OBJECTIVETo estimate the level of blood lead and some haematological parameters in the workers occupationally exposed to lead so as to know the effect of lead exposure on hematopoietic system in exposed workers.

METHODSThe graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrocopy was used to determine blood lead (BPb). The haematological parameters were determined by Sysmex KX-21 automated haematology analyzer.

RESULTSHemoglobin (Hb) in the lead-absorption group[male: (129.3 +/- 12.3) g/L, female: (112.2 +/- 9.4) g/L], and hematocrit (HCT) in the lead-absorption group[male: (0.338 +/- 0.030) L/L, female: (0.302 +/- 0.028) L/L] were significantly lower than those in normal people group and lead-exposed group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The relationships between BPb and Hb, HCT were weakly negative correlation. Red cell distribution width (RDW) in the lead-absorption group(male: 16.68% +/- 0.80%, female: 16.98% +/- 0.98%) were significantly higher than those in normal people group and lead exposed group, and RDW in lead exposed group (male: 14.77% +/- 0.83%, female: 14.92% +/- 1.13%) were higher than that in normal people group. BPb was weakly positively correlated with RDW.

CONCLUSIONHb, HCT and RDW were three indices which may reflect the occurrences and degrees of anaemia in lead exposed workers.

Anemia ; chemically induced ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluated the manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) levels in blood and urine among general population in China, and thereby to analyze their prevalent features.

METHODSFrom 2009 to 2010, a total of 18 120 subjects of general population aged 6-60 years were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland, by cluster random sampling method. The information about their living environment and health status were collected by questionnaire, and their blood and urine samples were also collected.Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to test the Mn, Co and Mo levels of blood and urine samples, and the Mn, Co, Mo distribution in blood and urine among groups of population in different ages and genders were then analyzed.

RESULTSAmong general population in China, the geometric mean (GM) of Mn concentration in blood was 8.98 µg/L. The Mn concentration in blood among males and females were separately 8.14 µg/L and 9.88 µg/L (Z = -18.84, P < 0.01). The GM of Mn concentration in urine was 0.63 µg/L. The Mn concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.62 µg/L and 0.63 µg/L (Z = -0.67, P > 0.05). The geometric mean (GM) of Co concentration in blood was 0.194 µg/L. The Co concentration in blood among males and females were separately 0.166 µg/L and 0.225 µg/L (Z = -23.04, P < 0.01). The GM of Co concentration in urine was 0.282 µg/L. The Co concentration in urine among males and females were separately 0.260 µg/L and 0.307 µg/L (Z = -7.35, P < 0.01). The GM of Mo concentration in blood was 0.25 µg/L. The Mo concentration in blood among male and female group were separately 0.27 µg/L and 0.23 µg/L (Z = -5.03, P < 0.01). The GM of Mo concentration in urine was 27.7 µg/L. The Mo concentration in urine among males and females were 29.8 µg/L and 25.6 µg/L (Z = -6.31, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Mn, Co and Mo levels in blood and urine varied by gender and area among general population in China, the study provided basic data evidence for the following Mn, Co and Mo biological monitoring studies in near future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cobalt ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese ; Middle Aged ; Molybdenum

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in whole blood among general population from 8 provinces in China, and to analyze the characteristics of distribution among different regions.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study was performed in 8 provinces from eastern, middle and western China between 2009 and 2010, including 13 110 subjects from 24 regions, and the blood and urine samples were collected. The ICP-MS was applied to test the content of ICP-MS in blood samples, and the results were used to analyze the characteristics of contents and distributions of Zn and Cu among population from different ages, genders and regions groups.

RESULTSTotally, the mean (95%CI) contents of Cu and Zn in blood were 795 (791-799)µg/L and 3 996(3 976-4 015) µg/L, respectively. The characteristics of distribution of Cu content were as followed, the content of males were lower than it of females (male:767 µg/L; female: 822 µg/L, t = -13.302, P < 0.01). The contents of blood Cu in groups of people aging 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were separately 860(853-868), 758(748-769), 734(728-734), 782(774-790), 811(795-827) and 820(815-826) µg/L. The differences showed statistical significance (F = 78.77, P < 0.01). The blood Cu content of people in eastern China (800µg/L) were also significantly higher than it in middle (774 µg/L)and western China (782 µg/L) (F = 10.94, P < 0.01). Distribution of blood Zn content showed characteristics as follows: the Zn content was higher in males than in females (male 4 085 µg/L and female 3 908 µg/L, t = 8.78, P < 0.01). The contents of blood Zn in groups of people aging 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were separately 3 306 (3 261-3 350), 3 888 (3 839-3 937), 3 948 (3 902-3 994), 4 272(4 228-4 315), 4 231(4 180-4 281) and 4 250 (4 205-4 294)µg/L, which showed significant statistical differences (F = 233.68, P < 0.01). The blood Zn content of people in eastern China (3 938 µg/L) were significantly lower than it in middle (4 237 µg/L)and western China (4 105 µg/L) (F = 53.16, P < 0.01). In addition, the study also compared the relation between content of Cu and Zn and the frequency of eating seafood. The results found that the frequency of eating seafood could influence the content of Cu and Zn (Cu: F = 13.54, P < 0.01; Zn: F = 200.20, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe contents and distributions of Cu and Zn in blood differs among people from different groups in ages, genders and regions. The baseline data of this study provided reliable scientific evidence for further research.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Copper ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons monohydroxy metabolites in urine of general population in China among 8 provinces, provide the baseline of the metabolites in the general population.

METHODSFrom 2009 to 2010, 18 120 subjects of general population aged 6-60 years old were recruited from 24 areas among 8 provinces in east, west and central areas of China mainland by cluster random sampling. The information of the living environment and health condition were collected by questionnaire and spot urine samples were collected, 4 680 urine samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and monohydroxy metabolites distribution in urine among groups of gender and ages were analysed.

