title: Changing blood lead levels and oxidative stress with duration of residence among Taiwan immigrants.
abstract: Immigrants lack appropriate health care access and other resources needed to reduce their exposure to preventable environmental health risks. Little is known about the impact of lead exposure and oxidative stress among immigrants. Thus, this study was to examine the differences between the blood lead levels (BLLs) and oxidative stress levels of immigrants and non-immigrants, and to investigate the determinants of increased BLLs or oxidative stress levels among immigrants. We collected demographic data of 239 immigrant women and 189 non-immigrant women who resettled in the central area of Taiwan. Each study participant provided blood samples for genotyping and for measuring blood metal levels and oxidative stress. Recent immigrants were at risk for elevated BLLs. Decreased BLLs, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased blood selenium levels were significantly associated with duration of residence in Taiwan. Elevated BLLs and MDA in recent immigrants may serve as a warning sign for the health care system. The nation's health will benefit from improved regulation of living environments, thereby improving the health of immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Te
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chin-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chen-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tsung-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Yuh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Saou-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Trong-Neng
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D012643:Selenium
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