Biomonitoring of 45 inorganic elements measured in plasma from Spanish subjects: A cross-sectional study in Andalusian population

L A Henríquez-Hernández; D Romero; A González-Antuña; B Gonzalez-Alzaga; M Zumbado; L D Boada; A F Hernández; I López-Flores; O P Luzardo; M Lacasaña

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135750

Biomonitoring of 45 inorganic elements measured in plasma from Spanish subjects: A cross-sectional study in Andalusian population

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Mar 1:706:135750. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135750. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Toxicology Unit, Clinical Sciences Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Center in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Spain.
² Department of Statistics and Operational Research, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain; Toxicology Unit, Clinical Sciences Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
³ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain.
⁴ Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
⁵ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
⁶ Toxicology Unit, Clinical Sciences Department, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Center in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Spain. Electronic address: octavio.perez@ulpgc.es.
⁷ Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Granada, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain; CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: marina.lacasana.easp@juntadeandalucia.es.

PMID: 31841855
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135750

Abstract

Heavy metals and other toxic elements are frequently detected in humans. Rare earth elements (REE) have arisen as a novel group of substances considered as emerging pollutants due to its dependence for high tech industry. We designed a study aimed to conduct the biomonitoring a total of 45 inorganic elements in the population of Andalusia (Spain). A total of 419 participants were recruited and their plasma samples analyzed. Concentration of elements, including elements in the ATSDR's priority pollutant list and REE were measured by ICP-MS in the blood plasma of participants. Arsenic, copper, lead, selenium, antimony, strontium, and bismuth were detected in ˃98% of subjects. Median values of arsenic, mercury and lead were 1.49, 1.46, and 5.86 ng/mL, respectively. These concentrations did not exceed reference values published by international agencies. We observed a positive correlation between age and plasma concentrations of arsenic, mercury, antimony and strontium. Sum of elements was lower in the group of subjects younger than 45 years old (P = 0.002). Positive correlations were observed between body mass index (BMI) and plasma concentrations of barium, cerium, osmium, tin, and ytterbium. 7 out of 26 REEs showed a percentage of detection ≥ 90%. Bismuth, yttrium, and cerium were quantified at the highest concentrations (median value = 7.7, 0.19, and 0.16 ng/mL, respectively). We found that plasma levels of 6 REEs were higher among males, and a positive correlation between REEs and age was detected. The present results suggest a potential interaction with the human physiology that deserves additional research. Given the high persistence of these elements in the environment, and the significant technological dependence on them, future studies are needed to elucidate the potential sources of exposure and possible adverse effects on health, especially in the most vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Biomonitoring; Electronic waste; Heavy metals; Inorganic elements; Plasma; Rare earth element; Spain.

MeSH terms

Biological Monitoring*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Male
Metals, Heavy
Metals, Rare Earth
Middle Aged
Spain

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Metals, Rare Earth