Alice Momoyo Sakuma

Avaliação dos níveis de chumbo e cádmio em leite em decorrência de contaminação ambiental na região do Vale do Paraíba, Sudeste do Brasil

INTRODUCAO: Localizada em Cacapava, SP, Brasil, industria produtora de lingotes de chumbo provocou contaminacao ambiental na regiao do Vale do Paraiba, com chumbo e cadmio. Com o objetivo de avaliar o grau de contaminacao do leite produzido na regiao, devido a possivel ingestao, pelo gado, de gramineas e aguas contaminadas, foram determinados os teores de chumbo e cadmio no leite. MATERIAL E METODO: Foram analisadas 218 amostras de leite in natura e pasteurizado. O cadmio e o chumbo foram determinados por espectrofotometria de absorcao atomica com chama. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSOES: Das amostras analisadas, 43 apresentaram teores de chumbo acima do limite maximo estabelecido pela legislacao brasileira que e 0,05 mg/kg. O valor da mediana encontrada para o chumbo foi 0,04 mg/L. Os niveis de cadmio em todas as amostras foram menores que o limite de quantificacao do metodo que e 0,02 mg/L. Apesar da contaminacao ambiental, os niveis encontrados para o cadmio no leite estao abaixo do limite estabelecido pela legislacao brasileira que e 1,0 mg/kg.

Lead levels in milk and blood from donors to the Breast Milk Bank in Southern Brazil.

Brazilian scientific literature on the adverse effects of lead on the general population is still very limited. Lead, a potentially toxic substance, has become a public health problem due to its effects, mainly those affecting the central nervous system and on the synthesis of heme. The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of lead exposure of donors to the Breast Milk Bank in the city of Londrina, Parana, by estimating the levels of that metal in milk and blood samples. This is a cross-sectional study conducted during the period between January and July 2007. All mothers enrolled as donors in the Breast Milk Bank were included in this study. A total of 92 volunteers presenting the following inclusion criteria were evaluated in the project: volunteers who were healthy, without any chronic disease, full-term pregnancy, breastfeeding between the 15th and 210 th day after giving birth, and living in the city of the study. Lead in milk and blood was quantified using the inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) technique. All mothers signed a consent form approved by the Research Ethics Committee from Londrina State University. The median lead concentration in milk samples was 3.0 microg/L, varying from 1.0 to 8.0 microg/L. The median of lead in blood was of 2.7 microg/dl, varying from 1.0 to 5.5 microg/dl. In Spearman correlation analysis, significant but modest correlations could be observed between the concentration of lead in blood and in milk (r(s)=0.207, p=0.048), hemoglobin and ALAD activity (r(s)=-0.264, p=0.011), level of lead in blood and mothers age (r(s)=0.227, p=0.029). However, for hematocrit and hemoglobin, the correlation was higher (r(s)=0.837, p<0.001). No statistically significant associations were found between concentrations of lead in milk and blood and demographic variables studied, obtained through interviews and validated questionnaire. The mean of milk/blood lead ratio was equal to 0.11. In general, the values found in the present study are similar to those obtained in populations in other countries, and are within background levels.

Lead poisoning due to gunshot bullet in contact with cerebrospinal fluid: case report

CONTEXT Lead poisoning due to retained gunshot bullets is a well-known clinical problem that is fairly frequently described in the literature. The risk factors for this occurrence relate mainly to whether the lead bullet is in contact with the joint fluid or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The treatment for these cases entails chelation therapy while symptoms are shown and definitive surgical removal of the bullet as a potential source of lead. The aim of this paper is to describe a clinical case of lead poisoning due to a retained gunshot bullet in contact with CSF. CASE REPORT A 42-year-old male was hit by gunshot bullets during a holdup, and one of them was retained in the spinal cord. Six years later, he developed intense low back pain and underwent laminectomy. Nine years later, he then underwent arthrodesis on L5-S1, but he developed intense abdominal pain after the surgical procedure. For five years, he was treated with calcium versenate in five-day cycles, with a good response. The chelation therapy cycles showed great efficacy during symptomatic periods, thus reducing the symptoms and signs of poisoning and promoting great amounts of lead excretion, thereby reducing the total lead burden responsible for the symptoms. Fortunately, over the last four years, the symptoms have improved and the urine levels of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) have declined, to reach complete normalization. This shows that a healing process is probably taking place on the spinal wound, thereby isolating the bullet fragments from CSF contact.

Associated factors for higher lead and cadmium blood levels, and reference values derived from general population of São Paulo, Brazil

Human activities are associated with emissions of various metals into the environment, among which the heavy metals lead and cadmium stand out, as they pose a risk to human life even at low concentrations. Thus, accurate knowledge of the levels of these metals exhibited by the overall population, including children, is important. The aim of this study was to estimate the concentrations of lead and cadmium in the blood of adults, adolescents and children residing in the city of São Paulo, assess factors associated with higher lead and cadmium blood levels, and to establish reference values for this population. The study sample consisted of 669 adults over 20 years old, 264 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years old and 391 children under 11 years old from both genders. The samples were collected at the end of 2007 and during 2008 in different city zones. Higher blood lead concentration was significantly associated with gender, smoking, offal intake, area of residence and age. The blood cadmium concentration was significantly associated with gender, smoking, consumption of distilled beverages and age. The reference values of lead and cadmium established for adults above 20 years old were 33 μg/L and 0.6 μg/L, respectively, for adolescents (12 to 19 years old) were 31 μg/L and 0.6 μg/L, respectively and for children under 11 years old were 29 μg/L and 0.2 μg/L, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the exposure levels of the investigated population to lead and cadmium are low.

