Concentrations of trace elements in the hair of children living near a hazardous waste incinerator in Catalonia, Spain

摘要

Objective: To determine the concentrations of a number of trace elements in hair samples from 196 school children aged 10 - 13 years, living near a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) in Catalonia, Spain. The results were compared with those obtained in previous surveys performed in the same zone since 1996 1998 (baseline study). Methods: Hair samples from 89 boys and 107 girls were collected in three different areas around the HWI. The levels of arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), uranium (U), and vanadium (V) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Chromium, Pb, and Hg showed the highest mean concentrations, while As, Be, Cs, Tl, and V levels were below their respective detection limits in all samples. Between 1998 (baseline survey) and 2012, significant decreases in the levels of Cd, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Sn were observed. However, Cr was the only element showing a higher concentration in the present study than in the baseline survey, which is in agreement with previous results in soils collected in the surroundings of the facility. Conclusions: The results of the present study corroborate that the impact of the emissions of metals from the facility on human exposure is not relevant. However, a close study of Cr should be particularly carried out to detect any potential increase of this element in a near future. Chromium levels must be determined not only in human hair, but also in other environmental and biological monitors.