Concurrent Heavy Metal Exposures and Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Case-Control Study from the Katanga Mining Area of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Didier Malamba-Lez, Désire Tshala-Katumbay, Virginie Bito, Jean-Michel Rigo, Richie Kipenge Kyandabike, Eric Ngoy Yolola, Philippe Katchunga, Béatrice Koba-Bora and Dophra Ngoy-Nkulu
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Didier Malamba-Lez: Unit of Training and Research in Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07610, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Désire Tshala-Katumbay: Department of Neurology and School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97007, USA
Virginie Bito: Doctoral School for Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Jean-Michel Rigo: Doctoral School for Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Richie Kipenge Kyandabike: Unit of Training and Research in Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07610, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Eric Ngoy Yolola: Unit of Training and Research in Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07610, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Philippe Katchunga: Department of Internal Medicine, Official University of Bukavu, Bukavu 11102, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Béatrice Koba-Bora: Department of Internal Medicine, Service of Neurology, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07610, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dophra Ngoy-Nkulu: Unit of Training and Research in Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07610, Democratic Republic of the Congo

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: Blood and/or urine levels of 27 heavy metals were determined by ICPMS in 41 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 29 presumably healthy subjects from the Katanga Copperbelt (KC), in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After adjusting for age, gender, education level, and renal function, DCM probability was almost maximal for blood concentrations above 0.75 and 150 µg/dL for arsenic and copper, respectively. Urinary concentrations above 1 for chromium, 20 for copper, 600 for zinc, 30 for selenium, 2 for cadmium, 0.2 for antimony, 0.5 for thallium, and 0.05 for uranium, all in ?g/g of creatinine, were also associated with increased DCM probability. Concurrent and multiple exposures to heavy metals, well beyond permissible levels, are associated with increased probability for DCM. Study findings warrant screening for metal toxicity in case of DCM and prompt public health measures to reduce exposures in the KC, DRC.

Keywords: environmental exposures; heavy metals; idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; Katanga Copperbelt (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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