Exposure to lead and other toxic metals from informal foundries producing cookware from scrap metal.

Metal exposure remains a significant public health problem, particularly in the informal sector. The rise in informal foundries to cast scrap metal into artisanal cookware is widespread in low- and middle-income countries. The main aim of this study was to characterize metal exposure in artisanal cookware makers working in informal foundries in South Africa by measuring lead (Pb) in blood as well as sample metal concentrations on hands before and after work. The blood Pb distribution of the artisanal pot makers ranged from 1.1 to 4.6 µg/dl with the median blood Pb level being 2.1 µg/dl (IQR 1.7-2.5). The median blood Pb level in artisanal pot makers was 1.0 µg/dl higher compared with the non-exposed community members (p < 0.0001). Before-and-after handwipe sampling revealed a median increase in all 22 elements. Pre and post aluminum (Al) load on the handwipes revealed a 7.3 factor increase (0.53 and 3.9 mg Al/handwipe respectively) (p = 0.003). Hand Pb load before and after pot making revealed a 3.5-fold increase (median increase of 6.2 µg Pb/handwipe). An increase in backyard informal foundries may be linked to increased exposure to toxic metals for workers, family members and communities.

Transport of arsenolipids to the milk of a nursing mother after consuming salmon fish.

OBJECTIVE: We address two questions relevant to infants' exposure to potentially toxic arsenolipids, namely, are the arsenolipids naturally present in fish transported intact to a mother's milk, and what is the efficiency of this transport. METHODS: We investigated the transport of arsenolipids and other arsenic species present in fish to mother's milk by analyzing the milk of a single nursing mother at 15 sampling times over a 3-day period after she had consumed a meal of salmon. Total arsenic values were obtained by elemental mass spectrometry, and arsenic species were measured by HPLC coupled to both elemental and molecular mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Total arsenic increased from background levels (0.1 µg As kg-1) to a peak value of 1.72 µg As kg-1 eight hours after the fish meal. The pattern for arsenolipids was similar to that of total arsenic, increasing from undetectable background levels (< 0.01 µg As kg-1) to a peak after eight hours of 0.45 µg As kg-1. Most of the remaining total arsenic in the milk was accounted for by arsenobetaine. The major arsenolipids in the salmon were arsenic hydrocarbons (AsHCs; 55 % of total arsenolipids), and these compounds were also the dominant arsenolipids in the milk where they contributed over 90 % of the total arsenolipids. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has shown that ca 2-3 % of arsenic hydrocarbons, natural constituents of fish, can be directly transferred unchanged to the milk of a nursing mother. In view of the potential neurotoxicity of AsHCs, the effects of these compounds on the brain developmental stage of infants need to be investigated.