Urinary levels of metallothioneins and metals in subjects from a semiindustrialized area in Tarragona Province of Spain

The monitoring of heavy metals is important if adverse effects on health are to be avoided. In humans, metallothionein (MT) has been used as a biomonitor for the assessment of cadmium (Cd). In the present study, subjects drawn from the population of Tarragona Province (NE Spain) were investigated. U...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological trace element research 1998-08, Vol.63 (2), p.113-121
Main Authors: Folch, J, Ortega, A, Cabré, M, Paternáin, J L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age
Age Factors
Age groups
Aged
Cadmium
Child
Copper
Copper - urine
Creatine
Creatinine
Female
Females
Heavy metals
Humans
Indicator organisms
Industry
Male
Males
Metallothionein
Metallothionein - urine
Metallothioneins
Metals
Middle Aged
Minerals
Sex Factors
Side effects
Spain
Urinalysis
Zinc
Zinc - urine
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Summary:The monitoring of heavy metals is important if adverse effects on health are to be avoided. In humans, metallothionein (MT) has been used as a biomonitor for the assessment of cadmium (Cd). In the present study, subjects drawn from the population of Tarragona Province (NE Spain) were investigated. Urinary MT, zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations, corrected for creatine concentrations, were determined in 625 samples from healthy subjects aged between 10 and 65 yr. Mean values of MT and Cu in females were higher than those in males, with levels of 29.5 (23.8) vs. 22.7 (24.9) micrograms MT/creatinine (p < 0.001) and 4.8 (6.1) vs 3.4 (4.9) micrograms Cu/g creatinine (p < 0.001). No differences between males and females were observed with respect to urinary Zn: 78.0 (66.4) vs 73.0 (85.5) micrograms/g creatinine, respectively (p = 0.332). Significantly higher MT, Zn, and Cu values were observed in the females aged 15-19 yr and, in the age group of 50-54 yr, only in the Zn and Cu values, when compared with those in males. Significant positive correlations of MT vs Zn and Cu as well as correlations of Zn vs Cu levels were observed in both genders. The present findings confirm the proposed role of MT as a biomonitor of mineral status.
ISSN:0163-4984
1559-0720
DOI:10.1007/BF02778870