Lead and cadmium excretion in feces and urine of children from polluted townships near a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia

Abstract

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are toxic metals that exist ubiquitously in the environment. Children in polluted areas are particularly vulnerable to metal exposure, where clinical signs and symptoms could be nonspecific. Absorbed metals are excreted primarily in urine and reflect exposure from all sources. We analyzed Pb and Cd concentrations in blood, feces and urine of children from polluted townships near a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia, to determine concurrent childhood exposure to the metals. Moreover, the study determined the Pb and Cd relationships among urine, feces and blood as well as accessed the potential of urine and fecal analysis for biomonitoring of Pb and Cd exposure in children. Fecal Pb (up to 2252 mg/kg, dry weight) and urine Pb (up to 2914 μg/L) were extremely high. Concentrations of Cd in blood (Cd-B) of up to 7.7 μg/L, fecal (up to 4.49 mg/kg, dry weight) and urine (up to 18.1 μg/L) samples were elevated. metal levels were higher in younger children (0-3 years old) than older children (4-7). Positive correlations were recorded for Pb and Cd among blood, urine and fecal samples whereas negative correlations were recorded with age. These findings indicate children are exposed to both metals at their current home environment. Moreover, urine and feces could be useful for biomonitoring of metals due to their strong relationships with blood levels. There is need to conduct a clinical evaluation of the affected children to fully appreciate the health impact of these metal exposure.

Characterization, Spatial Variation and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and a Metalloid in Surface Soils in Obuasi, Ghana

“…The high HQs detected for children could be due to their frequent hand-to-mouth or object-to-mouth activities, which could increase toxicant exposure, including As. 57 , 58 Previous studies have found that children typically ingest an average of 50 mg/d of soil. 59 However, in the case of pica, this amount could be higher.…”

Exogenous Melatonin Application Enhances Rhizophagus irregularis Symbiosis and Induces the Antioxidant Response of Medicago truncatula Under Lead Stress

“…Anthropogenic activities such as mining and smelting are the primary sources of soil heavy metal pollution (Yang et al, 2018). Lead (Pb), a toxic element in plants, enters the soil mainly through lead-zinc mining (Yabe et al, 2018). More than 800,000 tons of Pb have been released into the environment globally, and most Pb has accumulated in the soil environment, where it negatively affects plant growth and development (Yang et al, 2018).…”

Lead, Zinc and Cadmium Accumulation, and Associated Health Risks, in Maize Grown near the Kabwe Mine in Zambia in Response to Organic and Inorganic Soil Amendments

“…In Kabwe, a town in central Zambia, mining was the main economic activity for several years but despite the closure of the mine, small-scale mining, including scavenging by local residents, is still widespread [30,31]. These activities, combined with poor environmental management have resulted in high levels of HMs such as Pb, Cd and Zn in many parts of the town [30,32].…”