Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh; Department of Biochemistry, Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College, Gono Bishwabidyalay (University), Dhaka, 1344, Bangladesh.
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia; Institute of Food & Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2023 Aug;253:114237. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114237. Epub 2023 Aug 5.
Environmental exposure to multiple metals and metalloids is widespread, leading to a global concern relating to the adverse health effects of mixed-metals exposure, especially in young children living around industrial areas. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in blood and to examine the potential associations between multiple elements exposures, growth determinants, and liver and kidney function biomarkers in children living in several industrial areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The blood distribution of 20 trace elements As, Ag, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, I, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Tl, V, U, and Zn, growth determinants such as body mass index and body fats, blood pressure, liver and kidney injury biomarkers including serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, serum calcium, and creatinine levels, blood urea nitrogen, and hemoglobin concentrations, and glomerular filtration rate were measured in 141 children, aged six to 16 years. Among these elements, blood concentrations of Ag, U, V, Cr, Cd, Sb, and Bi were measured below LOQs and excluded from subsequent statistical analysis. This comprehensive study revealed that blood concentrations of these elements in children, living in industrial areas, exceeded critical reference values to varying extents; elevated exposure to As, Pb, Br, Cu, and Se was found in children living in multiple industrial areas. A significant positive association between elevated blood Tl concentration and obesity (β = 0.300, p = 0.007) and an inverse relationship between lower As concentration and underweight (β = -0.351, p < 0.001) compared to healthy weight children indicate that chronic exposure to Tl and As may influence the metabolic burden and physical growth in children. Concentration-dependent positive associations were observed between the blood concentrations of Cu, Se, and Br and hepatic- and renal dysfunction biomarkers, an inverse association with blood Mo and I level, however, indicates an increased risk of Cu, Se, and Br-induced liver and kidney toxicity. Further in-depth studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the observed associations. Regular biomonitoring of elemental exposures is also indispensable to regulate pollution in consideration of the long-term health effects of mixed-elements exposure in children.
环境中多种金属和类金属的暴露普遍存在，这引起了全球对混合金属暴露不良健康影响的关注，尤其是在居住在工业区域周边的幼儿中。本研究旨在定量检测血液中的必需和潜在毒性元素浓度，并研究居住在孟加拉国达卡多个工业区的儿童中多种元素暴露、生长决定因素以及肝肾功能生物标志物之间的潜在关联。在 141 名 6 至 16 岁的儿童中测量了 20 种痕量元素砷（As）、银（Ag）、铋（Bi）、溴（Br）、镉（Cd）、钴（Co）、铬（Cr）、铜（Cu）、碘（I）、锰（Mn）、汞（Hg）、钼（Mo）、镍（Ni）、铅（Pb）、硒（Se）、锑（Sb）、铊（Tl）、钒（V）、铀（U）和锌（Zn）的血药分布，生长决定因素如体重指数和体脂肪、血压、肝肾功能损伤生物标志物包括血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶和碱性磷酸酶活性、血清钙和肌酐水平、血尿素氮和血红蛋白浓度以及肾小球滤过率。在这些元素中，Ag、U、V、Cr、Cd、Sb 和 Bi 的血液浓度低于检测限，因此被排除在后续的统计分析之外。这项全面的研究表明，生活在工业区的儿童血液中这些元素的浓度在不同程度上超过了临界参考值；居住在多个工业区的儿童暴露于 As、Pb、Br、Cu 和 Se 的情况更为严重。研究还发现，血液中 Tl 浓度升高与肥胖（β=0.300，p=0.007）呈显著正相关，而 As 浓度降低与体重不足（β=-0.351，p<0.001）呈显著负相关，这表明慢性 Tl 和 As 暴露可能会影响儿童的代谢负担和身体生长。研究还发现，血液中 Cu、Se 和 Br 的浓度与肝肾功能损伤生物标志物呈浓度依赖性正相关，与血液 Mo 和 I 水平呈负相关，这表明 Cu、Se 和 Br 诱导的肝肾功能毒性风险增加。为了阐明观察到的关联的潜在机制，需要进一步进行深入研究。考虑到混合元素暴露对儿童的长期健康影响，定期进行元素暴露的生物监测也是必不可少的，这有助于规范污染。
