Arsenic and Cadmium Exposure in Children Living Near a Smelter Complex in San Luis Potosı́, Mexico

The main purpose of this study was to assess environmental contamination by arsenic and cadmium in a smelter community (San Luis Potosi City, México) and its possible contribution to an increased body burden of these elements in children. Arsenic and cadmium were found in the environment (air, soil,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental research 1993-08, Vol.62 (2), p.242-250
Main Authors: Diazbarriga, F., Santos, M.A., Mejia, J.D., Batres, L., Yanez, L., Carrizales, L., Vera, E., Delrazo, L.M., Cebrian, M.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
552000 - Public Health
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
AGE GROUPS
Air Pollutants - analysis
ARSENIC
Arsenic - analysis
Arsenic - urine
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY BURDEN
BODY FLUIDS
CADMIUM
Cadmium - analysis
Cadmium - urine
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Child, Preschool
CHILDREN
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
Environmental Exposure - analysis
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
Female
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAIR
Hair - chemistry
Humans
INGESTION
INTAKE
LATIN AMERICA
Male
MATERIALS
Medical sciences
METALLURGY
METALS
Metals and various inorganic compounds
MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT
SEMIMETALS
SKIN
SMELTERS
Soil - analysis
Toxicology
URINE
WASTES
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Summary:The main purpose of this study was to assess environmental contamination by arsenic and cadmium in a smelter community (San Luis Potosi City, México) and its possible contribution to an increased body burden of these elements in children. Arsenic and cadmium were found in the environment (air, soil, and household dust, and tap water) as well as in the urine and hair from children. The study was undertaken in three zones: Morales, an urban area close to the smelter complex; Graciano, an urban area 7 km away from the complex; and Mexquitic, a small rural town 25 km away. The environmental study showed that Morales is the most contaminated of the zones studied. The range of arsenic levels in soil (117–1396 ppm), dust (515–2625 ppm), and air (0.13–1.45 μg/m 3) in the exposed area (Morales) was higher than those in the control areas. Cadmium concentrations were also higher in Morales. Estimates of the arsenic ingestion rate in Morales (1.0–19.8 μg/kg/day) were equal to or higher than the reference dose of I μg/kg/day calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The range of arsenic levels in urine (69–594 μg/g creatinine) and hair (l.4–57.3 μg/g) and that of cadmium in hair (0.25–3.5 μg/g) indicated that environmental exposure has resulted in an increased body burden of these elements in children, suggesting that children living in Morales are at high risk of suffering adverse health effects if exposure continues.
ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
DOI:10.1006/enrs.1993.1109