RESUMEN
A population of 232 children living in urban, peripheral and rural areas of southern Poland was included in the study. Household drinking water was collected twice a day, early in the morning and in the evening. The lead (Pb) concentration was estimated by a graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) method. The geometric mean of Pb concentration in drinking water in 2000 for evening samples was 0.68, 1.24 and 2.28 microg x l(-1) for urban, peripheral and rural areas, respectively, while for morning samples it was 1.42, 2.16 and 2.97 microg x l(-1). These areas differed significantly (p < 0.05) and odds ratio for peripheral versus urban areas was 1.6. The difference of Pb concentrations in the morning and evening water was significant (p < 0.001). The mean ratio was 1.8 and the median difference 0.8 microg x l(-1). The predicted contribution of drinking water to the Pb intake by 6-year-old children living in urban, peripheral and rural areas was 1.2, 2.0 and 5.6% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) respectively. For the 4.3-11.1% of children, the Pb concentration in water > 10 microg x l(-1) and in these cases the predicted Pb intake with drinking water contributed to PTWI by 22.3-30.0%. The simple test introduced in this study, the analysis of morning and evening water samples, proved that contamination of water in the plumbing is significant and common. The above parameters can be applied to routine quality control of drinking water performed in the households. The in-house water contamination should be considered as a factor in public health protection programmes with special attention to children.
Asunto(s)
Plomo/análisis , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Abastecimiento de Agua , Análisis de Varianza , Niño , Ingestión de Líquidos , Humanos , Polonia , Población Rural , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
Dietary fibers, major phenolics, main minerals, and trace elements in persimmons and apples were analyzed and compared in order to choose a preferable fruit for an antiatherosclerotic diet. Fluorometry and atomic absorption spectrometry following microwave digestion were optimized for the determination of major phenolics and minerals. Total, soluble, and insoluble dietary fibers, total phenols, epicatechin, gallic and p-coumaric acids, and concentrations of Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Mn in whole persimmons, their pulps, and peels were significantly higher than in whole apples, pulps, and peels (P < 0.01-0.0025). Conversely, the contents of Cu and Zn were higher in apples than in persimmons. In persimmons and apples all of the above components were higher in their peels than in whole fruits and pulps. The relatively high contents of dietary fibers, total and major phenolics, main minerals, and trace elements make persimmon preferable for an antiatherosclerotic diet.
Asunto(s)
Fibras de la Dieta/análisis , Frutas/química , Minerales/análisis , Fenol/análisis , Rosales/química , Arteriosclerosis/prevención & control , Dieta , Humanos , Oligoelementos/análisisRESUMEN
A study has been performed to identify the exposure to toxic metals and possible adverse effects in children from various rural and industrial areas in southern Poland. The population studied consisted of school children of age 7-12. The concentrations of Pb and Cd were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean Pb and Cd content in the hair of the sampled individuals was found to be 4.85 +/- 5.91 micrograms g-1 and 0.430 +/- 0.569 micrograms g-1, respectively. The hair of boys (particularly those living in the areas of greater industrial contamination) exhibited statistically significant higher levels of Pb and Cd than the hair of girls from the same area. No relationship was revealed between metal content and either anthropometric indices (weight : height ratio or height : age ratio) or educational achievements.