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Element Levels and Predictors of Exposure in the Hair of Ethiopian Children

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  • Maria Luisa Astolfi

    (Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Georgios Pietris

    (Department of General Surgery, Thoracic Diseases General Hospital Sotiria of Athens, Mesogion 152, 115 27 Athens, Greece)

  • Corrado Mazzei

    (Canon Toshiba Medical Systems s.r.l., Via Canton 115, I-00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Marconi

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Silvia Canepari

    (Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Children’s development and health may be affected by toxic heavy metal exposure or suboptimal essential element intake. This study aimed to provide updated information regarding the concentrations of 41 elements in children’s hair (aged under 18) living in a rural area of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia. The highest average levels (as a geometric mean) for toxic heavy metals were obtained for Al (1 mg kg −1 ), Pb (3.1 mg kg −1 ), and Ni (1.2 mg kg −1 ), while the lowest concentrations among the essential elements were found for Co (0.32 mg kg −1 ), Mo (0.07 mg kg −1 ), Se (0.19 mg kg −1 ), and V (0.8 mg kg −1 ). Hair analysis was combined with a survey to evaluate relationships and variations among subgroups and potential metal exposure predictors. Females showed significantly higher concentrations for most hair elements, excluding Zn, than males, and the 6–11 years age group reported the highest levels for Be, Ce, Co, Fe, La, Li, Mo, and Na. The main predictors of exposure to toxic elements were fish consumption for Hg and drinking water for Ba, Be, Cs, Li, Ni, Tl, and U. The data from this study can be used to develop prevention strategies for children’s health and protection in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Luisa Astolfi & Georgios Pietris & Corrado Mazzei & Elisabetta Marconi & Silvia Canepari, 2020. "Element Levels and Predictors of Exposure in the Hair of Ethiopian Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8652-:d:448771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Flavia Ruggieri & Costanza Majorani & Francesco Domanico & Alessandro Alimonti, 2017. "Mercury in Children: Current State on Exposure through Human Biomonitoring Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-27, May.
    2. Maria Luisa Astolfi & Carmela Protano & Elisabetta Marconi & Lorenzo Massimi & Daniel Piamonti & Marco Brunori & Matteo Vitali & Silvia Canepari, 2020. "Biomonitoring of Mercury in Hair among a Group of Eritreans (Africa)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Fitsum Zewdu Mulugeta_, 2012. "Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Childhood Mortality in Ethiopia: an Instrumental Variable Approach," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 20(2), December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Luisa Astolfi & Matteo Vitali & Elisabetta Marconi & Stefano Martellucci & Vincenzo Mattei & Silvia Canepari & Carmela Protano, 2020. "Urinary Mercury Levels and Predictors of Exposure among a Group of Italian Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.

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