Trace element level in infant hair and diet, and in the local environment of the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
A sample of 573 infants (aged 0 to 12 months) from the Moroccan city of Marrakech was studied in order to determine the level of Pb and Al contaminations. Mean values of Pb and Al in children's hair were 6.6 and 9.5 microg/l, respectively. Age, gender, and parents' occupation influenced significantly Pb content but not Al content. Larger mean values were measured for Al compared with Pb. This finding can be explained by a higher level of Al available in both the infant diet (complementary feeding) and the local environmental factors (soil and drinking water). During weaning, beverages like tea, widely used in Morocco, represent an important source of Pb and Al contamination. Al content in drinking water is above the international standard.
Souad
Chadrame
C
Laboratory of 'Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Marrakesh, Morocco.
Farida
Zaida
Z
Nadra
Lekouch
L
François
Bureau
B
Bougle
Dominique
D
Azeddine
Sedki
S
D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis*; D002947:Cities; D004032:Diet; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D009018:Morocco; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D007854:Lead; D000535:Aluminum