A Positive Relationship between Exposure to Heavy Metals and Development of Chronic Diseases: A Case Study from Chile

Sandra Cortés, Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas, Floria Pancetti, Alejandra Covarrubias, Muriel Ramírez-Santana, Héctor Adaros and Luis Muñoz
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Sandra Cortés: Departamento de Salud Pública, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330077, Chile
Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Biomédicas (LIB), Departamento de Preclínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480005, Chile
Floria Pancetti: Laboratorio de Neurotoxicología Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo No. 1281, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
Alejandra Covarrubias: Laboratorio de Neurotoxicología Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo No. 1281, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
Muriel Ramírez-Santana: Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
Héctor Adaros: Hospital Dr. Jerónimo Méndez, Chañaral, Chañaral 1490000, Chile
Luis Muñoz: Laboratorio de Metrología Química, Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear, Santiago 7600713, Chile

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Chile is a mining country, where waste mining is frequently found in the vicinity of inhabited areas. To explore the association between metal exposure and alterations in glucose metabolism, inflammatory status, and oxidative stress in individuals with chronic exposure to metals, a cross-sectional study was performed with 25 volunteers, between 45–65 years old. Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure urinary levels of total arsenic (As) and its metabolites, cooper, nickel, chromium, and lead. Lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in blood, as well as inflammation (interleukin-6, IL-6) and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2?deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) markers. Increased levels of Low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and 8-OHdG, and the index for homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were observed in 72%, 60%, and 56% of the volunteers, respectively. Blood-glucose levels were correlated with dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) (R 2 = 0.47, p = 0.019), inorganic As (As i ) (R 2 = 0.40, p = 0.012), and Ni (R 2 = 0.56; p = 0.044). The models with these compounds explained 72% of the glycemia variability (? DMA = ?6.47; ? Asi = 6.68; ? Ni = 6.87). Ni showed a significantly influence on IL-6 variability (? = 0.85: R 2 = 0.36). Changes in glycemia could be related to exposure to low levels of As i and Ni, representing risk factors for metabolic diseases. Body mass index would confuse the relation between IL-6 and Ni levels, probably due to known chronic inflammation present in obese people.

Keywords: metabolic disorders; metal exposure; glycemia; cholesterol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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