Element Levels and Predictors of Exposure in the Hair of Ethiopian Children.

Maria Luisa Astolfi,Corrado Mazzei,Elisabetta Marconi,Georgios Pietris,Silvia Canepari

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228652

Abstract

Children’s development and health may be affected by toxic heavy metal exposure or suboptimal essential element intake. This study aimed to provide updated information regarding the concentrations of 41 elements in children’s hair (aged under 18) living in a rural area of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia. The highest average levels (as a geometric mean) for toxic heavy metals were obtained for Al (1 mg kg−1), Pb (3.1 mg kg−1), and Ni (1.2 mg kg−1), while the lowest concentrations among the essential elements were found for Co (0.32 mg kg−1), Mo (0.07 mg kg−1), Se (0.19 mg kg−1), and V (0.8 mg kg−1). Hair analysis was combined with a survey to evaluate relationships and variations among subgroups and potential metal exposure predictors. Females showed significantly higher concentrations for most hair elements, excluding Zn, than males, and the 6–11 years age group reported the highest levels for Be, Ce, Co, Fe, La, Li, Mo, and Na. The main predictors of exposure to toxic elements were fish consumption for Hg and drinking water for Ba, Be, Cs, Li, Ni, Tl, and U. The data from this study can be used to develop prevention strategies for children’s health and protection in developing countries.

Highlights

Elements present in the environment can come from natural or anthropogenic sources [1,2,3,4,5]
This study aimed to assess the levels of essential and toxic heavy metals in the hair of children living in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, a Developing Regional State of North-Western Ethiopia
In accordance with other authors [101,104], our results indicate that females may be exposed to toxic metals more than males

Summary

Introduction

Elements present in the environment can come from natural (such as volcanic activity and forest fires) or anthropogenic (such as industrial, agricultural, and domestic) sources [1,2,3,4,5]. As, Hg, Pb, and Cd have been classified as the most dangerous elements affecting health [14]. As and Cd are classified as carcinogens (Group I), and Pb is ranked as a probable carcinogen Hg, in organic [as methylmercury (MeHg)] or inorganic form, is classified by the IARC as a probable carcinogen in humans (Group IIB) or not classifiable as carcinogenic (Group III), respectively [15]. Essential elements (such as Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Se, V, and Zn) are fundamental for the growth and health of children and perform several important functions in the human body, including bone formation, regulation of body fluids, and participation in the vital processes of cells [16,17]. Public Health 2020, 17, 8652; doi:10.3390/ijerph17228652 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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