Results of the first National Human Biomonitoring in Slovenia: levels of trace metal(loid)s in lactating women and their partners and sources of exposure

摘要

The main objectives of the human biomonitoring programme (HBM) are to provide data on exposure of the inhabitants of Slovenia to environmental pollutants, to look at spatial differences in exposure, and to identify main sources of exposure. The study population included lactating primiparous women (n=535) and men (n=561) aged 20-40 years living in twelve areas across Slovenia covering urban and rural areas and areas potentially contaminated due to recent or past industrial activities. Concentration of potentially toxic (cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic) and essential elements (selenium, copper and zinc) was determined in blood, breast milk, urine and concentration of mercury also in hair using ICP-MS and CVAAS/CVAFS. Exposure of the study population to toxic elements was comparable with other European populations, so was the status of essential elements. In general no risk for the study participants was identified, and there was no noticeable lack or excess of essential elements, except in some individuals. Monitored levels of potentially toxic elements were found to be associated to: 1) lifestyle determinants, particularly, for Cd (smoking and diet) and Hg (fish consumption and amalgam fillings), and 2) to environmental exposure, which is of most concern in the area of Mezica Valley (Pb) and the former mercury mining town of Idrija (Hg). Linking HBM and environmental databases confirmed geo-dependant environmental nature of Pb and Hg exposure in the two cases. Apart of the geographically-dependant Pb exposure, public water supplies seem to be an important source of Pb. As a possible source of Pb exposure in the urban environment, emission of particulate matter from residential sources and roads was revealed. The data obtained will allow a health risk assessment of Slovenian population as well as further development and implementation of risk reduction measures.