Environmental exposure to POPs and heavy metals in urban children from Dhaka, Bangladesh

• DOI: 10.1039/c1em10480b
• Publication Date: 2011-08-25T12:09:33Z
• Authors: Linda Linderholm; Kristina Jakobsson; Thomas Lundh; Rausan Zamir; Mohammad Shoeb; Nilufar Nahar; Åke Bergman
• Keywords: Male; Bangladesh; Adolescent; 1. No poverty; Environmental Exposure; 01 natural sciences; 3. Good health; 12. Responsible consumption; 13. Climate action; Metals, Heavy; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Cities; Organic Chemicals; Child; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals are well known environmental pollutants. Even though numerous studies have been carried out to assess human exposures these compounds, there is still a lack of data on humans from developing countries, especially in underprivileged children. The objective this study was the exposure POPs children Dhaka, Bangladesh. One specific aim investigate whether working at, or living close to, open waste disposal sites (WDSs) were more heavily exposed than other urban In 2008, blood serum collected 73 aged 7–16 five neighbourhoods. Some lived worked at WDSs (N = 31), others next WDS 17), whereas some far such 25). Blood levels lead (B-Pb), cadmium (B-Cd), selenium (B-Se) determined by ICP-MS for all subjects. metal high, with B-Pb overall mean 120 μg L−1 (range 40–220), B-Cd 0.74 (0.22–4.1), B-Se (81–170). There no marked differences between different neighbourhoods, workers PCB low contrast CB-153 7.0 ng g−1 fat (2.8–51). contrast, high DDTs observed children, 4,4′-DDE 1300 (420–4600), 4,4′-DDT 326 (44–1400), indicating ongoing exposure. PBDE low, BDE-209 quantitated mainly WDSs. conclusion, DDTs, Dhaka concern. Many where health effects observed, without safety margins.