OBJECTIVETo describe trends of changes in blood lead levels in children aged 1 - 6 years during the time period before and after introducing lead free gasoline in Shanghai 1997 and 1999.

METHODSBlood lead levels of 1 969 children aged 1 - 6 years were determined by a sampling survey in five districts of Shanghai in August and September, 1997. Blood lead levels of the same population were re-determined by the same method from April to June in 1998 and from August to September in 1999. Filter paper blood lead test was carried out monthly using the filter paper blood lead proficiency testing program of Centers for Disease Control in the United States. The results from blood lead samples were under acceptable ranges during the study.

RESULTSThe geometric means of blood lead levels were 83 microgram/L in 1997, 80 microgram/L in 1998 and 76 microgram/L in 1999, respectively. The prevalence rates of childhood lead poisoning (blood lead level was equal or more than 100 microgram/L) were 37.8% in 1997, 25.7% in 1998 and 24.8% in 1999. The amounts of decrease on average blood lead levels in the five districts between 1997 and 1999 were 10 microgram/L, 11 microgram/L, 6 microgram/L, 4 microgram/L and 2 microgram/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLead poisoning is a preventable disease. The average levels of lead in young children in Shanghai decreased significantly after the introduction of lead free gasoline to Shanghai. Lead emissions from vehicles running on leaded gasoline was one of the important contributors to increase the children's blood lead levels in Shanghai. Lead poisoning is not evenly distributed among children in Shanghai, resulting in the different levels of decline.

Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; standards ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; Gasoline ; standards ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Time Factors

Environmental exposure to heavy metals has been linked to a wide range of human health hazards. We detected the levels of 15 metals in urine samples from 500 representative sub-samples in an ongoing occupational cohort study (Jinchang Cohort) to directly evaluate metal exposure levels. Fifteen metals, namely As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cs, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, Tl, U, and Zn, were detected by inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry. The results showed that median creatinine adjustment and geometric mean urinary metal levels were higher in the heavy metal-exposed group, except Se and Zn, than other reported general or occupational populations. Further studies should address the effects of heavy metals on human health.
China ; Cohort Studies ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; blood ; Occupational Exposure

To investigate potential health risks associated with exposure to metals from an abandoned metal mine, the authors studied people living near an abandoned mine (n=102) and control groups (n=149). Levels of cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, and zinc were measured in the air, soil, drinking water, and agricultural products. To assess individual exposure, biomarkers of each metal in blood and urine were measured. beta2-microglobulin, alpha1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and bone mineral density were measured. Surface soil in the study area showed 2-10 times higher levels of metals compared to that of the control area. Metal concentrations in the groundwater and air did not show any notable differences between groups. Mean concentrations of cadmium and copper in rice and barley from the study area were significantly higher than those of the control area (p<0.05). Geometric means of blood and urine cadmium in the study area were 2.9 microgram/L and 1.5 microgram/g Cr, respectively, significantly higher than those in the control area (p<0.05). There were no differences in the levels of urinary markers of early kidney dysfunction and bone mineral density. The authors conclude that the residents near the abandoned mine were exposed to higher levels of metals through various routes.
Aged ; Cadmium/*blood/*urine ; Copper/blood/urine ; Environmental Exposure ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; *Food Contamination ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Korea ; Lead/blood/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mining ; Oryza sativa ; Risk Factors ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Zinc/blood/urine

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the blood lead level of 3 - 5 year old children living in the cities in China and to provide scientific data for making policy on environmental lead pollution for children health protection.

METHODSSix thousand five hundred and two vein blood samples from 3 - 5 year old children in nineteen cities of nine provinces were sampled. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were employed to determine lead level in whole blood after microwave digestion for sample preparation and questionnaire survey was also performed. Data were analyzed with multiple regression on factors which affecting blood lead levels.