Arsenic exposure assessment of children living in a lead mining area in Southeastern Brazil

Environmental contamination by arsenic compounds in the Ribeira River Valley, São Paulo, Brazil has already been observed. Lead mining and refining activities had been carried on since late colonial times and finished recently, at the end of 1995. The source of As in the region is known to be mainly from arsenopirite geological presence in the lead ore. Chronic exposure to arsenic compounds may cause peripheral vascular disorders, hyperpigmentation, hiperkeratosis and cancer of the skin, bladder, lung, liver and other internal organs. The purpose of this study was to assess children exposure to arsenic from environmental sources in the region. Urine samples from children between 7 to 14 years old were collected at the following localities: Cerro Azul (Paraná); urban areas of Ribeira (São Paulo) and Adrianópolis (Paraná); Vila Mota neighborhood (rural area of Adrianópolis) and Serra neighborhood (Iporanga, São Paulo), identified as groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Group 1 was considered as non-exposed control group. Toxicologically relevant forms of As were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation system. The median values of urine arsenic levels obtained in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were respectively: 3.60, 6.30, 6.41 e 8.94 microg/L.

Teores de chumbo e mercúrio em cabelo de crianças residentes em Cubatão, na região sudeste do Brasil

Realizou-se estudo de tipo seccional onde concentracoes de chumbo e mercurio foram determinadas pela tecnica de espectrofotometria de absorcao atomica em cabelo de 251 criancas de um a 10 anos de idade, residentes em seis bairros situados as margens dos principais rios do Municipio de Cubatao, SP, (Brasil). Verificou-se concentracoes de chumbo em cabelo de 229 criancas, sendo que em 189 delas (82,5%) detectou-se teores que variaram de 2,5 a 71,4 µg/g. O teor medio de chumbo foi de 7,25 ± 8,51 µg/g. Verificou-se concentracoes de mercurio em cabelo de 217 criancas e em todas foram detectados teores que variaram de 0,2 a 3,0 µg/g. A concentracao media de mercurio foi de 0,82 ± 0,48 µg/g. Nao foi observada diferenca estatistica (p > 0,05) dos teores medios de chumbo e mercurio em cabelo entre criancas consumidoras de peixes e/ou produtos dos rios de Cubatao e criancas nao-consumidoras de organismos aquaticos de qualquer origem.

Validação e aplicação de metodologia analítica na determinação de nutrientes inorgânicos em arroz polido

A method of partial digestion of raw milled rice (Oryza sativa) was validated for the determination of inorganic nutrients (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Based on hydrolysis with HCl, the method is simple and relatively fast, presenting satisfactory characteristics of performance. This method was used in the preparation of 40 raw milled rice samples commercialized in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Emission spectrometry was applied to determine the mean contents and standard deviations of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Zn (in mg.100 g -1 rice), which were 4.31 ± 0.44, 0.22 ± 0.10, 0.32 ± 0.08, 58.0 ± 15.0, 26.1 ± 5.7, 1.06 ± 0.26, 1.78 ± 0.55, 92.1 ± 15.2, and 1.24 ± 0.18, respectively. These results were compared with seven food composition tables available in the literature, which revealed discrepancies for Ca, Fe, Na, and K. Our data were also used to estimate the contribution of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn contained in daily rice consumption to the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). It was found that rice contributes significantly to the RDI, especially of Mn, Cu, and Zn, particularly in view of the average daily consumption of rice per person in Brazil.

A rapid method for mercury determination in urine of workers exposed to mercury vapor

ABSTRACT It is shown that the urine from workers exposed to mercury vapor contains practically only inorganic mercury (II), which can be easily determined by flow injection cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry after adding only HNO3 to the urine at room temperature. If organic mercury is suspected to be present, the sample is treated with KMnO4/H2SO4 at 80°C - 100°C and total mercury is determined. On using HNO3 only, 30 - 40 urine samples/h can be easily processed. The method presents good accuracy, precision and high sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection and a limit of quantification (L.O.Q), respectively, of 0.12 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L Hg (II) in the final dilution, using 1.0 mL urine. Urine reference SRM - NIST as well as samples from workers exposed to mercury vapor were analyzed by the proposed methodology.

Mercúrio total em cação comercializado em São Paulo - SP, Brasil

Total mercury contents in shark species - anjo, cacao-azul, cambeva, cacoa, machote and anequim - commercialized in Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Were determined. The levels ranged from 0.04 to 4.71 mg Hg/kg being 54% above the Brazilian acceptable legal limit of 1 mg Hg/kg (predator fishes) for consumption purposes. The results show that sharks have been commercialized in disagreement with the legislation exposing consumers to a high risk of mercury toxicity. Considerations were made in relation to the observed high levels of mercury and to the corresponding consumption based upon the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake to a total mercury of 0.3 mg Hg/person, of which no more than 0.2 mg should be present as methylmercury (FAO/WHO). Considerations were also made regarding the need of inspection and monitoring of the shark species locally used as food.

Medical Geology Studies in South America

“Earth and Health” or medical geology has been promoted worldwide as one of the fundamental themes of the International Year of Planet Earth (2007–2009). This was in response to relevant achievements noted in this new field of applied science from the time of the IGCP 454 project which led to foundation of the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) in 2004. In association with international movements, several academic, professional, and student groups in South America began to study medical geology which started with scientific meetings held in Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay in 2002 and 2003. In this chapter, an attempt is made to describe South American scientists’ relevant contributions to various subjects such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium as well as fluorine and environmental problems affecting different parts of the continent. Some societal issues arising from medical geology studies are also highlighted from the point of view of the international risk communication and risk governance debate and the pioneering ethnographic descriptions of geophagy in the Andean and Amazonian countries. Finally, some ongoing medical geology projects in South America are identified as inspiring initiatives that may encourage future educational and research activities in this science field.