Author:
Campolina Délio,Ciminelli Virginia S. T.,Ng Jack C.,Campolina Thiago A. M.,Caldeira Cláudia L.,Gutiérrez-Aviña Ximena,Islam Md N.
Abstract
AbstractThe “Quadrilátero Ferrífero” (Iron Quadrangle) is a mineral-rich province in Brazil, where arsenic anomalies are associated with gold mining and tailings dam failures. Urine samples were randomly collected from residents of Belo Horizonte (BH) city (N = 506 total/138 speciation) and the metropolitan area (N = 35 total/10 speciation), with stratifications in age, female-male and geopolitical regions. Creatinine, acid-digested total arsenic (TAs), and five inorganic and organic arsenic species were measured: arsenobetaine (AsB); arsenous (AsIII) and arsenic (AsV) acids and their dissociation products; monomethylarsonic acid (MMA); and dimethylarsinic acid DMA). Overall, the TAs GM (μg/g creat) of all stratification groups indicated no statistical difference. The TAs geometric mean (GM) of BH was 9.68 [9.17–10.2] μg/g creat, being AsB (43.8%) and DMA (20.7%) the major components. The toxic arsenic (ToxAs) fraction (i.e., AsIII + AsV + MMA + DMA) was 5.23 [4.45–6.15] μg/L. These TAs and ToxAs values are lower than international benchmarks and the Brazilian legislated standard of 35 μg/L for ToxAs. The TAs GM (μg/L) and creatinine were 36% higher for males than for females (p < 0.0001), making TAs GMs comparable, after creatinine correction. Similarly, though the 10–19 age group showed significantly higher ToxAs GM (12.7 [6.49–24.8] μg/L) (p = 0.048) and creatinine (p < 0.001), the ToxAs GM (7.22 [2.92–17.9] μg/g creat), was not statistically different than those from the other age groups. The study, the first one in Brazil, identifies the relative contribution of inorganic and organic arsenic and provides a baseline level for clinical reference and bio-monitoring studies, particularly applicable to both occupational and non-occupational populations in a mineral-rich region.
Graphical abstract
Funder
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Pollution,Water Science and Technology
Reference75 articles.
1. ACGIH (2017) TLVs and BEIs - Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists—ACGIH; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. https://www.acgih.org/science/tlv-bei-guidelines/ Accessed 30 Sep 2022
2. Alves AF, Braga I, Pós W (2008) Encapsulation of old tailings deposits from morro velho gold mining in minas gerais, Brazil. In: Fourie AB, Tibbett M, Weiersbye I, Dye P (eds) Mine closure 2008: proceedings of the third international seminar on mine closure, vol 4. Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp 51–457. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_41
3. Anual ZF, Mohammad SN, Ambak R et al (2021) Urinary concentrations of metals and metalloids in malaysian adults. Expo Health 13:391–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-021-00390-z
4. ANVISA (2005) National Health Surveillance Agency, Ministry of Health; Technical regulations for the operation of clinical analysis laboratories, resolution 302 10/13/2005. https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/anvisa/2005/res0302_13_10_2005.html. Accessed 30 Sep 2022
5. Apostoli P, Bartoli D, Alessio L, Buchet JP (1999) Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic. Occup Environ Med 56:825–832. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.56.12.825