RESULTSResults showed that mean blood lead level was 88.3 micro g/L for 3 - 5 year old children living in the cities in China and mean blood lead level of boys (91.1 micro g/L) was higher than that of girls (87.3 micro g/L). Twenty-nine point nine one per cent of the children's blood lead level exceeded 100 micro g/L. The research finding showed: (1) higher blood lead levels had negative effects on children's physical growth, language ability etc. (2) behavior of parents had certain effects on children's blood lead levels. (3) blood lead levels of children were affected by unhealthy habits.

CONCLUSIONSProblem of childhood lead poisoning in China has become more serious. During the past ten years, blood lead levels of children has been increased in China while decreasing in developed countries. Blood lead levels of children in China are higher than that of developed countries, which called for special concern by government and society.

Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Sex Factors ; Urban Health ; Urban Population

We aimed to investigate the short-term correlation between blood lead levels and oxidative stress generation in coal miners. The study involved 94 male coal miners from the Velenje Coal mine, arranged into four groups: three groups according to the number of consecutive working days, and a fourth control group. Miners who worked for three consecutive days had higher blood levels of lead and 8-isoprostane than the control group (P < 0.001). Correlation between lead and 8-isoprostane was of medium strength (r = 0.512, P < 0.001). Short-term lead environmental exposure can potentially harmful and should be considered when formulating improvements in working processes.
Adult ; Coal Mining ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Humans ; Isoprostanes ; blood ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of mercury exposure of neonates and their mothers in Zhoushan City, and analyze the related influencing factors.

METHODSFrom Aug to Sep, 2004, 408 neonate-mother pairs were cluster sampled at the Third People's Hospital in Dinghai region, Zhoushan City, and a further investigation for the neurobehavioral development of these children was followed up in a year. The contains of mercury of 14 kinds of fish, 5 pieces of each kind bought in markets of Dinghai region were detected.

RESULTSThe geometric mean of cord-blood Hg was 27.81 nmol/L (5.58 microg/L), while that of hair Hg of mothers was 1246.56 microg/kg. 69.9% of pregnant women had surpassed the RfD (reference dose, 0.1 microg/kg/day) for Hg intake. There was a strong correlation between hair and cord blood Hg levels (r = 0.821). The factors influencing cord-blood Hg levels were fish dinners, dwelling time, and fathers smoking or not, while those of hair Hg were fish dinners and dwelling time. The correlation between fish dinners and the cord blood Hg as well as hair Hg were of significance (r = 0.539, 0.481 respectively), the Hg levels were higher in more fish dinners (H = 119.805, 94.384 respectively). The mean fish Hg level at Dinghai region was low (< 0.1 mg/kg), and no samples were higher than 0.5 mg/L. Two samples of cutlassfish and dried eel contained higher Hg than the others, belonging to a middle level (0.1-0.5 mg/kg).

CONCLUSIONSHg levels in neonates and pregnant women were generally below those considered hazardous, but the safety margin was narrow for some women and supporting efforts should be made to reduce mercury exposure. The main resource of Hg was from eating fish, and it is necessary to investigate the Hg levels in large samples, as to developing the fish advisories for susceptible people.

China ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Environmental Pollutants ; analysis ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mercury ; analysis ; blood ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Seafood ; analysis

The purpose of this study was to investigate demographic and lifestyle variables and blood cadmium concentrations in residents living near abandoned metal mines in Korea. Blood cadmium concentrations were measured in 15,161 subjects living around abandoned metal mines (exposed group, n = 14,464) and compared with those living in designated control areas (control group, n = 697). A questionnaire was provided to all subjects to determine age, gender, mine working history, times of residence, smoking habits and dietary water type. The geometric mean (95% confidence intervals) of blood cadmium concentration (1.25 [1.24-1.27] microg/L) in the exposed group was significantly higher than in the control group (1.17 [1.13-1.22] microg/L). Mean residence time and mine working history in the exposed group were significantly higher than in the control group. Blood cadmium concentrations increased with increasing age, and residence time in both groups, and blood cadmium concentrations were higher in current-smokers than in non-smokers in both groups. This study shows the geometric mean of blood cadmium concentration in abandoned mining areas are higher than in non-mining areas in the general adult Korean population.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Cadmium/*blood ; *Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; *Residence Characteristics ; Smoking ; Soil Pollutants/*blood ; Water Pollutants/*blood

