title: Metals exposures of residents living near the Akaki River in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Akaki River in Ethiopia has been found to contain elevated levels of several metals. Our objectives were to characterize metals exposures of residents living near the Akaki River and to assess metal levels in their drinking water.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 101 households in Akaki-Kality subcity (near the Akaki River) and 50 households in Yeka subcity (distant to the Akaki River). One willing adult in each household provided urine, blood, and drinking water sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary molybdenum (p < 0.001), tungsten (p < 0.001), lead (p < 0.001), uranium (p < 0.001), and mercury (p = 0.049) were higher in Akaki-Kality participants compared to Yeka participants. Participants in both subcities had low urinary iodine; 45% met the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for being at risk of moderate iodine deficiency. In Yeka, 47% of households exceeded the WHO aesthetic-based reference value for manganese; in Akaki-Kality, only 2% of households exceeded this value (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between metals levels in water samples and clinical specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the exposures found during this investigation seem unlikely to cause acute health effects based on known toxic thresholds. However, toxicity data for many of these metals are very limited.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yard
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Tesfaye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bayleyegn
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Almaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Andualem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luce
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Atlanta, GA 30345, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle Rentz
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kirubel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tesfaye
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Moa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tsigereda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Assefa
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Firehiwot
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abera
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kifle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Habte
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Feyissa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chala
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Amha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kebede
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical