Arsenic and cadmium exposure in children living near a smelter complex in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1993.1109· OSTI ID:6113319

Diaz-Barriga, F; Santos, M A; Mejia, J J; Batres, L; Yanez, L; Carrizales, L; Vera, E; del Razo, L M; Cebrian, M E ^[1]

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1. Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi (Mexico)

The main purpose of this study was to assess environmental contamination by arsenic and cadmium in a smelter community (San Luis Potosi City, Mexico) and its possible contribution to an increased body burden of these elements in children. Arsenic and cadmium were found in the environment (air, soil, and household dust, and tap water) as well as in the urine and hair from children. The study was undertaken in three zones: Morales, an urban area close to the smelter complex; Graciano, an urban area 7 km away from the complex; and Mexquitic, a small rural town 25 km away. The environmental study showed that Morales is the most contaminated of the zones studied. The range of arsenic levels in soil (117-1396 ppm), dust (515-2625 ppm), and air (0.13-1.45 micrograms/m3) in the exposed area (Morales) was higher than those in the control areas. Cadmium concentrations were also higher in Morales. Estimates of the arsenic ingestion rate in Morales (1.0-19.8 micrograms/kg/day) were equal to or higher than the reference dose of 1 microgram/kg/day calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The range of arsenic levels in urine (69-594 micrograms/g creatinine) and hair (1.4-57.3 micrograms/g) and that of cadmium in hair (0.25-3.5 micrograms/g) indicated that environmental exposure has resulted in an increased body burden of these elements in children, suggesting that children living in Morales are at high risk of suffering adverse health effects if exposure continues.

• OSTI ID: 6113319
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 62:2; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ARSENIC
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
CADMIUM
CHILDREN
BODY BURDEN
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
CONTAMINATION
HAIR
INGESTION
METALLURGY
MEXICO
SMELTERS
URINE
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
INTAKE
LATIN AMERICA
MATERIALS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
SEMIMETALS
SKIN
WASTES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
552000 - Public Health