Exposure of children to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mexico: assessment of multiple sources

Abstract

Considering our results and taking into account that millions of children in Mexico are living in scenarios similar to those studied in this work, the assessment of health effects in children exposed to PAHs is urgently needed; furthermore, PAHs have to be declared contaminants of concern at a national level.

Black Carbon, Organic Carbon, and Co-Pollutants Emissions and Energy Efficiency from Artisanal Brick Production in Mexico

“…Moreover, traditional brick production is a serious local health hazard to the residents of the poor neighborhoods that typically host brickyards, as well as to brick makers themselves. Impacts of toxic emissions on brick producers' respiratory health and the environment have been documented in 5 a number of studies (e.g., Zuskin et al, 1998;Co et al, 2009;Martínez-Salinas et al, 2010;Kaushik et al, 2012). Although production zones are clustered at the periphery of -or even within-urban areas, laborers and their families often lack access to adequate public services including clean water, basic sanitation facilities, health services, transport, and education infrastructure.…”

Assessment of the Levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants and 1-Hydroxypyrene in Blood and Urine Samples from Mexican Children Living in an Endemic Malaria Area in Mexico

“…In these polluted areas, children represent the most susceptible population, and indeed, chemical-induced health effects represent a public health issue for children living in these settings. In this regard, our group has been demonstrated that in hot spots sites children are exposed to levels higher than normal to several toxins, among these POPs and PAHs (Trejo-Acevedo et al 2009;Martínez-Salinas et al 2010).…”

“…Biomass combustion has been associated with different pollutants as: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, respirable particles, Toluene, Benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), among others (Martínez-Salinas et al 2010).…”

Indoor Air Pollution in Mexico

“…The highest levels of 1-OHP in this study were found in Victoria, Chiapas (mean, 4.4 ± 3.7 µmol/mol creatinine; 5.9 ± 5.1 µg/L), in this community, children are exposed to biomass combustion. Interestingly, the communities that also are using biomass combustion as Victoria (i.e., Ramonal, Ventanilla and Tancuime) had children with urinary 1-OHP mean levels, similar to those found in Victoria (Martínez-Salinas et al 2010). When grouped by exposure scenario, (a) moderate vehicular traffic; (b) heavy vehicular traffic; (c) fumes from a municipal landfill; (d) fumes from brick kilns and (e) indoor air pollution by biomass combustion, the highest levels of urinary 1-OHP were found in children exposed to indoor air pollution (approximately one order of magnitude higher than the other scenarios; Table 4).…”

“…When grouped by exposure scenario, (a) moderate vehicular traffic; (b) heavy vehicular traffic; (c) fumes from a municipal landfill; (d) fumes from brick kilns and (e) indoor air pollution by biomass combustion, the highest levels of urinary 1-OHP were found in children exposed to indoor air pollution (approximately one order of magnitude higher than the other scenarios; Table 4). Children living in communities with brick kiln industry, children living in Milpillas (landfill) and children living in Domingo (heavy vehicular traffic) were the next communities in order (Table 4), leaving the community of El Centro (moderate vehicular traffic; Table 4) at the end (Martínez-Salinas et al 2010). Moreover, Jongeneelen (2001) proposed a benchmark guideline for occupational exposure to PAHs, taking into account urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels.…”