Batariova, A; Spevackova, V; B, B; Cejchanova, M; Smíd, J; Cerna, M
The Human Biological Monitoring (HBM) project was launched in the Czech Republic in 1994 as a part of the nation-wide Environmental Health Monitoring System to assess the exposure of the Czech general population to a broad spectrum of environmental contaminants. Over the years 2001-2003, the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) were determined in whole blood of 1188 adults (blood donors) and 333 children and in urine of 657 adults and 619 children. In adults, the median blood lead (B-Pb) level was 33 µg/litre. Men had higher B-Pb levels than women (medians 37 µg/litre vs. 25 µg/litre). Significantly higher B-Pb levels were observed in smokers compared to non-smokers (36 µg/litre vs. 31 µg/litre). In children, no sex-dependent differences were observed (median 31 µg/litre). In total, the median blood Cd level (B-Cd) in adults was 0.5 µg/litre. Smokers showed a median B-Cd level about 3 times as high as non-smokers (1.3 µg/litre vs. 0.40 µg/litre). Neither sex- nor age-related differences were observed in B-Cd levels. In 65% of children, B-Cd levels were below the limit of detection (LOD). The overall median urinary cadmium level (U-Cd) in adults was 0.31 µg/g creatinine. Significantly higher U-Cd levels were found in women (median 0.39 µg/g creatinine) compared to men (0.29 µg/g creatinine). No significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers. In more than 50% of children, the U-Cd level was below the LOD (=0.2 µg/litre). The median blood mercury (B-Hg) level in adults was 0.89 µg/litre. Significant differences were found between smokers (0.80 µg/litre) and non-smokers (0.92 µg/litre), and between men and women (0.86 µg/litre vs. 0.94 µg/litre). The median B-Hg level in children was 0.42 µg/litre and no sex-related differences were observed. The median urinary mercury (U-Hg) levels were 0.63 µg/g creatinine in adults and 0.37 µg/g creatinine in children. Significantly higher U-Hg levels were obtained in women and non-smokers compared to men and smokers, respectively. The B-Pb, B-Hg, U-Cd, and U-Hg levels significantly correlated with age. The following reference values were recommended for the period 2001-2003: 80, 65 and 55 µg/litre for B-Pb and 3.1, 4.0 and 1.5 µg/litre for B-Hg in men, women and children, respectively; 1.1 µg/litre and 1.2 µg/g creatinine for B-Cd and U-Cd, respectively, in adult non-smokers; 5.4 and 12.0 µg/g creatinine for U-Hg in men and women, respectively, and 3.7 and 5.5 µg/g creatinine for U-Hg in boys and girls, respectively. The previous reference values for B-Pb and B-Cd needed revision and were reduced.
adults; age; blood; blood donors; boys; cadmium; children; environmental factors; exposure; girls; human diseases; lead; men; mercury; pollution; reference standards; sex differences; urine; women; Czech Republic; man; Homo; Hominidae; Primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; eukaryotes; Central Europe; Europe; Developed Countries; OECD Countries; environmental pollution; Pollution and Degradation (PP600); Human Health and the Environment (VV500); Human Toxicology and Poisoning (VV810) (New March 2000)