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Leonardi GS, Ruadze E, Saei A, Laycock A, Chenery S, Crabbe H, Marchant E, Khonelidze I, Sturua L, Imnadze P, Gamkrelidze A, Watts MJ, Marczylo T. Identifying Sources of Lead Exposure for Children in the Republic of Georgia, with Lead Isotope Ratios. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:6912. [PMID: 37887650 PMCID: PMC10606333 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
In the Republic of Georgia, a 2018 national survey estimated that more than 40% of children aged 2-7 years had a blood lead concentration (BLC) of more than 5 µg/dL. The objective of this study was to document the feasibility of employing lead isotope ratios (LIRs) to identify and rank the Pb (lead) exposure sources most relevant to children across Georgia. A cross-sectional survey between November 2019 and February 2020 of 36 children previously identified as having BLCs > 5 µg/dL from seven regions of Georgia involved the collection of blood and 528 environmental samples, a questionnaire on behaviours and potential exposures. The LIRs in blood and environmental samples were analysed in individual children and across the whole group to ascertain clustering. A fitted statistical mixed-effect model to LIR data first found that the blood samples clustered with spices, tea, and paint, then, further isotopically distinct from blood were sand, dust, and soil, and lastly, milk, toys, pens, flour, and water. Analysis of the LIRs provided an indication and ranking of the importance of Pb environmental sources as explanatory factors of BLCs across the group of children. The findings support the deployment of interventions aimed at managing the priority sources of exposure in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni S. Leonardi
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
- Department of Social and Environmental Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Ekaterine Ruadze
- Faculty of Medicine, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (E.R.)
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Ayoub Saei
- UK Health Security Agency, Statistics Unit, Department of Statistics, Modelling and Economics, London NW9 5EQ, UK;
| | - Adam Laycock
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Simon Chenery
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK (M.J.W.)
| | - Helen Crabbe
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Elizabeth Marchant
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
- UK Health Security Agency, Field Epidemiology Training Programme, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Irma Khonelidze
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Lela Sturua
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Paata Imnadze
- Faculty of Medicine, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (E.R.)
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Amiran Gamkrelidze
- University of Georgia (UG), 77a M. Kostava Street, Tbilisi 0171, Georgia;
| | - Michael J. Watts
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK (M.J.W.)
| | - Tim Marczylo
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
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Hwang YH, Wu HC, Shyu MK, Lee CN, Lin SY, Chen PC, Chuang HY, Lin PW, Wu TH, Chen YT. Temporal transition trends of cord blood lead levels in various human development index countries and in the Taipei metropolitan area. Environ Pollut 2023:121900. [PMID: 37244535 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Since low-level lead exposure is still of concern for neonates, it is worth further characterizing the temporal transition trends of cord blood lead levels (CBLLs) globally and locally in Taipei, Taiwan, after the cessation of leaded gasoline use. A literature review on CBLLs around the world was performed by searching three databanks, i.e., PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science, with the search keywords "cord blood" combined with "lead" or "Pb" for studies published from 1975 to May 2021. In total, 66 articles were included. Linear regressions for the reciprocal of sample size weighed CBLLs against calendar year presented a high r2 value (0.722) for the very high Human Development Index (HDI) countries and a moderate r2 value (0.308) for the combined high and medium HDI countries. The predicted CBLLs in 2030 and 2040 were 6.92 (95% CI: 6.02-7.81) μg/L and 5.85 (95% CI: 5.04-6.66) μg/L, respectively, for the very high HDI countries and 13.10 (95% CI: 7.12-19.09) μg/L and 10.63 (95% CI: 5.37-15.89) μg/L, respectively, for the combined high and medium HDI countries. To characterize the CBLL transitions in the Great Taipei metropolitan area, data from five studies conducted from 1985 to 2018 were employed. Although the results of the early four studies indicated that the Great Taipei metropolitan area did not reach the pace in CBLL reduction among the very high HDI countries, the CBLLs of the latest study during 2016-2018 were pretty low (8.1 ± 4.5 μg/L), approximately 3 years in advance of the very high HDI countries as one group to reach this low CBLL. In conclusion, further effective reduction in environmental lead exposure is challenging and must be based on the efforts from the aspects reflected by the HDI index compositions, i.e., economics, education and health, mostly implying health disparity and inequality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaw-Huei Hwang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Master of Public Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Hui-Chu Wu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Kwang Shyu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-Nan Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shin-Yu Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pau-Chung Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Yi Chuang
- Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pei-Wen Lin
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tso-Hsien Wu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yen-Tzu Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Chen X, Cao S, Wen D, Geng Y, Duan X. Sentinel animals for monitoring the environmental lead exposure: combination of traditional review and visualization analysis. Environ Geochem Health 2023; 45:561-584. [PMID: 35348990 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01241-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In nature, certain animals share a common living environment with humans, thus these animals have become biomonitors of health effects related to various environmental exposures. As one of the most toxic environmental chemicals, lead (Pb) can cause detriment health effects to animals, plants, and even humans through different exposure pathways such as atmosphere, soil, food, water, and dust, etc. Sentinel animals played an "indicative" role in the researches of environmental pollution monitoring and human health. In order to comprehend the usage of sentinel animals in the indication of environmental Pb pollution and human Pb exposure completely, a combination of traditional review and visualization analysis based on CiteSpace literature was used to review earlier researches in this study. In the first instance, present researches on exposure sources and exposure pathways of Pb were summarized briefly, and then the studies using sentinel animals to monitor environmental heavy metal pollution and human health were combed. Finally, visualization software CiteSpace 5.8.R3 was used to explore and analyze the hotspots and frontiers of lead exposure and sentinel animals researches at home and abroad. The results showed that certain mammals were good indicators for human lead exposure. Sentinel animals had been widely used to monitor the ecological environment and human lead exposure. Among them, the blood lead levels of small mammals, particularly for domestic dogs and cats, had a significant correlation with the blood lead levels of human living in the same environment. It indicated that certain biological indicators in animals can be used as surrogates to monitor human body exposure to heavy metals. This study also explored the challenges and perspectives that may be faced in sentinel animal research, in order to provide a certain theoretical basis and train of thought guidance for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - SuZhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dongsen Wen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yishuo Geng
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Xueyuan Road 30, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China.
