'Jožef Stefan' Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 'Jožef Stefan' International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
'Jožef Stefan' Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2019 Apr;222(3):563-582. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.02.008. Epub 2019 Mar 14.
The first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia surveyed cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a childbearing population (18-49 years) selected from lactating primiparous women and men (N = 1084). The overall aim was to estimate trace elements' levels and geographical variations in order to identify sources of possible exposures and set the national reference values. The study population was selected evenly from 12 study areas across Slovenia, including rural, urban and known or potentially contaminated environments. Within 6-8 weeks after delivery, venous blood, spot urine, scalp hair and breast milk samples were collected to determine the selected elements. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression using elemental concentrations in biological matrices, questionnaire data and environmental datasets. Essential elements showed no significant deficiencies or excessive levels in the study population and were largely determined by sex and/or the participating women's physiological status (postpartum, lactation), as well as by certain dietary sources. Toxic elements' levels were mainly below the levels considered to present increased health risk. Lifestyle and nutritional habits appeared as significant determinants of exposure to Cd (smoking and game meat consumption), Hg (seafood and amalgam fillings), As (seafood) and Pb (alcohol consumption, smoking, game meat consumption and type of water supply). A distinctive geographical pattern was confirmed, due to past mining activities combined with naturally elevated background levels in the cases of Pb (Mežica Valley), Hg (Idrija and Posočje) and As exposure (Zasavje). Increased seafood consumption in the coastal study area contributed to higher Hg and As (arsenobetaine) levels. Extensive sample size database accompanied with life-style and environmental data improved the prediction of exposure patterns, set the reference values for the childbearing population living in Slovenia, and provided a strong basis for evaluating spatial and temporal trends in exposure. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to establish reference values for lactating primiparous women.
斯洛文尼亚首次全国性的人体生物监测在 18-49 岁的哺乳期初产妇人群中（1084 人）调查了镉（Cd）、铅（Pb）、汞（Hg）、砷（As）、锰（Mn）、硒（Se）、铜（Cu）和锌（Zn）。该研究的总体目的是评估微量元素的水平和地理差异，以确定可能暴露源，并制定国家参考值。研究人群是从斯洛文尼亚的 12 个研究地区中均匀选择的，包括农村、城市以及已知或潜在污染的环境。在分娩后 6-8 周内，采集静脉血、点尿、头皮头发和母乳样本以测定所选元素。数据分析包括使用生物基质、问卷调查数据和环境数据集的元素浓度进行描述性统计和多元线性回归。研究人群中未发现必需元素明显缺乏或过量，这些元素主要受性别和/或参与女性的生理状况（产后、哺乳期）以及某些饮食来源决定。有毒元素的水平主要低于被认为会增加健康风险的水平。生活方式和营养习惯是影响 Cd（吸烟和野味摄入）、Hg（海鲜和汞合金填充物）、As（海鲜）和 Pb（饮酒、吸烟、野味摄入和供水类型）暴露的重要决定因素。由于过去的采矿活动以及 Pb（Mežica 山谷）、Hg（Idrija 和 Posočje）和 As 暴露（Zasavje）的天然背景水平升高，确认了独特的地理模式。沿海研究地区海鲜消费增加导致 Hg 和 As（砷甜菜碱）水平升高。广泛的样本量数据库以及生活方式和环境数据改善了暴露模式的预测，为居住在斯洛文尼亚的生育期人群设定了参考值，并为评估暴露的时空趋势提供了坚实的基础。据我们所知，这是第一项针对哺乳期初产妇建立参考值的研究。
