Heavy metals exposure and health risks in the schoolchildren residing in the central administrative district of Moscow - «Social Aspects of Health Population» Online Scientific Journal

I.N. Ilchenko¹, A.A. Samuilenko¹, S.M. Lyapunov^2

1 - I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow
² - Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Summary. One stage ecology and epidemiology study was performed in junior schoolchildren residing in the Central Administrative District of Moscow to assess the contents of copper, nickel, lead, zinc, arsenic, and manganese in hair and blood. In total, 265 pupils of 7-10 years of age from regular primary schools situated along/nearby Prospect Mira and the Third Traffic Ring were recruited in this study. Excessive level of heavy metals was found in 10% of children. The analysis showed that the closer the school and constant dwelling were situated to the major roads, the more was the incidence of disturbances in bronchial pulmonary and cardiac circulatory systems of the body in junior schoolchildren. Hair concentration of nickel exceeding 0.2 mkg/g was reduced as independent risk factor. Weak, though quite significant dose-related effects inducing itching eruption refractory for 6 months and diastolic hypertension were identified for this factor. These disturbances involved 8 to 10 % changes in corresponding health conditions indicators. Passive smoking in family setting was identified as another independent risk factor – for developing diastolic hypertension. Implementation of bio-monitoring data concerning assessment of heavy metals in bio-media could be considered as techniques of screening having certain prospects in the created groups of children at high ecology-related risk of persistent adverse effects of low dose heavy metals on the body.

Keywords. Biomonitoring, heavy metals, concentrations of nickel, eco-risk, blood pressure, respiratory symptoms.

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