| 1. |
- Harari, Raul, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure and toxic effects of elemental mercury in gold-mining activities in Ecuador
- 2012
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Ingår i: Toxicology Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-3169 .- 0378-4274. ; 213:1, s. 75-82
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traditional gold mining, using metallic mercury (Hg-0) to form gold amalgam, followed by burning to remove the Hg-0, is widely used in South America, Africa and Asia. The gold is sold to merchants who burn it again to eliminate remaining Hg-0. In Ecuador, 200 gold miners, 37 gold merchants and 72 referents were studied. The median Hg concentrations in urine (U-Hg) were 3.3 (range 0.23-170), 37 (3.2-420), and 1.6 (0.2-13) mu g/g creatinine, respectively, and in whole blood (B-Hg) were 5.2, 30, and 5.0 mu g/L, respectively. Biomarker concentrations among merchants were statistically significantly higher than among miners and referents; also the miners differed from the referents. Burning of gold amalgam among miners was intermittent; U-Hg decreased in the burning-free period. In computerized neuromotor examinations, B-Hg and U-Hg concentrations were associated with increases in the centre frequency of the tremor, as well as in reaction time and postural stability. Retention of Hg (B-Hg), and the elimination rate (U-Hg) appears to be modified by polymorphism in a gene of an enzyme in the glutathione synthesis (GCLM), but there were no significant genetic modifications for the associations between exposure and neurotoxicity. Thus, the gold merchants have a much higher exposure and risk than the miners, in whom the exposure varies over time. The metabolism of Hg is modified by genetic traits. The present exposure to Hg had limited neurotoxic effects. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Hruba, Frantiska, et al.
(författare)
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Blood cadmium, mercury, and lead in children : An international comparison of cities in six European countries, and China, Ecuador, and Morocco
- 2012
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Ingår i: Environment International. - Oxford : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 41, s. 29-34
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Children's blood-lead concentration (B-Pb) is well studied, but little is known about cadmium (B-Cd) and mercury (B-Hg), in particular for central Europe. Such information is necessary for risk assessment and management. Therefore, we here describe and compare B-Pb, B-Cd and B-Hg in children in six European, and three non-European cities, and identify determinants of these exposures. About 50 school children (7-14 years) from each city were recruited (totally 433) in 2007-2008. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. A blood sample was analyzed: only two laboratories with strict quality control were used. The European cities showed only minor differences for B-Cd (geometric means 0.11-0.17 mu g/L) and B-Pb (14-20 mu g/L), but larger for B-Hg (0.12-0.94 mu g/L). Corresponding means for the non-European countries were 0.21-0.26, 32-71, and 0.3-3.2 mu g/L, respectively. For B-Cd in European samples, traffic intensity close to home was a statistically significant determinant, for B-Hg fish consumption and amalgam fillings, and for B-Pb sex (boys higher). This study shows that European city children's B-Cd and B-Pb vary only little between countries; B-Hg differs considerably, due to varying tooth restoration practices and fish intake. Traffic intensity seemed to be a determinant for B-Cd. The metal concentrations were low from a risk perspective but the chosen non-European cities showed higher concentrations than the cities in Europe. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Pawlas, Natalia, et al.
(författare)
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Cadmium, mercury and lead in the blood of urban women in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, China, Ecuador and Morocco
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. - 1896-494X .- 1232-1087. ; 26:1, s. 58-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to make an international comparison of blood levels of cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) of women in seven European, and three non-European cities, and to identify determinants. About 50 women (age: 46-62) from each city were recruited (totally 480) in 2006-2009. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. Blood samples were analysed in one laboratory to avoid interlaboratory variation. Between the European cities, the B-Pb and B-Cd results vary little (range of geometric means: 13.5-27.0 mu g/l and 0.25-0.65 mu g/l, respectively); the variation of B-Hg was larger (0.40-1.38 mu g/l). Between the non-European cities the results for B-Pb, B-Cd and B-Hg were 19.2-68.0, 0.39-0.99 and 1.01-2.73 mu g/l, respectively. Smoking was a statistically significant determinant for B-Cd, while fish and shellfish intakes contributed to B-Hg and B-Pb, amalgam fillings also contributed to B-Hg. The present results confirm the previous results from children; the exposure to lead and cadmium varies only little between different European cities suggesting that other factors than the living area are more important. The study also confirms the previous findings of higher cadmium and lead levels in some non-European cities. The geographical variation for mercury is significant.
