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Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead levels in hair and urine in first-year RUDN University students of different geographic origins

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 27, pages 34348–34356 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the markers of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead exposure in first-year RUDN University students of different geographic origins. A total of 274 first-year students of the RUDN University originating from Russia (n = 65), Asia (n = 57), Middle East (n = 84), Africa (n = 40), and Latin America (n = 28) were enrolled in the present study. Evaluation of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb levels in urine and hair was performed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The obtained data demonstrate that hair As levels in foreign students exceed that in Russian examinees. The highest Cd and Pb levels were detected in subjects from Africa and Latin America, whereas hair Hg content was significantly higher in Latin America students. Urinary Cd levels in foreign students exceeded those in Russian counterparts. In turn, the highest Hg concentration in urine was revealed in students originating from Middle East and especially Latin America. Urinary Pb levels were found to be the highest in students from Africa. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that Asian, African, and Latin American origins were considered as a significant predictor of hair Hg content. Higher urinary Hg levels were associated with Asia, Middle East, and Latin American origins. Prior habitation in Africa and Asia was considered as predictor of higher hair Pb and urinary Cd levels. The observed difference may be indicative of geographic difference in toxic metal exposure patterns.

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Acknowledgments

The publication was prepared with the support of the “RUDN University Program 5-100.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia, 117198

    Anatoly A. Kirichuk, Andrey A. Skalny, Alexey A. Tinkov & Anatoly V. Skalny

  2. Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia, 150003

    Alexander I. Rusakov & Alexey A. Tinkov

  3. IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia, 119146

    Alexey A. Tinkov & Anatoly V. Skalny

  4. Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agro-technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia, 460000

    Anatoly V. Skalny

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  1. Anatoly A. Kirichuk
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  2. Andrey A. Skalny
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  3. Alexander I. Rusakov
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  4. Alexey A. Tinkov
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  5. Anatoly V. Skalny
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Correspondence to Anatoly V. Skalny.

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The protocol of the study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the RUDN University (Moscow, Russia). All procedures including sampling and examination were performed in agreement with the principles set in the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments (2013). All examinees were invited to participate and took part in the present study on a voluntary basis. All subjects were informed about the objectives of the study and experimental procedures and signed the informed consent form.

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Kirichuk, A.A., Skalny, A.A., Rusakov, A.I. et al. Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead levels in hair and urine in first-year RUDN University students of different geographic origins. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 34348–34356 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09683-3

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