| Abstrakt: |
Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) concentrations in women were measured and compared to evaluate the effects of environmental heavy-metal pollution control on internal exposure levels. In 2005 and 2012, 200 and 182 women, respectively, were enrolled in the study. Demographic and diet information were collected using a questionnaire. Fasting venous blood samples were collected, and plasma concentrations of Hg, Cd, and As were measured using inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The median concentrations (P25–P75) of Hg, Cd, and As decreased from 0.56 (0.46–0.75) ng/mL, 0.14 (0.09–0.21) ng/mL, and 0.83 (0.66–1.09) ng/mL in 2005 to 0.39 (0.19–0.66) ng/mL, 0.09 (0.05–0.13) ng/mL, and 0.48 (0.29–0.72) ng/mL in 2012, respectively. The difference in plasma metal concentrations between measurements in 2005 and 2012 remained statistically significant after we adjusted for confounders. The adjusted ORs were 0.31 (0.16–0.60), 0.24 (0.12–0.48), and 0.25 (0.13–0.50) for Hg, Cd, and As concentrations, respectively, in 2012, relative to those in 2005. The levels of Hg, Cd, and As were 30% to 40% lower in 2012 than in 2005, indicative of lower human internal exposure to these contaminants due to the implementation of environmental pollution control. Engagement with agriculture and high-frequency water product consumption were associated with high Hg levels, and a high frequency of consumption of fresh fruit and eggs was negatively associated with lower levels of Cd in plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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