title: Trace metal concentrations measured in blood and urine of adolescents in Flanders, Belgium: reference population and case studies Genk-Zuid and Menen.
abstract: In the Flemish human biomonitoring programme FLEHS II (2007-2011) trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Tl, Sb, As and toxic relevant arsenic) were analysed in the blood and urine of adolescents (14-15 years old) in the reference population in Flanders and in areas of important industrial activities: Genk-Zuid and Menen. After adjustment of the results for confounding factors, the adolescents living in Genk-Zuid had higher levels of Cr, Cu and Tl in blood, higher levels of Cd and toxic relevant arsenic (TRA) in urine, but lower levels of Ni in blood and Sb in urine compared to the reference population. In Menen higher levels of Cd and Cu in urine, higher concentrations of Tl in blood but lower concentrations of Pb in blood and lower Ni, Sb and As in urine were found compared to the reference population. For both the reference population and the hot spots the concentrations are within the ranges found in other countries. Compared to the previous biomonitoring programme FLEHS I (2002-2006) a decrease in the concentrations of Cd and especially of Pb in blood was observed. However, it cannot be excluded that differences between the two campaigns are partially due to different sampling strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: jvrijens@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrijens
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leermakers
authors.affiliation: Algemeen Medisch Labo (AML), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stalpaert
authors.affiliation: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schoeters
authors.affiliation: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Den Hond
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruckers
authors.affiliation: Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colles
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene (PIH), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene (PIH), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Den Mieroop
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Larebeke
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Loots
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baeyens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: FLEHS; Genk-Zuid; Human biomonitoring; Menen; Reference values; Trace elements