Levels of selected potential harmful elements (PHEs) in soils and vegetables used in diet of the population living in the surroundings of the Estarreja Chemical Complex (Portugal)

Inácio, Manuela; Neves, Orquídia; Pereira, Virgínia; Silva, Eduardo Ferreira da

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.07.017

Cited by 36 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In the late 1990's the area was remediated and industrial wastes containing hazardous materials such as pyrite ashes, mercury-enriched muds, and organochlorine compounds, were buried and sealed near the complex. Nevertheless, recent studies have been reporting on elevated contents of environmental contaminants in natural media, namely mercury (Hg) in lake sediments, 43 As in soil and groundwater, 44,45 and PM10 in ambient air. 42 In recent years, several studies available from the literature have suggested that currently, vehicular traffic stands for a contributor of increasing importance to the quality degradation of the local environment.…”

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…42,46 Hot-dip galvanising for zinc coating or the production and assembly of carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminium tubing are industrial processes taking place in the CCE likely to emit PTEs to the atmosphere. Indeed, the Zn concentrations reported in different studies focusing on groundwater, soils, home-grown foodstuffs and street dust 34,44,45 suggest elevated levels of environmental Zn in the region.…”

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

Reis

Cave

Sousa

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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This paper describes a methodology developed to assess and apportion probable indoor and outdoor sources of potentially toxic elements while identifying chemical signatures in the household dust collected from private homes in an industrial city (Estarreja, central Portugal). Oral bioaccessibility estimates and the chemical composition of toenail clippings were used to assess indoor dust ingestion as a potential exposure pathway and further investigate exposure-biomarker relationships. Indoor and paired outdoor dust samples were collected from each household. A total of 30 individuals, who provided toenail clippings and a self-reported questionnaire, were recruited for the study. Total concentrations of 34 elements, including lead and zinc, were determined in washed toenail samples and household dust via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. The oral bioaccessibility was estimated using the Unified BARGE Method. The enrichment factor shows that lead was enriched (10 < EF < 100) while zinc (EF > 100) was anomalously enriched in the household dust, thus indicating potential exposure in the home environment. The results from principal component analysis coupled to cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis suggested that mixed contamination derived from multiple sources with a predominance of biomass burning. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to model toenail data using the indoor dust elemental composition. Whereas the model obtained for lead was not reliable, indoor dust zinc and antimony contents arose as good predictors of toenail zinc. The exposure-biomarker relationships seem to be influenced by the oral bioaccessibility of the elements.

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Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

Reis

Cave

Sousa

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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“…The Estarreja Chemical Complex (ECC), located in Estarreja, central Portugal, have an intense industrial activity with negative impacts on air, soils, sediments, surface water and groundwater since the early 1950's, while having a population that historically relies on groundwater as a source of water supply for human, cattle and agricultural uses. Ground and surface water, soils and sediment contamination, has been extensively reported for the Estarreja region (Leitão 1996;Pereira et al 2009;Van der Weijden & Pacheco 2006;Ordens 2007;Inácio et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human predisposition to cognitive impairment and its relation with environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements

Pinto

Reis

Almeida

et al. 2017

Environ Geochem Health

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New lines of evidence suggest that less than 10% of neurodegenerative diseases have a strict genetic aetiology and other factors may be prevalent. Environmental exposures to potentially toxic elements appear to be a risk factor for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and sclerosis diseases. This study proposes a multidisciplinary approach combining neurosciences, psychology and environmental sciences while integrating socio-economic, neuropsychological, environmental and health data. We present the preliminary results of a neuropsychological assessment carried out in elderly residents of the industrial city of Estarreja. A battery of cognitive tests and a personal questionnaire were administered to the participants. Multivariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to identify potential relationships between the cognitive status of the participants and environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements. The results suggest a relationship between urinary PTEs levels and the incidence of cognitive disorders. They also point towards water consumption habits and profession as relevant factors of exposure. Linear regression models show that aluminium (R = 38%), cadmium (R = 11%) and zinc (R = 6%) are good predictors of the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination cognitive test. Median contents (µg/l) in groundwater are above admissible levels for drinking water for aluminium (371), iron (860), manganese (250), and zinc (305). While the World Health Organization does not provide health-based reference values for aluminium, results obtained from this study suggest that it may have an important role in the cognitive status of the elderly. Urine proved to be a suitable biomarker of exposure both to elements with low and high excretion rates.

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“…Two soil-to-plant transfer factors were used in the current research for investigating if determined total and bioavailable PHE contents in analyzed soils significantly affected their concentrations in consumed cereal seeds. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BA) described the transference of PHE from soil to plant, while the bioconcentration coefficient (BC) described plant capacity to adsorb PHE from soil when PHE occurred in an available form [41]. The BA and BC values were calculated for the investigated groups of cereals, respectively, from Equations (2) and (3) according to [42]:…”

Section: Soil-to-plant Transfer Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Health Risk Assessment and Potentially Harmful Element Contents in the Cereals Cultivated on Agricultural Soils

Gruszecka‐Kosowska

2020

IJERPH

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Potentially harmful element (PHE) contents were investigated in six species of cereals in southern Poland, with human health risk implications assessed afterwards. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): As below the limit of detection (<LOD)–0.013, Cd <LOD–0.291, Co <LOD–0.012, Cu 0.002–11.0, Hg <LOD–0.080, Ni <LOD–8.40, Pb <LOD–12.0, Sb <LOD–0.430, Tl <LOD–0.160, and Zn 5.47–67.7. The Pb and Cd contents exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values for wheat, oat, rye, and barley in the Śląskie region. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BA) for the total PHE content in the soil indicated that cereals had no potential of PHE accumulation. Regarding the statistical daily consumption of cereals, the PHE intake rates, expressed as a percentage of permissible maximum total daily intake (% PMTDI), were the following: As 0.0003, Cd 0.193, Co 0.0003, Cu 0.075, Hg 0.424, Ni 3.94, Pb 3.16, Sb 0.23, Tl 0.27, and Zn 0.44. The total non-carcinogenic risk values (HQ) exceeded the target risk value of 1 for wheat (HQ = 13.3) and rye (HQ = 3.44). For other cereals, the total non-carcinogenic risk values decreased in the following order: barley (HQ = 0.47) > oat (HQ = 0.38) > maize (HQ = 0.02). The total non-carcinogenic risk value of the statistical daily consumption of cereals was acceptable low (HQ = 0.58). The acceptable cancer risk (CR) level of 1.0 × 10−5 investigated only for As was not exceeded under any of the intake scenarios. Concerning the mean As content in cereals consumed daily in statistical amounts the CR value was equal to 5.1 × 10−8. The health risk value according to the Pb content in cereals using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was equal to 1.27, indicating an acceptable low risk.

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Levels of selected potential harmful elements (PHEs) in soils and vegetables used in diet of the population living in the surroundings of the Estarreja Chemical Complex (Portugal)

Cited by 36 publications

References 12 publications

Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

Human predisposition to cognitive impairment and its relation with environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements

Human Health Risk Assessment and Potentially Harmful Element Contents in the Cereals Cultivated on Agricultural Soils

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