Exposure assessment of persistent organic pollutants and metals in Mexican children

Environmental policies in Mexico have contributed to the reduction in the production or use of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals. How ever, monitoring of POPs concentrations in humans living in hot spots is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to con duct a screening for POPs and metals first in Mexican children living in high-risk areas. During the year 2004, we analyzed a total of 229 healthy children (aged 6-12 years old) who resided in communi ties located in nine Mexican states. Organochlorine insecticides, PCBs and metals were quantified in plasma and urine samples. We detected p'p-DDE in all the children; more over, p'p-DDT, lindane and hexa chloro benzene were detected respectively in 14%, 85% and 10% of the children studied. Mea sur able levels of PCBs were recorded in only one community, where six of 14 PCB congeners assayed were detected (numbers 52, 118, 138, 153, 170 and 180). All the children had detect able levels of lead in their blood (mean level, 4.6 mu g dL(-1)); further more, 57% of the children studied had levels higher than 5.0 mu g/dL. The mean level of urinary arsenic (UAs) for all the children was 22.35 mu g g(-1) creatinine and 15% of those children had concentrations of UAs above 50 mu g g(-1) creatinine. For cadmium, the mean urinary level was 0.78 mu g g(-1) creatinine, and only one percent of the children had values above 2.0 mu g g(-1) creatinine. The results can not be generalized since the communi ties selected are not representative of the Mexican population; how ever, they indicate that Mexican children are exposed to chemicals and some at risk levels. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.