Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3-4
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-4-30
pubmed:abstractText
The use of biomarkers is now an accepted measure of chemical uptake (possibly exposure) in risk assessment. However, information on background exposures and biomarker concentrations of many environmental chemicals in the general UK population is limited. This study aims to determine reference ranges for eleven biomarkers of chemical exposure, measurable in urine, within the general adult UK population. The study will involve 400 volunteers throughout the UK and is currently underway. Described here is a pilot study, carried out during August and September 2005 to test the study methodology. The initial results of the postal survey and urinary concentrations for cadmium (UCd) and mercury (UHg) are reported. A total of 78 individuals were recruited by post from the UK Electoral Register, to take part in the pilot study. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire and provide a urine sample. The overall response rate was 16%, of which 60.3% were female and 39.7% male. Those living in suburban areas accounted for 60% of respondents, current smokers 12.8% and vegetarians 1.3%. Levels of UCd were higher in females compared to males and smoking status influenced levels; smokers displayed higher levels of UCd than individuals who had previously smoked or who had never smoked. The mean, median and range of UHg was 1.12, 0.55 (<limit of detection (LD)-13.46) microg/g creatinine, respectively. This pilot study shows that postal sampling may be a useful and cost effective method for carrying out biomonitoring studies using urine as the matrix.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
1438-4639
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
210
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
387-91
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Adolescent, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Aged, 80 and over, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Biological Markers, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Cadmium, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Environmental Exposure, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Environmental Monitoring, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Female, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Great Britain, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Health Surveys, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Male, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Mercury, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Pilot Projects, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Postal Service, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Reference Values, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Risk Assessment, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Sex Factors, pubmed-meshheading:17337355-Smoking
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Background levels of key biomarkers of chemical exposure within the UK general population--pilot study.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Environment and Health, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedford, MK45 4DT, UK. Len.Levy@cranfield.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't