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Assessing Metal Exposures in a Community near a Cement Plant in the Northeast U.S

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao Dong

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Michael S. Bank

    (Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA)

  • John D. Spengler

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Center 406 West, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

Abstract

Cement production is a major source of metals and metalloids in the environment, while exposures to metals and metalloids may impact human health in the surrounding communities. We recruited 185 participants living in the vicinity of a cement plant in the northeast U.S., and measured the levels of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) in blood and Hg in hair samples from them. A questionnaire was used to assess potential sources of Hg exposure. Multivariate regressions and spatial analyses were performed to evaluate the relative importance of different routes of exposures. The metal concentrations in blood or hair samples of our study participants were comparable to the U.S. general or regional population. Smoking contributed significantly to Cd and Pb exposures, and seafood consumption contributed significantly to Hg and As exposures, while variables related to the cement plant were not significantly associated with metal concentrations. Our results suggest that our study population was not at elevated health risk due to metal exposures, and that the contribution of the cement plant to metal exposures in the surrounding community was minimal.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao Dong & Michael S. Bank & John D. Spengler, 2015. "Assessing Metal Exposures in a Community near a Cement Plant in the Northeast U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:1:p:952-969:d:44859
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deborah C. Rice & Rita Schoeny & Kate Mahaffey, 2003. "Methods and Rationale for Derivation of a Reference Dose for Methylmercury by the U.S. EPA," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(1), pages 107-115, February.
    2. Patricia A. Richter & Ellen E. Bishop & Jiantong Wang & Monica H. Swahn, 2009. "Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Levels of Urinary Metals in the U.S. Youth and Adult Population: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-17, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Keith Schofield, 2017. "The Metal Neurotoxins: An Important Role in Current Human Neural Epidemics?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Griffiths, Steve & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Foley, Aoife M. & Bazilian, Morgan D. & Kim, Jinsoo & Uratani, Joao M., 2023. "Decarbonizing the cement and concrete industry: A systematic review of socio-technical systems, technological innovations, and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    3. Hang Zhou & Wen-Tao Yang & Xin Zhou & Li Liu & Jiao-Feng Gu & Wen-Lei Wang & Jia-Ling Zou & Tao Tian & Pei-Qin Peng & Bo-Han Liao, 2016. "Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Vegetable Species Planted in Contaminated Soils and the Health Risk Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, March.

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