Exploring Heavy Metal and Metalloid Exposure in Children: A Pilot Biomonitoring Study near a Sugarcane Mill
Oliver Mendoza-Cano,
Agustin Lugo-Radillo,
Mónica Ríos-Silva,
Irma Elizabeth Gonzalez-Curiel,
Jaime Alberto Bricio-Barrios,
Arlette A. Camacho-delaCruz,
María Fernanda Romo-García,
Herguin Benjamín Cuevas-Arellano,
Ana Luz Quintanilla-Montoya,
Ramón Solano-Barajas,
Juan Manuel Uribe-Ramos,
Luis A. García-Solórzano,
Ángel Gabriel Hilerio-López,
Alma Alejandra Solano-Mendoza,
Rogelio Danis-Romero,
Efrén Murillo-Zamora
Affiliations
Oliver Mendoza-Cano
Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán km 9, Col. Jardines del Llano, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico
Agustin Lugo-Radillo
CONAHCyT-Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Ex Hacienda Aguilera S/N, Carr. a San Felipe del Agua, Oaxaca 68020, Mexico
Mónica Ríos-Silva
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad 333, Col. Las Víboras, Colima 28040, Mexico
Irma Elizabeth Gonzalez-Curiel
Laboratorio de Inmunotoxicología, Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus UAZ siglo XXI, Carretera Zacatecas-Guadalajara km 6, Col. Ejido La Escondida, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Jaime Alberto Bricio-Barrios
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad 333, Col. Las Víboras, Colima 28040, Mexico
Arlette A. Camacho-delaCruz
Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán km 9, Col. Jardines del Llano, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico
María Fernanda Romo-García
Laboratorio de Inmunotoxicología, Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus UAZ siglo XXI, Carretera Zacatecas-Guadalajara km 6, Col. Ejido La Escondida, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Herguin Benjamín Cuevas-Arellano
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Colima, Bernal Díaz del Castillo No. 340, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Mexico
Ana Luz Quintanilla-Montoya
Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán km 9, Col. Jardines del Llano, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico
Ramón Solano-Barajas
Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán km 9, Col. Jardines del Llano, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico
Juan Manuel Uribe-Ramos
Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Colima-Coquimatlán km 9, Col. Jardines del Llano, Coquimatlán 28400, Mexico
Luis A. García-Solórzano
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Campus Colima, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, Villa de Álvarez 28976, Mexico
Ángel Gabriel Hilerio-López
Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad 333, Colima 28040, Mexico
Alma Alejandra Solano-Mendoza
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Juan I. Menchaca”, Universidad de Guadalajara, Salvador Quevedo y Zubieta 750, Col. Independencia Oriente, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
Rogelio Danis-Romero
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital General Regional No. 1, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Av. 5 de Febrero 102, Col. Centro, Santiago de Querétaro 76000, Mexico
Efrén Murillo-Zamora
Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Av. Lapislázuli 250, Col. El Haya, Villa de Álvarez 28984, Mexico
Sugarcane production has been linked to the release of heavy metals and metalloids (HM/MTs) into the environment, raising concerns about potential health risks. This study aimed to assess the levels of 19 HM/MTs in children living near a sugarcane mill through a pilot biomonitoring investigation. We investigated sex-related differences in these element levels and their correlations. A cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing data from 20 children in the latter part of 2023. Spearman correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the relationships between urinary HM/MT levels. Detectable levels of 17 out of the 19 HM/MTs were found across the entire study sample, with arsenic and copper detectable in 95% of the children. Titanium exhibited higher levels in boys compared to girls (p = 0.017). We identified 56 statistically significant correlations, with 51 of them being positive, while the remaining coefficients indicated negative relationships. This study characterized HM/MT levels in school-aged children residing near a sugarcane mill through a pilot biomonitoring investigation. Further research employing larger sample sizes and longitudinal assessments would enhance our understanding of the dynamics and health impacts of HM/MT exposure in this vulnerable population.
