Accumulation of trace element content in the lungs of Sao Paulo city residents and its correlation to lifetime exposure to air pollution

Abstract

Heavy metals are natural and essential elements of the environment and living beings, produced from natural (e.g. volcanic activity and cosmic ray-induced spallation) and anthropogenic processes (e.g. industrial and fossil fuel combustion). High-concentrations of heavy metals and radionuclides are also originated from anthropogenic activities in urban and industrial areas. In this preliminary study, we analyzed the levels of heavy metals and Polonium-210 (210Po) in lung tissues in autopsies from residents of the city of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. In order to identify the link among sources of the heavy metals in lungs, factor analysis was performed. Of the first four factors, which explain 66% of the total variability, three were associated with vehicular sources. The fitting of a regression model with 210Po as the response variable and with the four factors as explanatory variables, controlling for age, sex and tobacco, showed a significant association between the concentration of polonium and the first factor that is generated by catalysts and brakes (coefficient = 0.90, standard error = 0.33, p = 0.016). Our findings suggest an association between traffic-related trace metals and 210Po in lung autopsies.

Seasonality of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Their Derivatives in PM2.5 from Ljubljana, Combustion Aerosol Source Apportionment, and Cytotoxicity of Selected Nitrated Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (NPAHs)

“…As typical constituents of fine airborne particles, NPAHs can penetrate deep into the lungs after inhalation where they also accumulate [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Consequently, the most pronounced effect on human health is on the respiratory system, causing asthma and allergies [ 25 , 26 ], obstructive pulmonary disease [ 27 ], and even lung cancer [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Bioindicators and human biomarkers as alternative approaches for cost-effective assessment of air pollution exposure

“…Furthermore, it overlooks the analysis of the composition of pigments deposited in the lungs. Although previous studies have already identified and measured the chemical element profile of anthracosis in the lungs of residents in Sao Paulo (Saieg et al, 2011;Dos Santos et al, 2022), it is not possible to relate the health effects associated to anthracosis deposition with a specific compound. Establishing a suitable control group is particularly intricate; however, collected data can be analyzed effectively with statistical support.…”

Trace elements in ambient aerosols and size-resolved fog droplets: Trends, enrichment, and risk assessment

“…Several anthropogenic sources also emit a variety of potentially toxic trace elements such as As, Cr, Pb, Ni, V, Cd, Co, Zn, and Cu, mostly associated with fine PM (with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm; PM 2.5 ), which can penetrate deep into the human respiratory tract. Prolonged exposure to these toxic elements through inhalation and/or dermal exposure can lead to several health hazards, including cancer [ [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] ].…”

“…PM-bound trace elements also display size-dependent abundance. Crustal elements such as Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn are mostly associated with coarser PM fractions (PM 2.5-10 ) [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]. Certain elements, mostly the anthropogenic ones, also display more than one dominant size mode (bimodal, trimodal), indicating a variety of sources for such elements [ 7 , 8 ].…”