 189 non-immigrant women who resettled in the central area of Taiwan. Each study participant provided blood samples for genotyping and for measuring blood metal levels and oxidative stress. Recent immigrants were at risk for elevated BLLs. Decreased BLLs, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased blood selenium levels were significantly associated with duration of residence in Taiwan. Elevated BLLs and MDA in recent immigrants may serve as a warning sign for the health care system. The nation's health will benefit from improved regulation of living environments, thereby improving the health of immigrants.
移民缺乏适当的医疗保健机会和其他资源，这些资源对于减少接触可预防的环境健康风险是必要的。关于铅暴露和氧化应激对移民的影响知之甚少。因此，本研究旨在检查移民和非移民之间的血铅水平（BLL）和氧化应激水平的差异，并调查移民中 BLL 或氧化应激水平升高的决定因素。我们收集了 239 名移民妇女和 189 名非移民妇女的人口统计学数据，这些妇女在台湾中部地区重新定居。每位研究参与者都提供了血液样本进行基因分型，并测量了血液金属水平和氧化应激水平。最近的移民有升高的 BLL 风险。BLL、丙二醛（MDA）和血液硒水平的降低与在台湾的居住时间呈显著负相关。最近移民的 BLL 和 MDA 升高可能是医疗保健系统的一个警告信号。改善生活环境的监管将使国家的健康受益，从而改善移民的健康。
