Human biomonitoring of arsenic and antimony in case of an elevated geogenic exposure.

Abstract

Part of the norther Palat e region in Germany is erized by elevated leels of arsenic and antimony in the soil due to the presence ofore sources and former mining activities. In a biomonitoring study, 218 residents were investigted for a putative increased intake of these elements. Seventy-six nonexposd subjects in a rur region in south lower Saxony were chosen as the rrece group. Urine and scalp hair sampes were obtained as su to dein he miteral exposures to arsenic and antimony. The analys were pefr*m ed using graphite furace atomic absorption spectrometry except for arsenic in urine, which was determined by the hydride tecnique. This method does not detect organo ls from sefood, which are not toxicologicaly relevant In the northem Palatinate subjects, sdighy elevated arsenic contents in urine and scalp hair (presumably not hazardous) could be corrldated with an increased arenic content in the soil. On the other hand, the results did not show a correation between the am contents in tie soil ofthe housing area and those in urine and hair. Except for an y in sp hair, age tended to be associatd wi intenal exposure to arsenic and antimony in both study groups. Consumpion of seafood had a slight impact on the levd ofuinary arsenic, which is indi of dte presence oflow quanities of inoranic arsenicas and dimethasinic acid in sefood. Th.e arsenic and antimony contents in scalp hair were positively correated with the 24-hr arsenic io in urine. However, antimony in scalp hair was not correlated with seafood consmptio as was asenic in slp hair and in urine. (19). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the transfer of arsenic and antimony from the environment to humans in the northern Palatinate region. Unlike the studies on arsenic previously described in which the main sources of exposure were arsenic-contaminated drinking water and industrial emissions, this study focuses on soil contaminated with arsenic and antimony as the main source of exposure.Because humans excrete arsenic and antimony mainly via the kidneys (28-30), urinary concentrations were used as valid biomarkers of exposure. Biomonitoring of scalp hair was performed as additional screening to record cumulative exposures. MethodsStudy design and study population. This study was preceded by a project that sought to determine the contents of arsenic and antimony in soil and in plant and animal samples from the northern Palatinate region of Germany. Residents for whom the soil contents of arsenic and antimony in their housing areas were known (one to three soil samples per individual) were asked to participate in the study. To minimize a selection bias, a maximum participation rate was achieved by convincing those residents who did not reply to our first written request to participate. Nonexposed subjects from a rural area in south lower Saxony (Germany) were chosen as the reference group.A six-page questionnaire served to assess factors of interest and confounding variables. All study subjects were interviewed concerning demographic characteristi...

Estimating perchlorate exposure from food and tap water based on US biomonitoring and occurrence data

“…Levels of urinary antimony in infants appeared to be similar to those reported by CDC (2005) for young children (Cullen et al, 1998;Dezateux et al, 1997). Urinary antimony was not associated with locally elevated soil levels in a study of more than 200 German residents (Gebel et al, 1998). Several investigations of airborne antimony exposures in workers have found urinary levels that are many times higher than those seen in NHANES 1999NHANES -2000NHANES , 2001NHANES -2002NHANES , and 2003NHANES -2004, even when exposure levels were below workplace air standards (Bailly et al, 1991;Iavicoli et al, 2002;Kentner et al, 1995;Liao Y-H et al, 2004;Ludersdorf et al, 1987).…”

Comparison of arsenic levels in fingernails with urinary As species as biomarkers of arsenic exposure in residents living close to a coal-burning power plant in Prievidza District, Slovakia

“…Hinwood et al (2003) reported on higher As levels in toenails of male subjects, while in the report by Mandal et al (2003) As content in fingernails of females was higher than that of male subjects. Smoking was not a significant determinant of fingernail As levels, confirming observations from other European populations in which, however, As was measured in urine (Becker et al, 2003) or hair (Gebel et al, 1998). The lack of an influence of the As dietary intake on As in fingernails may be due to the fact that most As in the diet is organic As, which is probably not taken up into nails.…”

Association between arsenic exposure from a coal-burning power plant and urinary arsenic concentrations in Prievidza District, Slovakia.

“…Smoking was not a significant determinant of urinary As levels, confirming studies in European populations (Gebel et al 1998;Kurttio et al 1998). Because of the high age of our study subjects, occupational exposure was of minor concern as confounder.…”