RESULTSGeometric means (GM) of 2-naphthol, 1-naphthol, 3-phenanthrol and 1-hydroxypyrene concentration in urine (95%CI) were 1.85 (1.75-1.95), 1.55 (1.50-1.61), 0.57 (0.54-0.59) and 0.82 (0.78-0.85) µg/L, respectively;and median are 2.44, <0.50, 0.72 and 0.90 µg/L, respectively. The concentration between male and female were significantly different (P < 0.01), and the concentration among the groups of population were significantly different (P < 0.01), the GM of 2-naphthol among the groups of population aged 6-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-30, 31-45 and 46-60 years old were 1.60, 1.56, 1.69, 2.23, 1.91 and 1.86 µg/L (χ(2) = 17.90, P < 0.01), the GM of 1-naphthol in the groups were 1.30, 1.16, 1.53, 1.68, 1.80 and 1.52 µg/L (χ(2) = 76.22, P < 0.01), the GM of 3-phenanthrol in the groups were 0.78, 0.76, 0.55, 0.42, 0.50 and 0.99 µg/L (χ(2) = 66.48, P < 0.01), the GM of 1-hydroxypyrene in the groups were 0.77,0.64, 1.00, 0.84, 0.84 and 0.57 µg/L (χ(2) = 51.48, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of monohydroxy metabolites levels in urine of general population were different, it provided a basic data for the further study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biomonitoring in the population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Naphthols ; urine ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine ; Pyrenes ; urine ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluated the levels of arsenic (As) in blood and urine among general population in China and analyze its influencing factors.

METHODSA total of 18 120 subjects from general population aged 6-60 years were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland from 2009 to 2010, by cluster random sampling method. Blood samples and urine samples were collected, the information of the life-style was collected by questionnaire.Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry was applied to test the As level in the samples, and the distribution of As in blood and urine for different ages, genders, areas and life habits were then analyzed.

RESULTSThe geometric mean (GM) of blood As concentration among general population was 2.33 µg/L;the GM of blood As in male (2.35 µg/L) was higher than and female (2.30 µg/L) (Z = -1.42, P < 0.05); from eastern, central to western China, the blood As level were 2.94, 1.30 and 0.98 µg/L (χ(2) = 643.22, P < 0.05) , respectively; the GM in smokers (2.84 µg/L) was higher than non-smokers (2.27) (Z = -6.28, P < 0.05) ;the seafood consumer had a higher blood As level (2.59 µg/L) than people not consuming seafood (1.47 µg/L) (Z = -23.68, P < 0.05). The urine As level of the whole population was 13.72 µg/L;while its GM in male (14.10 µg/L) was higher than female (13.33 µg/L) (Z = -3.94, P < 0.05); the values from eastern, central to western China were 14.14, 16.02 and 9.57 µg/L (χ(2) = 353.89, P < 0.05), respectively;the level in smokers (16.06 µg/L) was higher than nonsmokers (13.70 µg/L) (Z = -2.63, P < 0.05); the level in seafood consumers (14.82 µg/L) was higher than people not consuming seafood (10.99 µg/L) (Z = -3.20, P < 0.05). The blood As level had a positive correlation with urine As level (correlation coefficient:0.285, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe As level in blood and urine varied by gender and area among general population in China, and related to life-styles. There was a positive correlation between As level in blood and that in urine.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic ; blood ; urine ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in blood and urine among general population in China, and thereby analyze their prevalent features.

METHODSA total of 18 120 subjects from general population aged 6-60 years were recruited from 24 districts in 8 provinces in eastern, central and western China mainland from 2009 to 2010, by cluster random sampling method. The blood samples and urine samples of these people were collected. The questionnaire survey was used to collect the information of the living environment and health conditions.Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry was applied to test the Pb and Cd levels in the samples, and the distribution of Pb and Cd in blood and urine for different ages, genders, areas and life habits were then analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the general population in China, the geometric mean (GM) of blood Pb concentration was 34.9 µg/L; the GM of blood Pb in male and female groups were 40.1 and 30.4 µg/L (Z = -28.05, P < 0.05), respectively; the GM from eastern, central and western China were 31.2, 38.8 and 58.9 µg/L (χ(2) = 1 483.33, P < 0.05) , respectively. The GM of urine Pb of the whole population was 1.05 µg/L;while the GM in male and female groups were 1.06 µg/L and 1.05 µg/L (Z = -0.73, P > 0.05) , respectively;the values from eastern, central and western China were 0.76, 2.85 and 3.22 µg/L (χ(2) = 1 982.11, P < 0.05), respectively. The GM of blood Cd concentration among general population was 0.49 µg/L; and the values in male and female group were 0.60 and 0.41 µg/L (Z = -11.79, P < 0.05) , respectively; the GM from eastern, central and western China were 0.45, 0.65 and 0.67 µg/L (χ(2) = 69.87, P < 0.05), respectively; the GM of urine Cd concentration of the whole population was 0.28 µg/L, while the GM in male and female groups were 0.29 and 0.28 µg/L (Z = -3.86, P < 0.05), respectively; the values from eastern, central and western China were 0.29,0.42 and 0.18 µg/L (χ(2) = 402.76, P < 0.05), respectively. the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for Cd in blood and Cd in urine was 0.22, for Pb in blood and Pb in urine was 0.21. Both the correlations were statistic significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Pb and Cd levels in blood and urine were relatively higher among general population in China varying by gender and area. There were positive correlations between Pb and Cd levels in blood and those in urine.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cadmium ; blood ; urine ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Young Adult