Environmental contaminants are one of the important causal factors for development of various human diseases. In particular, the perinatal period is highly vulnerable to environmental toxicants and resultant dysregulation of fetal development can cause detrimental health outcomes potentially affecting life-long health. Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs), emerging environmental pollutants, are man-made organic molecules, which are widely used in diverse industries and consumer products. PFCs are non-degradable and bioaccumulate in the environment. Importantly, PFCs can be found in cord blood and breast milk as well as in the general population. Due to their physicochemical properties and potential toxicity, many studies have evaluated the health effects of PFCs. This review summarizes the epidemiological and experimental studies addressing the association of PFCs with neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. While the relationships between PFC levels and changes in neural and immune health are not yet conclusive, accumulative studies provide evidence for positive associations between PFC levels and the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and reduced immune response to vaccination both in children and adults. In conclusion, PFCs have the potential to affect human health linked with neurological disorders and immunosuppressive responses. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the effects of PFCs on human health is still in its infancy. Therefore, along with efforts to develop methods to reduce exposure to PFCs, studies on the mode of action of these chemicals are required in the near future.
Adult ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Child ; Environmental Pollutants ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Incidence ; Milk, Human ; Nervous System Diseases ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of environmental multi-media lead pollution on blood lead and sex hormone levels among lead exposed males engaged in E-waste dismantling, and the correlation between confounding factors and sex hormone levels.

METHODSAn E-waste dismantling area in Taizhou of Zhejiang Province was selected as the research site. One hundred and fifty two samples were collected from the groundwater, soil, rice, corn, chicken, and pork in the dismantling area. The effects of the multi-media lead pollution on the male blood lead and sex hormone levels of FSH, LH, and T, as well as the correlation with confounding factors, were studied.

RESULTSThe blood lead concentrations in the males aged under 31, from 31 to 45 and from 46 to 60 were 98.55, 100.23, and 101.45 μg/L, respectively. Of all the environmental media lead exposures, the groundwater, rice and soil were main contributing factors to the lead accumulation in humans. FSH and LH levels increased with the age while the T levels decreased with the age instead. There was a significant correlation between the FSH and LH levels and wearing masks.

CONCLUSIONThere was correlation between the FSH, LH, and T levels, and the mean values of lead concentrations in environmental media, and the sex hormone levels were correlated with the confounding factor of wearing masks.

Adult ; Electronic Waste ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; chemistry ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; chemistry ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Refuse Disposal ; methods ; Testosterone ; blood

There are substantial variations of relative risks (RR) in smoking-related mortality by country and time. We hypothesized the RRs in smoking-related mortality might differ depending on serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We evaluated the associations of cigarette smoking with total mortality in 610 elderly (aged > or = 70 yr) (702 elderly for organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) after stratification by serum concentration of POPs, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 followed through 2006. Summary measures of POPs subclasses showed significant or marginally significant interaction with cigarette smoking on the risk of total mortality. P values for interaction were 0.069 for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 0.008 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 0.024 for OCPs. The effect of smoking on total mortality showed different patterns according to the serum concentration of some POPs. Former or current smokers had 1.4 to 2.9 times higher mortality rates compared with never smokers among participants with higher serum concentrations of POPs (2nd or 3rd tertiles). However, when the level of PCBs or OCPs were low (1st tertile), there were little positive associations between smoking and mortality. Our study suggests that the background exposure to several POPs may be related to variability in smoking-related total mortality.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/blood ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Pesticides/blood ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/blood ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk ; Smoking/*mortality ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/analogs & derivatives/blood