title: Biomonitoring of 20 elements in urine of children. Levels and predictors of exposure.
abstract: The levels of 20 elements in the urine of one hundred twenty children (Ages 6-11) from an agricultural and an urban area of Valencia Region, Spain, were assessed. The seven essential elements analysed (Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, V, Zn) presented average concentrations (geometric mean) ranging from 0.22 µg L(-1) to 63 µg L(-1) (except Zn with 525 µg L(-1)). Eight out of the 13 toxic elements determined (As, Ba, Cd, Cs, Ni, Pb, Tl, Hg) had frequencies of detection of 100%, with geometric mean concentrations from 0.17 µg L(-1) (Cd) to 33.6 µg L(-1) (As). About 18% of children revealed urinary levels of total As higher than the normal range of 100 µg L(-1) accepted by the ATSDR. The urine analysis was combined with a survey to evaluate variations between subgroups and potential predictors of metal exposure in children population. For socio-demographic variables, age was the main exposure determinant for the majority of selected elements (p < 0.05-0.001), with higher concentrations in younger children (6-8 years). Significant differences were also obtained between the rural and urban area studied for As, Co, Cs, Se, U and Hg, with higher levels in children living in the urban area. In relation to diet, statistically significant higher levels of Hg (p < 0.01, median = 1 µg g(-1) creatinine) and Se (p < 0.05, median = 60.3 µg g(-1) creatinine) were obtained for children with elevated fish consumption, and lower levels of Cd, Ni, Se and V were found (p < 0.05-0.01) in children with high consumption of dairy products.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public, Health, Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Valencia, 21 Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public, Health, Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Alicante, Plaza España 6, 03010, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public, Health, Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Valencia, 21 Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public, Health, Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Valencia, 21 Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Valencia, 50 Doctor Moliner, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public, Health, Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Valencia, 21 Avenida Catalunya, 46020, Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Public Health of Alicante, Plaza España 6, 03010, Alicante, Spain; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Valencia, 50 Doctor Moliner, 46100, Burjassot, Spain. Electronic address: yusa_vic@gva.es.
authors.forename: Vicent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yusà
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000652:urine*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000652:urine*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D003404:Creatinine; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Biomonitoring; Children; Elements; Urine