Bibi M, Hashmi M Z, Malik R N
Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 2016 Jan;35(1):78-90. doi: 10.1177/0960327115578063. Epub 2015 Mar 19.
Human biomonitoring is a well-recognized tool for estimating the exposure of humans to environmental pollutants. However, heavy metals' pollution from anthropogenic origin is a cause for concern because of its potential accumulation in the environment and living organisms, leading to long-term toxic effects. This study was aimed to assess the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in human biological samples (urine, whole blood, hair, and nails) and antioxidant response in blood samples from 48 individuals exposed to heavy metals and to compare them with different age classes and sites. The results indicated that there were metal-specific differences in concentration in exposure groups among the studied sites. The concentration of heavy metals in blood samples showed the following order : Pb > Cd > Ni > Co > Cr. In urine samples, the order was Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co > Cd; in nails samples, the order was Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd > Mn; and in hair samples, the trend was Pb > Ni > Cr > Mn > Cd > Co. A significant (p > 0.05) decrease in antioxidants enzymes activity was observed with increase in heavy metals concentrations. This is the first study reporting biological evidence of altered toxic metals' concentration in humans in Lahore, Pakistan, due to environmental exposure. Further research, including risk analysis studies, food chain contamination, and epidemiological and clinical investigations, are needed to assess optimal levels for dietary exposure in the study area and associated adverse health outcomes.
人体生物监测是一种公认的用于评估人类接触环境污染物情况的工具。然而，人为来源的重金属污染令人担忧，因为其可能在环境和生物体内蓄积，导致长期毒性效应。本研究旨在评估48名接触重金属的个体的人体生物样本（尿液、全血、头发和指甲）中镉（Cd）、铬（Cr）、铅（Pb）、铜（Cu）、镍（Ni）、钴（Co）、锰（Mn）、铁（Fe）和锌（Zn）的浓度以及血液样本中的抗氧化反应，并将其与不同年龄组和地点进行比较。结果表明，在所研究的地点中，接触组的金属浓度存在特定金属差异。血液样本中重金属浓度的顺序为：Pb > Cd > Ni > Co > Cr。尿液样本中的顺序为：Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co > Cd；指甲样本中的顺序为：Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd > Mn；头发样本中的趋势为：Pb > Ni > Cr > Mn > Cd > Co。随着重金属浓度的增加，抗氧化酶活性显著（p > 0.05）降低。这是第一项报告巴基斯坦拉合尔因环境暴露导致人体有毒金属浓度改变的生物学证据的研究。需要进一步开展研究，包括风险分析研究、食物链污染以及流行病学和临床调查，以评估研究区域饮食暴露的最佳水平以及相关的不良健康后果。
