Abstract
BackgroundIt has been shown there is an upward trend for strontium (Sr) and antimony (Sb) levels from low‐risk (LR) to high‐risk (HR) areas of etiology of esophageal cancer in water, soil, and grains grown in Golestan province. In the present study, the serum levels of Sr and Sb were determined in healthy individuals living in these areas.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was performed on fasting blood serum of adult healthy individuals collected by cluster sampling. Subjects were divided into two groups, those living in either HR or LR areas. Strontium and antimony serum levels were measured using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.ResultsA total of 200 volunteers were enrolled from which 96 persons (48%) and 104 persons (52%) were from either HR or LR areas, respectively. The sex distribution was 40.9% male and 59.1% female, and the average age of enrolled people was 50.9 years. The average strontium levels were 30.44 ± 4.05 and 30.29 ± 3.74 μg/L in LR and HR, respectively. It also has been shown the average antimony levels were 15.21 ± 3.40, 14.81 ± 3.17, 15.13 ± 3.62, and 15.07 ± 3.62 μg/L in LR, HR, urban, and rural populations, respectively.ConclusionThe serum levels of strontium and antimony were not significantly different in healthy adults living in high‐ and low‐risk areas of esophageal cancer. However, the average antimony serum levels in Golestan Province were above the reference interval in different countries.
Highlights
Golestan Province is located on one of the Asian esophageal cancer (EC) belts
East region of Golestan Province with a high incidence of EC is known as a high-risk (HR) area, and the previous studies have indicated higher levels of strontium (Sr) and antimony (Sb) in water, soil, sediment, grains, and loess deposits
In the present cross-sectional study, we have evaluated strontium and antimony levels in the serum of individuals living in either HR or LR regions of Golestan Province
Summary
Golestan Province is located on one of the Asian esophageal cancer (EC) belts. The annual mortality rate of EC in this area is approximately 5800.1 Several studies have revealed the association of various factors, such as gene polymorphisms and inflammatory factors, with an increased risk of esophageal carcinoma.[2-5]. East region of Golestan Province with a high incidence of EC is known as a high-risk (HR) area, and the previous studies have indicated higher levels of strontium (Sr) and antimony (Sb) in water, soil, sediment, grains, and loess deposits. The antiproliferative property of organo-antimony against human breast and lung cancer cells is shown in the study of Polychronis and co-authors. They revealed that this compound act better than cisplatin.[19]. Previous studies have shown that Sb and Sr levels in soil, grains, sediments, and loess deposits have exceeded the permissible limit in this region This trespassed has been an increasing trend from the LR to the HR of the province.[6,7]. We hypothesized that by measuring the serum levels of these elements in people living in either high-risk or low-risk areas of esophageal cancer, we might find a correlation between higher serum levels of these elements and higher incidence of esophageal cancer
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