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

Maria Luisa Astolfi, Georgios Pietris, Corrado Mazzei, Elisabetta Marconi and Silvia Canepari
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Maria Luisa Astolfi: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Georgios Pietris: Department of General Surgery, Thoracic Diseases General Hospital Sotiria of Athens, Mesogion 152, 115 27 Athens, Greece
Corrado Mazzei: Canon Toshiba Medical Systems s.r.l., Via Canton 115, I-00144 Rome, Italy
Elisabetta Marconi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
Silvia Canepari: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-22

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.

Keywords: biomonitoring; human hair; children; trace elements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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