Study of metals transfer from environment using teeth as biomonitor

• Published in: Environment international 2010-04, Vol.36 (3), p.243-246
• Main Authors: Arruda-Neto, J.D.T., Geraldo, L.P., Prado, G.R., Garcia, F., Bittencourt-Oliveira, M.C., Sarkis, J.E.S., Martinez-Lusardo, F., Lima-Cazorla, L., Rosa-Medero, D., Rodrigues, T.E., Genofre, G.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Atomic absorption analysis; Biokinetics model; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cadmium; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Child; Environmental Health - methods; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Heavy metals burden; Human exposure; Humans; Iron; Lead (metal); Lead transfer to bones; Life span; Medical sciences; Metals - metabolism; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Middle Aged; Similarity; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Teeth; Teeth as biomonitors; Tooth - chemistry; Toxicology; Urban environment; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2009.12.003

We investigated chronic incorporation of metals in individuals from poor families, living in a small, restrict and allegedly contaminated area in São Paulo city, the surroundings of the Guarapiranga dam, responsible for water supply to 25% of the city population. A total of 59 teeth from individuals 7 to 60 years old were collected. The average concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni and Cr were determined with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The concentrations of all metals as function of the individuals' age exhibited a remarkable similarity: peaks between 7 and 10 years and sharply decreasing at higher ages, which could be attributed to alimentary habits and persistence to metals exposure all along the individuals' life span. From all the measured metals, lead and cadmium were a matter of much more concern since their measured values are close to the upper limits of the world wide averages.