The Effect of Remediation of Chromium Waste Sites on Chromium Levels in Urine of Children Living in the Surrounding Neighborhood

Abstract

Exposure to chromium was assessed for 40 children living near chromium waste sites. Sampling was conducted in one Jersey City, New Jersey neighborhood during the summer and fall of 1991. Household dust samples from residences and urine samples from children living near chromium waste sites were collected and analyzed for chromium. During the summer and fall visits when the samples were collected, the children were also interviewed about lifestyle/activity patterns. Comparisons were made with similar samples collected from children and homes in other areas of New Jersey outside of Hudson County with no known chromium waste sites. Household dust masses and chromium loadings and concentrations in the dust showed a significant decline in this Hudson County neighborhood since the area was first sampled in 1990. Interim remediation of neighborhood sites and an active community education program in the interval between the first and second year of sampling may have contributed to the reduction in dust masses and chromium levels in dust. Children's urine chromium concentrations were consistent across the two sampling periods despite reported changes in activity patterns. Chromium concentrations in urine were found to be age-dependent and related to home location. In this sample of Jersey City children less than six years old, time spent playing outdoors was a weak secondary contributor to urine chromium levels. IMPLICATIONSExposure to pollutants such as chromium from hazardous waste sites can be influenced by remediation efforts and by the activities of the individuals who live near the site. Remediation of neighborhood sites removes the source; an active community education program about the need to reduce dust and implement dust reduction activities lowers residential dust masses and chromium levels on surfaces.

Pesticide exposure and creatinine variation among young children

“…Laboratory errors on Cr measures may result in erroneous conclusions regarding pesticide safety. Further, our results and those of Freeman et al ( 1995 ) suggest that Cr yield may be more variable among children. NHANES IV will evaluate children under the age of 6 years across all seasons.…”

“…Researchers measure Cr and rely on it being more or less constant. Freeman et al (1995 ) found highly variable Cr levels among children under the age of 6 years living in a Jersey city ( NJ ) neighborhood near a chromium waste site. Overall, Cr levels appeared low.…”

“…Next, we considered whether Cr content of urine varied seasonally as found by Freeman et al (1995 ). The maximum daily temperature in Yuma County varies between warm and hot.…”

Children's Exposure Assessment: A Review of Factors Influencing Children's Exposure, and the Data Available to Characterize and Assess That Exposure

“…Biomarker data have been collected for children to evaluate environmental exposures to lead (56), benzene (57), arsenic (58), chromium (59)(60)(61), and pesticides (62,63). Most recently, the Minnesota NHEXAS children's pesticide exposure study collected urine samples from children on three alternate days and analyzed them for metabolites of chlorpyrifos, malathion, atrazine, and diazinon.…”

Long-Term Stability of Organic Carbon-Stimulated Chromate Reduction in Contaminated Soils and Its Relation to Manganese Redox Status

“…Primarily geochemical approaches tested include injection of ~e^ (7,8), permeable reactive zero-valent Fe walls (4), and injection of H2S (9). Biogeochemical strategies rely on supplying organic carbon (OC) to stimulate direct microbial Cr(V1) reduction and indirectly microbially mediated reduction through Fe reduction (10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”