Exposure Assessment to Environmental Chemicals in Children from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

It has been demonstrated that the human biomonitoring of susceptible populations is a valuable method for the identification of critical contaminants. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the exposure profile for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in children living in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico (a major manufacturing center in Mexico). In 2012, we evaluated a total of 135 healthy children living in Ciudad Juarez since birth. The total PBDEs levels ranged from nondetectable (< LOD) to 215 ng/g lipid, with a mean total PBDEs level of 29.5 +/- A 53.0 ng/g lipid (geometric mean +/- A standard deviation). The mean total PCBs level in the study participants was 29.0 +/- A 10.5 ng/g lipid (range 4.50-50.0 ng/g lipid). The mean concentration of total DDT (DDT + DDE) was 11.9 +/- A 6.70 ng/g lipid (range 3.00-26.0 ng/g lipid). The mean 1-OHP levels was 1.2 +/- A 1.1 A mu mol/mol creatinine (range < LOD to 3.90 A mu mol/mol creatinine). Regarding heavy metals levels, the mean urinary As levels was 19.5 +/- A 3.07 A mu g/g creatinine, for urinary mercury the levels ranged from < LOD to 11.5 A mu g/L, with a mean value of 2.10 A mu g/L, and finally, the mean blood lead level was 4.20 +/- A 3.80 A mu g/dL. In conclusion, our data indicate high exposure levels to chemicals analyzed in the children living in the study community. Therefore, a biomonitoring program for the surveillance of the child population in Ciudad Juarez is necessary.