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Evaluation of Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Children with Learning Disabilities from a Rural Area of Southern Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina Nunes do Nascimento

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPGCF), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

  • Mariele Feiffer Charão

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPGCF), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

  • Angela Maria Moro

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil
    Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS 95070560, Brazil)

  • Miguel Roehrs

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

  • Clovis Paniz

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

  • Marília Baierle

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPGCF), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

  • Natália Brucker

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil
    Department of Clinical and Toxicology Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97119900, Brazil)

  • Adriana Gioda

    (Department of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22451900, Brazil)

  • Fernando Barbosa

    (Laboratory of Toxicology and Essentiality of Metals, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040903, Brazil)

  • Denise Bohrer

    (Chemistry Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105900, Brazil)

  • Daiana Silva Ávila

    (Post-Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS 97500970, Brazil)

  • Solange Cristina Garcia

    (Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90610000, Brazil)

Abstract

Children’s exposure to metals can result in adverse effects such as cognitive function impairments. This study aimed to evaluate some toxic metals and levels of essential trace elements in blood, hair, and drinking water in children from a rural area of Southern Brazil. Cognitive ability and δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) activity were evaluated. Oxidative stress was evaluated as a main mechanism of metal toxicity, through the quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. This study included 20 children from a rural area and 20 children from an urban area. Our findings demonstrated increase in blood lead (Pb) levels (BLLs). Also, increased levels of nickel (Ni) in blood and increase of aluminum (Al) levels in hair and drinking water in rural children were found. Deficiency in selenium (Se) levels was observed in rural children as well. Rural children with visual-motor immaturity presented Pb levels in hair significantly increased in relation to rural children without visual-motor immaturity ( p < 0.05). Negative correlations between BLLs and ALA-D activity and positive correlations between BLLs and ALA-RE activity were observed. MDA was significantly higher in rural compared to urban children ( p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that rural children were co-exposed to toxic metals, especially Al, Pb and Ni. Moreover, a slight deficiency of Se was observed. Low performance on cognitive ability tests and ALA-D inhibition can be related to metal exposure in rural children. Oxidative stress was suggested as a main toxicological mechanism involved in metal exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina Nunes do Nascimento & Mariele Feiffer Charão & Angela Maria Moro & Miguel Roehrs & Clovis Paniz & Marília Baierle & Natália Brucker & Adriana Gioda & Fernando Barbosa & Denise Bohrer & Daiana , 2014. "Evaluation of Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Children with Learning Disabilities from a Rural Area of Southern Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:10:p:10806-10823:d:41309
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David A. Geier & Janet K. Kern & Mark R. Geier, 2017. "Blood Lead Levels and Learning Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study of the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Osmel La-Llave-León & Edna M. Méndez-Hernández & Francisco X. Castellanos-Juárez & Eloísa Esquivel-Rodríguez & Fernando Vázquez-Alaniz & Ada Sandoval-Carrillo & Gonzalo García-Vargas & Jaime Duarte-Su, 2017. "Association between Blood Lead Levels and Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase in Pregnant Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-10, April.

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