Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zaragocilla Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, 130014, Colombia.
Associate Unit CSIC - University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution," Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry [CIQSO], University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain.
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2022 Jan;32(1):146-155. doi: 10.1038/s41370-021-00340-6. Epub 2021 Jun 3.
Trace elements comprise both nutritionally essential and non-essential, and their presence in organisms plays important role in human health.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of trace elements, together with cellular and molecular biomarkers, in adolescents from Tierrabomba Island, a Caribbean community located near an industrial area, comparing them with a group living in San Onofre, a reference community.
Hair and blood samples were obtained from 238 individuals aged 11-18 years old, 131 from Tierrabomba Island and 107 from San Onofre. Trace elements were quantified in hair using ICP-MS. The hematological evaluation was done by peripheral blood smears, and gene expression analysis was carried out through RT-PCR.
Thirteen elements were analyzed; eight showed significant differences between sites. In Tierrabomba, arsenic (As) and tungsten (W) registered mean values greater than in San Onofre. In contrast, in the reference site, average values for boron (B), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), yttrium (Y), tin (Sn), and barium (Ba) were greater. The peripheral blood film showed differences between populations. Mean lymphocyte percentage was higher in the Island, while eosinophil and monocyte percentages displayed greater means in San Onofre. Some correlations between trace elements and hematological parameters were found, mainly with platelets in Tierrabomba. This trend remained even when partial correlation coefficients were adjusted for age. Levels of gene expression of metallothionein 1X (MT1X) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) registered significant differences between sites, being greater in Tierrabomba. Negative correlations between SOD and As were observed in both sampling sites. Discriminant analysis suggested sampling locations could be differentiated by Zn, Mo, Ba, and MT1X levels.
Trace elements and the relative gene expression associated with metal exposure are critical exposure biomarkers for coastal communities.
微量元素包括必需和非必需元素，它们在生物体中的存在对人类健康起着重要作用。
本研究旨在评估微量元素水平以及细胞和分子生物标志物在来自特立尼达博马纳岛（一个位于工业区附近的加勒比社区）的青少年中的水平，并与生活在圣奥诺弗雷（一个参考社区）的青少年进行比较。
从 11-18 岁的 238 名个体中采集头发和血液样本，其中 131 名来自特立尼达博马纳岛，107 名来自圣奥诺弗雷。使用 ICP-MS 对头发中的微量元素进行定量分析。通过外周血涂片进行血液学评估，并通过 RT-PCR 进行基因表达分析。
分析了 13 种元素，其中 8 种元素在两个地点之间存在显著差异。在特立尼达博马纳岛，砷（As）和钨（W）的平均值高于圣奥诺弗雷。相比之下，在参考地点，硼（B）、钴（Co）、锌（Zn）、钇（Y）、锡（Sn）和钡（Ba）的平均值更高。人群之间的外周血膜存在差异。岛屿上的淋巴细胞百分比较高，而圣奥诺弗雷的嗜酸性粒细胞和单核细胞百分比较高。在特立尼达博马纳岛，发现了一些微量元素和血液参数之间的相关性，主要与血小板有关。即使在调整年龄的偏相关系数后，这种趋势仍然存在。金属硫蛋白 1X（MT1X）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的基因表达水平在两个采样地点均存在显著差异，特立尼达博马纳岛的水平更高。在两个采样地点都观察到 SOD 与 As 之间存在负相关。判别分析表明，采样地点可以通过 Zn、Mo、Ba 和 MT1X 水平来区分。
与金属暴露相关的微量元素和相对基因表达是沿海社区关键的暴露生物标志物。
