Metals in suspended particulates and urinary heavy metals among residents living near a incinerator in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Shing-Yu Liu, 劉星佑
• Other Authors: Hsien-Wen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/57635184454898470128

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 環境與職業衛生研究所 === 98 === Abstract An increase in the population and a growing economy has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of garbage produced in Taiwan, which affects people’s quality of life (QOL). Using incinerators can reduce the amount of garbage; however, incinerators produce toxic gases which contain heavy metals and dioxins. Unfortunately, these pollutants may be transmitted to humans by a variety of ways and are harmful to humans. The objective of this study is to measure levels of heavy metals in the air and urine in residents living near an incinerator and study the relationship between exposure to heavy metals and respiratory problems. The exposure group was composed of 86 schoolchildren and 66 parents who live near an incinerator, and the control group was composed of 50 schoolchildren and 66 parents who do not live near an incinerator. Each participant filled out a questionnaire, and we collected morning urine samples one time from each person. Using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we analyzed heavy metals contained in air particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Se, Zn) and heavy metals contained in the urine samples (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Cu, Pb, Ni, Se, Zn). The results showed that air PM10 near the incinerator contained a high concentration of heavy metals, but air PM2.5 contained a low concentration of heavy metals. Urine samples collected from schoolchildren and adults in the exposure group showed a high concentration of Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn in schoolchildren and a high concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb in adults. Using logistic regression adjusted for covariates, we found that urinary Cd levels in schoolchildren and adults in the exposure group were respectively 1.38 and 2.86 times higher than reference values from the general population in the US based on NHANES III study. In addition, urinary Pb levels in adults in the exposure group were 3.51 times higher than reference values. Furthermore, urinary metal levels in the schoolchildren were classified into three groups, which significantly correlated with respiratory symptoms (p=0.014). Although the urinary metal levels in residents living near an incinerator were high, further research is needed to investigate the causality of high urinary metals in people living near an incinerator. Because our findings also showed high urinary levels of As and Zn in schoolchildren, air near the incinerator should be periodically monitored in order to reduce toxins produced by the incinerator.