Human biomonitoring of essential and toxic trace elements (heavy metals and metalloids) in urine of children, teenagers, and young adults from a Central European Cohort in the Czech Republic

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F25%3A00141542" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/25:00141542 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00724-4" target="_blank" >https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00724-4</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00724-4" target="_blank" >10.1038/s41370-024-00724-4</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Human biomonitoring of essential and toxic trace elements (heavy metals and metalloids) in urine of children, teenagers, and young adults from a Central European Cohort in the Czech Republic

Original language description

Background: Exposure to toxic trace elements, which include metals and metalloids, can induce adverse health effects, including life-threatening diseases. Conversely, essential trace elements are vital for bodily functions, yet their excessive (or inadequate) intake may pose health risks. Therefore, identifying levels and determinants of exposure to trace elements is crucial for safeguarding human health. Methods: The present study analyzed urinary concentrations of 14 trace elements (arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, thallium, and zinc) and their exposure determinants in 711 individuals, spanning from children to young adults from a Central European population from the Czech Republic. Multivariate linear regression and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA were used to investigate exposure determinants. Estimates of 95th percentile concentrations and confidence intervals were carried out to establish reference values (RV95). The study also assessed the percentage of population exceeding health-based guidance values (GVs) to gauge health risks. Results: Young adults showed elevated toxic element concentrations, whereas children exhibited higher concentrations of essential elements. Mercury concentrations were associated with both dental amalgam filling count and seafood intake; arsenic concentrations were associated with seafood, rice, and mushroom consumption. Mushroom consumption also influenced lead concentrations. Sex differences were found for cadmium, zinc, nickel, and cobalt. Between 17.9% and 25% of the participants exceeded recommended GV for arsenic, while 2.4% to 2.8% exceeded GV for cadmium. Only one participant exceeded the GV for mercury, and none exceeded GVs for chromium and thallium. Essential trace elements' GVs were surpassed by 38% to 68.5% participants for zinc, 1.3% to 1.8% for molybdenum, and 0.2% to 0.3% for selenium. Impact: The present study examines trace element exposure in a Central European population from the Czech Republic, unveiling elevated exposure levels of toxic elements in young adults and essential elements in children. It elucidates key determinants of trace element exposure, including dietary and lifestyle indicators as well as dental amalgam fillings. Additionally, the study establishes novel reference values and a comparison with established health-based human biomonitoring guidance values, which are crucial for public health decision-making. This comprehensive biomonitoring study provides essential data to inform public health policies and interventions.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30304 - Public and environmental health

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology

ISSN

1559-0631

e-ISSN

1559-064X

Volume of the periodical

35

Issue of the periodical within the volume

5

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

16

Pages from-to

730-745

UT code for WoS article

001333469400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85206933310