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| 4. |
- Rentschler, Gerda, et al.
(författare)
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Platinum, palladium, rhodium, molybdenum and strontium in blood of urban women in nine countries
- 2018
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Ingår i: International journal of hygiene and environmental health. - : Elsevier. - 1438-4639 .- 1618-131X. ; 221:2, s. 223-230
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There is little reliable information on human exposure to the metals platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh), despite their use in enormous quantities in catalytic converters for automobile exhaust systems.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate blood concentrations of Pt (B-Pt), Pd (B-Pd) and Rh (B-Rh) in women from six European and three non-European countries, and to identify potentially influential factors. In addition, molybdenum (Mo) and strontium (Sr) were analysed.METHODS: Blood from 248 women aged 47-61 was analysed by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry under strict quality control.RESULTS: The medians were: B-Pt 0.8 (range <0.6-5.2), B-Pd <5 (<5-9.3), B-Rh <0.4 (<0.4-3.6)ng/L and B-Mo 2.0 (0.2-16) and B-Sr 16.6 (3.5-49) μg/L. Two women with highly elevated B-Pt (242 and 60ng/L), previously cancer treated with cis-platinum, were not included in the data analysis. All elements varied geographically (2-3 times) (B-Pd P=0.05; all other elements P<0.001); variations within each area were generally 5-10 times. Traffic was not associated with increased concentrations.CONCLUSIONS: General population blood concentrations of Pt, Pd and Rh are within or below the single digit ng/L range, much lower than in most previous reports. This is probably due to improved analytical performance, allowing for more reliable information at ultra-trace levels. In general, Mo and Sr agreed with previously reported concentrations. All elements showed geographical and inter-individual variations, but no convincing relationships with self-reported traffic intensity were found. Pt from the antineoplastic drug cis-platinum is retained in the body for years.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Custodio, Hipolito M, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic influences on the retention of inorganic mercury.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Archives of environmental & occupational health. - 1933-8244. ; 60:1, s. 17-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury is eliminated as glutathione (GSH) conjugates. GSH production is mediated by glutamyl-cysteine ligase (GCL), and conjugation by glutathione S-transferases (GST). This study tested if polymorphisms in GCL and GST genes modify mercury retention in humans exposed to elemental mercury vapor. Total mercury concentrations in whole blood, plasma and urine, and genotypes for GCLC, GCLM, GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 were determined in 309 gold miners, gold buyers and controls. The presence of the GCLM-588T allele was associated with increased blood, plasma and urine mercury levels. These results indicate that genotypes with decreased GSH availability for mercury conjugation affect the metabolism of inorganic mercury.
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| 7. |
- Harari, Raul, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure and Toxic Effects of Elemental Mercury in Gold Mining Activities
- 2009
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Ingår i: Epidemiology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1044-3983. ; 20:6, s. 264-265
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elemental mercury (Hg0) is widely used in gold-mining activities in South America, Africa and Asia. Miners use Hg0 to extract gold, and are exposed by inhalation when burning the gold amalgam to get rid of the Hg0. Burning is usually performed only once per 1–3 weeks. Gold buyers again burn the gold to be sure that they only buy gold. Hg0 affects the central nervous system (CNS), but the exposure-response relationship for discrete but important effects is not well known. As indicators of exposure, Hg levels in blood, plasma and urine are useful. It is usually assumed that there is a simple relationship between exposure and these biomarkers. However, recent data indicate that genetic traits may modify the retention of Hg. Also, there is a possibility that such factors may influence the exposure-response curves.
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| 9. |
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