Changing blood lead levels and DNA damage (comet assay) among immigrant women in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
International marriage has had a rapid growth in recent years in Taiwan. However, little is known about the blood lead levels and DNA damage levels among immigrant women from resource-limited countries.


OBJECTIVE
This study (a) explored differences between immigrant women and native women in demographic characteristics, blood lead levels, and DNA damage levels, and (b) identified risk factors that are associated with blood lead concentrations and DNA damage levels after immigration.


METHODS
We used a structured questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic status from (a) 71 immigrant women who had resettled in 2006 in Taichung, Taiwan and (b) 83 native women who live in the same area. Each study participant provided blood samples for lead and metal measurements, complete blood count examination, and the comet assay to measure degree of DNA damage.


RESULTS
Immigrant women had higher mean blood lead concentration (2.23+/-1.63 vs. 1.63+/-1.00 microg/dl; p=0.04) and lower mean blood zinc level (6.22+/-2.22 vs. 6.89+/-2.44 mg/l; p=0.07) than native women. Resettlement time was a determinant to decrease blood lead and DNA damage levels among immigrants in Taiwan. Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant association between blood lead level and DNA damage, while zinc had a protective effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health agencies should focus on primary prevention and providing screening programs for this vulnerable population. An immigrant women's cohort should been established to follow-up and improve for elevated lead exposure families.
Wu
Wei-Te
WT
Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liou
Saou-Hsing
SH
Lin
Kuo-Juei
KJ
Liu
Tsu-En
TE
Liu
Shu-Hui
SH
Chen
Chiu-Ying
CY
Sung
Fung-Chang
FC
Wu
Trong-Neng
TN
D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013624:Taiwan
D007854:Lead