Blood lead, cadmium and mercury among children from urban, industrial and rural areas of Fez Boulemane Region (Morocco): Relevant factors and early renal effects

Objectives: To describe blood lead (Pb-B), cadmium (Cd-B) and mercury (Hg-B) levels in children living in urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city (north of Morocco) and to identify the determinants and some renal effects of exposure. Material and Methods: The study was conducted from June 2007 to January 2008 in 209 school children (113 girls, 96 boys), aged 6-12 years, from urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city. Interview and questionnaires data were obtained. Blood and urinary samples were analyzed. Results: The mean of blood lead levels (Pb-B) in our population was 55.53 μg/l (range: 7.5-231.1 μg/l). Children from the urban area had higher blood lead levels (BLLs) mean (82.36 μg/l) than children from industrial and rural areas (48.23 and 35.99 μg/l, respectively); with no significant difference between boys and girls. BLLs were associated with traffic intensity, passive smoking and infancy in the urban area. The mean of blood cadmium levels (BCLs) was 0.22 μg/l (range: 0.06-0.68 μg/l), with no difference between various areas. Rural boys had higher BCLs mean than rural girls, but no gender influence was noticed in the other areas. BCLs were associated with the number of cigarettes smoked at children's homes. The blood mercury levels (BMLs) mean was 0.49 μg/l (range: 0.01-5.31 μg/l). The BMLs mean was higher in urban and industrial areas than in the rural area with no gender-related difference. BMLs were associated with amalgam fillings and infancy in the urban area. About 8% of the children had BLLs ≥ 100 μg/l particularly in the urban area, microalbuminuria and a decrease in height were noticed in girls from the inner city of Fez and that can be related to high BLLs (89.45 μg/l). Conclusions: There is a need to control and regulate potential sources of contamination by these trace elements in children; particularly for lead

Study of levels of selected toxic and benefit trace elements in human organism

The work is focused on the study of variability in concentration and determination of reference values of selected toxic trace elements and benefitních in the human organism, which are monitored within the CZ-HBM (cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, selenium and zinc). The results shown here are based on concentrations of selected trace elements in blood and urine of adults and children from the locality Benešov, Plzen, Ústí nad Labem and Ždár nad Sázavou for the period 1996 - 2003. These data were processed by descriptive statistics annually. The aim was to undergo a detailed statistical analysis, taking account of indications of donors and children received a questionnaire (age, gender, location, smoking), to assess the development of long-term time series and to establish reference values valid for population groups in the period of time

Study of levels of selected toxic and benefit trace elements in human organism

The work is focused on the study of variability in concentration and determination of reference values of selected toxic trace elements and benefitních in the human organism, which are monitored within the CZ-HBM (cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, selenium and zinc). The results shown here are based on concentrations of selected trace elements in blood and urine of adults and children from the locality Benešov, Plzen, Ústí nad Labem and Ždár nad Sázavou for the period 1996 - 2003. These data were processed by descriptive statistics annually. The aim was to undergo a detailed statistical analysis, taking account of indications of donors and children received a questionnaire (age, gender, location, smoking), to assess the development of long-term time series and to establish reference values valid for population groups in the period of time