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Levels of Metals in Hair in Childhood: Preliminary Associations with Neuropsychological Behaviors

  • Datos identificativos

    Identificador: imarina:3664325
    Autores:
    Torrente M, Gascon M, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J, Forns J, Domingo J, Nadal M
    Resumen:
    For more than 100 years, an electrochemical plant has been operating in Flix (Catalonia, Spain) by the Ebro River. Its activities have originated a severe accumulation of environmental contaminants (metals, organochlorinated pesticides and radionuclides) in sediments of the Flix reservoir, while mercury (Hg) has been also frequently released to the air. Environmental exposure to industrial pollutants has been associated with decreased intelligence and behavioral problems. In the present study, we assessed, in 53 children living in the village of Flix and the surroundings, the relationships between the concentrations of a number of trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cs, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, U and V) in hair and the levels of testosterone in blood, with respect to potential neuropsychological alterations. Lead (Pb) and Hg showed the highest mean concentrations in hair samples. However, the current Hg levels were lower than those previously found in children living in the same zone, while the concentration of the remaining elements was similar to those reported in the scientific literature. The outcomes of certain neuropsychological indicators showed a significant correlation with metals, such as Pb and uranium (U). More specifically, these elements were negatively correlated with working memory and hit reaction time, suggesting impulsivity. In summary, although Pb and U concentrations in hair were within standard levels, both metals could be correlated with certain, but minor, neuropsychological alterations in the childhood population of Flix. These findings should be confirmed by future birth cohort studies, with bigger study populations and using more complex statistical analyses, focused on human exposure to these specific elements.
  • Otros:

    Autor según el artículo: Torrente M, Gascon M, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J, Forns J, Domingo J, Nadal M
    Departamento: Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques Psicologia
    e-ISSN: 2305-6304
    Autor/es de la URV: Domingo Roig, José Luis / Nadal Lomas, Martí / Torrente Torné, Margarita
    Palabras clave: Working memory Testosterone N-back Impulsivity Human hair Heavy metals Finger-tapping Environmental exposure
    Resumen: For more than 100 years, an electrochemical plant has been operating in Flix (Catalonia, Spain) by the Ebro River. Its activities have originated a severe accumulation of environmental contaminants (metals, organochlorinated pesticides and radionuclides) in sediments of the Flix reservoir, while mercury (Hg) has been also frequently released to the air. Environmental exposure to industrial pollutants has been associated with decreased intelligence and behavioral problems. In the present study, we assessed, in 53 children living in the village of Flix and the surroundings, the relationships between the concentrations of a number of trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cs, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, U and V) in hair and the levels of testosterone in blood, with respect to potential neuropsychological alterations. Lead (Pb) and Hg showed the highest mean concentrations in hair samples. However, the current Hg levels were lower than those previously found in children living in the same zone, while the concentration of the remaining elements was similar to those reported in the scientific literature. The outcomes of certain neuropsychological indicators showed a significant correlation with metals, such as Pb and uranium (U). More specifically, these elements were negatively correlated with working memory and hit reaction time, suggesting impulsivity. In summary, although Pb and U concentrations in hair were within standard levels, both metals could be correlated with certain, but minor, neuropsychological alterations in the childhood population of Flix. These findings should be confirmed by future birth cohort studies, with bigger study populations and using more complex statistical analyses, focused on human exposure to these specific elements.
    Áreas temáticas: Toxicology Health, toxicology and mutagenesis Environmental sciences Chemical health and safety
    Acceso a la licencia de uso: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    ISSN: 23056304
    Direcció de correo del autor: joseluis.domingo@urv.cat marti.nadal@urv.cat margarita.torrente@urv.cat
    Identificador del autor: 0000-0001-6647-9470 0000-0002-0217-4827 0000-0002-8901-6345
    Fecha de alta del registro: 2024-09-07
    Volumen de revista: 2
    Versión del articulo depositado: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Enlace a la fuente original: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/2/1/1
    URL Documento de licencia: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Referencia al articulo segun fuente origial: Toxics. 2 (1): 1-16
    Referencia de l'ítem segons les normes APA: Torrente M, Gascon M, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J, Forns J, Domingo J, Nadal M (2014). Levels of Metals in Hair in Childhood: Preliminary Associations with Neuropsychological Behaviors. Toxics, 2(1), 1-16. DOI: 10.3390/toxics2010001
    DOI del artículo: 10.3390/toxics2010001
    Entidad: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Año de publicación de la revista: 2014
    Tipo de publicación: Journal Publications
  • Palabras clave:

    Chemical Health and Safety,Environmental Sciences,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Toxicology
    Working memory
    Testosterone
    N-back
    Impulsivity
    Human hair
    Heavy metals
    Finger-tapping
    Environmental exposure
    Toxicology
    Health, toxicology and mutagenesis
    Environmental sciences
    Chemical health and safety
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