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Chen X, Duan X, Cao S, Wen D, Zhang Y, Wang B, Jia C. Source apportionment based on lead isotope ratios: Could domestic dog's blood lead be used to identify the level and sources of lead pollution in children? Chemosphere 2022; 308:136197. [PMID: 36064012 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Domestic dogs have been proved to be used as "sentinel organisms" to monitor human lead exposure. However, whether dogs' blood can be used to identify the levels and pollution source of children's lead exposure still needs evidence. To evaluate the potential use of domestic dogs' blood lead as an indicator of lead exposure levels and pollution source of children, accompanying with potential environmental media samples, lead concentrations and isotope ratios (expressed as 207Pb/206Pb, 208Pb/206Pb) in blood were investigated and compared between children and dogs, who came from a Pb-Zn smelter area, a coal fired area and a control area without industrial activity. The results showed that there were significant correlations in blood lead levels (BLLs) between children and dogs in the study areas (p < 0.01). The lead isotope ratios (LIRs) in blood of children and dogs were disparate among the three areas, however, the LIRs of dogs were quite correlated with those of children in each area (p < 0.01). With the comparison of LIRs between potential pollution sources (slag, ore, coal, paint) and blood samples, the identified lead sources based on dogs' blood were found to be coincident with those based on children's blood. Ore smelting and coal combustion were the main sources of lead exposure for the dogs and children in the smelting area, and coal combustion was the predominant source for the children and dogs living in the coal burning area and control area. The results showed that dogs' BLLs might be used to estimate children's BLLs, and blood LIRs measurements of dogs' could be used as an alternative for identifying the sources of children's lead exposure. This study further provided relevant evidence for dogs to be sentinels exposed to human lead exposure and an alternative method for source apportionment of children's lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - SuZhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dongsen Wen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yaqun Zhang
- Gansu Academy of Eco-environmental Science, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunrong Jia
- School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
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Laycock A, Chenery S, Marchant E, Crabbe H, Saei A, Ruadze E, Watts M, Leonardi GS, Marczylo T. The Use of Pb Isotope Ratios to Determine Environmental Sources of High Blood Pb Concentrations in Children: A Feasibility Study in Georgia. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:15007. [PMID: 36429725 PMCID: PMC9690981 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of lead (Pb) poisoning in children in Georgia has been identified as a major health concern, with a recent national survey identifying that 41% of children aged 2-7 years had blood lead concentrations (BLCs) greater than the blood lead reference value (BLRV) of ≥5 µg dL-1. This study collected samples of blood, spices, paint, soil, dust, flour, tea, toys, milk, and water from 36 households in Georgia where a child had previously been identified as having a BLC > BLRV. The Pb concentrations of these samples were determined and compared to Georgian reference values. Samples from 3 households were analysed for their Pb isotope composition. The Pb isotope composition of the environmental and blood samples were compared to identify the most likely source(s) of Pb exposure. This approach identified that some spice and dust samples were the likely sources of Pb in the blood in these cases. Importantly, some soil, paint, and dust sources with high Pb concentrations could be discounted as contributing to blood Pb based on their distinct isotope composition. The data presented demonstrate the significant contribution that Pb surveillance and Pb isotope ratio analyses can make to managing Pb exposure in regions where high BLCs are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Laycock
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Simon Chenery
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Elizabeth Marchant
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Helen Crabbe
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Ayoub Saei
- UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Ekaterine Ruadze
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, #99 Kakheti Highway, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia
| | - Michael Watts
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Giovanni S. Leonardi
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tim Marczylo
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
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Irie F. Commentary on the Risk Assessment of Lead by the Food Safety Commission of Japan. Food Saf (Tokyo) 2022; 10:102-11. [PMID: 36237398 PMCID: PMC9509536 DOI: 10.14252/foodsafetyfscj.d-22-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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