Chronic Metal Exposure, Air Pollution and Cancer in Haifa, Israel

Abstract

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author EBB designed the study, wrote the protocol, including laboratory analysis and statistics and wrote all drafts of the manuscript. Author YB organized study details and managed literature searches. Author NB was in charge of sample collection and patient management. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

It Takes Time to Unravel the Ecology of War in Gaza, Palestine: Long-Term Changes in Maternal, Newborn and Toddlers’ Heavy Metal Loads, and Infant and Toddler Developmental Milestones in the Aftermath of the 2014 Military Attacks

“…The level of contamination in newborns could not be compared with standards from not war areas for lack of appropriate references from areas not heavily contaminated by industry, mining or water issues, or by wars. Yet, the level of metal contamination in the hair of cohorts of mothers delivering in the years 2015, 2016, 2018–2019 was previously compared with that of available adult standards from areas not at war [ 59 ], and 10 of these metals—with the exception of selenium and molybdenum—were found at each time point tested to be in higher concentration in Gaza women than in the references. This shows the stability of metals in the environment and illustrates their widespread diffusion after the attacks.…”

“…The load was measured for 23 metals, including microelements and known components of weapons. Here, we report the result for 12 of the heavy metals, considered the most relevant on the basis of the high level, by comparison with a wider cohort of international standards from the outside war area [ 59 ] and, but for lead, with a smaller cohort of Italian and Israeli women, of the fact that these metals were previously identified to be weapon-delivered in Gaza [ 1 ], many of which are teratogenic or carcinogenic, and of their association with negative health at birth in Gaza [ 5 , 8 ]. In brief, 0.2 g of washed hair was added with 2 mL HNO3 and 2 mL H 2 O 2 , heated at 85 °C for 2 h, added at r.t. with 6 mL of water.…”