Researchers from RUDN Studied the Influence of Industry on the Levels of Zinc and Copper in Human Body
RUDN researchers measured the levels of copper and zinc in soil, water, wheat, as well as in the hair of 420 residents of an industrial area and suggested a the main sources or metal exposure. The work will help make industrial zones less harmful for nature and local residents. The researchers published their work in the Environmental Researchjournal.
Zinc and copper are essential for human health, although their excess may be extremely harmful. High copper concentration is associated with liver and central nervous system dysfunctions as well as oxidative stress. Excess of zinc may lead to serious intoxication or even be lethal.
A team of scientists from RUDN University and Yaroslavl State University in collaboration with their colleagues from Orenburg State University under the supervision of Professor Anatoly Skalny carried out research in Orenburg Region (South Ural, at the border between Russia and Kazakhstan). This region has over 80 metal deposits, and a quarter of its economically active residents work in the industry. The eastern part of the area is rich with the main non-ferrous metal plants that account for about 30% of all industrial production in the region. Central and western parts of the area are dominated by oil and gas industry and contain approximately 200 oil and gas deposits.
In order to assess the level of contamination and determine its sources, the scientists took 15 samples of drinking water, soil, wheat, and hair of 420 adults in each of 35 districts of the Orenburg region. The samples were studied using atomic absorption spectrometry (water, soil, wheat) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (hair). The highest levels of zinc and copper in water, soil, and grain were found in the eastern part of the area. The level of zinc in the hair of western and eastern residents exceeds the value of the same parameter in the center of the area by 32% and 61% respectively, and the level of copper - by 10-20%. RUDN scientists found out that statistically significant correlation between the level of the metal in the environment and human body is observed only for zinc.
"High levels of zinc and copper in the studied area are associated with industrial development, predominantly with mining and metal processing. Oil and gas plants in the central and western areas of the region do not provide significant copper and zinc emissions. In the view of such monitoring one should also take into account the interaction of metals. When the levels of zinc are too high, the uptake of copper decreases in plants and animals. This is explained by the antagonism between these two metals," says Alexey A. Tinkov, MD, PhD, a co-author of the article, senior lecturer at the department of medical elementology (RUDN University) and researcher at the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Applied Bioelementology (Yaroslavl University).
According to the scientists, the obtained results underline the importance of monitoring the levels of metals in the environment and can help evaluate health risks for other regions with developed non-ferrous metal industry (such as Yunnan and Shanxi Provinces in China). However, for more comprehensive analysis the levels of copper and zinc should also be measured in the atmosphere (namely, dust samples) and food products, the researchers propose.
More information:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/ … ii/S0013935118302810
doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.05.028
Provided by RUDN University
