 |
| (c) Josep Renalias |
The aim of this survey was to use scalp hair as a
biomonitor to evaluate the environmental exposure to metals and
metalloids of schoolchildren living around the Mt. Etna area, and to
verify whether the degree of human exposure to trace elements is subject
to changes in local environmental factors.
Twenty
trace elements were determined in 376 samples of scalp hair from
schoolboys (11–13 years old) of both genders, living in ten towns
located around the volcanic area of Mt. Etna (Sicily). The results were
compared with those (215 samples) from children living in areas of
Sicily characterized by a different geological setting (reference site).
As, U and V showed much higher concentrations at the volcanic site
whereas Sr was particularly more abundant at the reference site. Linear
Discriminant Analysis (LDA) indicated an Etna factor, made up of V, U
and Mn, and a second factor, concerning the reference site,
characterized by Ni and Sr, and to a lesser extent by Mo and Cd.
Significant differences in element concentrations were also observed
among three different sectors of Mt. Etna area. Young people living in
the Mt. Etna area are naturally exposed to enhanced intakes of some
metals (V, U, Mn) and non-metals (e.g., As) than individuals of the same
age residing in other areas of Sicily, characterized by different
lithologies and not influenced by volcanic activity. The petrographic
nature of local rocks and the dispersion of the volcanic plume explain
the differences, with ingestion of water and local food as the most
probable exposure pathways.
Affiliations:
Dip. Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
D. Varrica, E. Tamburo, G. Dongarrà and F. Sposito
No comments:
Post a Comment