Results of the first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia : Trace elements in men and lactating women, predictors of exposure and reference values
(2019) In International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 222(3). p.563-582- Abstract
The first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia surveyed cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a childbearing population (18–49 years) selected from lactating primiparous women and men (N = 1084). The overall aim was to estimate trace elements' levels and geographical variations in order to identify sources of possible exposures and set the national reference values. The study population was selected evenly from 12 study areas across Slovenia, including rural, urban and known or potentially contaminated environments. Within 6–8 weeks after delivery, venous blood, spot urine, scalp hair and breast milk samples were collected to determine the selected elements.... (More)
The first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia surveyed cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a childbearing population (18–49 years) selected from lactating primiparous women and men (N = 1084). The overall aim was to estimate trace elements' levels and geographical variations in order to identify sources of possible exposures and set the national reference values. The study population was selected evenly from 12 study areas across Slovenia, including rural, urban and known or potentially contaminated environments. Within 6–8 weeks after delivery, venous blood, spot urine, scalp hair and breast milk samples were collected to determine the selected elements. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression using elemental concentrations in biological matrices, questionnaire data and environmental datasets. Essential elements showed no significant deficiencies or excessive levels in the study population and were largely determined by sex and/or the participating women's physiological status (postpartum, lactation), as well as by certain dietary sources. Toxic elements' levels were mainly below the levels considered to present increased health risk. Lifestyle and nutritional habits appeared as significant determinants of exposure to Cd (smoking and game meat consumption), Hg (seafood and amalgam fillings), As (seafood) and Pb (alcohol consumption, smoking, game meat consumption and type of water supply). A distinctive geographical pattern was confirmed, due to past mining activities combined with naturally elevated background levels in the cases of Pb (Mežica Valley), Hg (Idrija and Posočje) and As exposure (Zasavje). Increased seafood consumption in the coastal study area contributed to higher Hg and As (arsenobetaine) levels. Extensive sample size database accompanied with life-style and environmental data improved the prediction of exposure patterns, set the reference values for the childbearing population living in Slovenia, and provided a strong basis for evaluating spatial and temporal trends in exposure. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to establish reference values for lactating primiparous women.
(Less)
- author
- publishing date
- 2019-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Lactating primiparous women, Men, National human biomonitoring, Reference values, Slovenia, Trace elements
- in
- International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
- volume
- 222
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 563 - 582
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85062811910
- pmid:30878540
- ISSN
- 1438-4639
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.02.008
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2019 The Authors
- id
- 244e5323-d420-4455-ae55-f757c70908c0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-02-21 21:47:55
- date last changed
- 2025-07-12 20:23:53
@article{244e5323-d420-4455-ae55-f757c70908c0,
abstract = {{<p>The first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia surveyed cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a childbearing population (18–49 years) selected from lactating primiparous women and men (N = 1084). The overall aim was to estimate trace elements' levels and geographical variations in order to identify sources of possible exposures and set the national reference values. The study population was selected evenly from 12 study areas across Slovenia, including rural, urban and known or potentially contaminated environments. Within 6–8 weeks after delivery, venous blood, spot urine, scalp hair and breast milk samples were collected to determine the selected elements. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression using elemental concentrations in biological matrices, questionnaire data and environmental datasets. Essential elements showed no significant deficiencies or excessive levels in the study population and were largely determined by sex and/or the participating women's physiological status (postpartum, lactation), as well as by certain dietary sources. Toxic elements' levels were mainly below the levels considered to present increased health risk. Lifestyle and nutritional habits appeared as significant determinants of exposure to Cd (smoking and game meat consumption), Hg (seafood and amalgam fillings), As (seafood) and Pb (alcohol consumption, smoking, game meat consumption and type of water supply). A distinctive geographical pattern was confirmed, due to past mining activities combined with naturally elevated background levels in the cases of Pb (Mežica Valley), Hg (Idrija and Posočje) and As exposure (Zasavje). Increased seafood consumption in the coastal study area contributed to higher Hg and As (arsenobetaine) levels. Extensive sample size database accompanied with life-style and environmental data improved the prediction of exposure patterns, set the reference values for the childbearing population living in Slovenia, and provided a strong basis for evaluating spatial and temporal trends in exposure. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to establish reference values for lactating primiparous women.</p>}},
author = {{Snoj Tratnik, Janja and Falnoga, Ingrid and Mazej, Darja and Kocman, David and Fajon, Vesna and Jagodic, Marta and Stajnko, Anja and Trdin, Ajda and Šlejkovec, Zdenka and Jeran, Zvonka and Osredkar, Joško and Sešek-Briški, Alenka and Krsnik, Mladen and Kobal, Alfred B. and Kononenko, Lijana and Horvat, Milena}},
issn = {{1438-4639}},
keywords = {{Lactating primiparous women; Men; National human biomonitoring; Reference values; Slovenia; Trace elements}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{563--582}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health}},
title = {{Results of the first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia : Trace elements in men and lactating women, predictors of exposure and reference values}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.02.008}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.02.008}},
volume = {{222}},
year = {{2019}},
}