Urinary levels of 30 metal/metalloids in the Brazilian southeast population: Findings from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

The assessment of risks associated with environmental exposure to metals/metalloids requires well-established reference values for each population since it varies considerably according to distinct local/regional characteristics. However, very few studies establish baseline values for these elements (essential and toxic) in large population groups, especially in Latin American countries. This study was aimed at establishing urinary reference levels of 30 metals/metalloids: aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), cerium (Ce), cesium (Cs), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lanthanum (La), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), tellurium (Te), thallium (Tl), thorium (Th), tungsten (W), uranium (U) and zinc (Zn) in a Brazilian southeast adult population. This pilot study is a cross-sectional analysis conducted with the first wave of the ELSA-Brasil cohort (baseline examination). A total of 996 adults (45.5% men, N = 453, mean age: 50.5, and 54.5% women, N = 543, mean age: 50.6) were included in the study. Sample analyses were performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Percentiles (2.5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 95 (CI95%), and 97.5) of each element (µg/g of creatinine) in the study are presented according to sex. Moreover, differences in the mean metal/metalloid urinary levels according to age, education, smoking, and alcohol intake are also presented. Finally, median found values were compared to established values of large human biomonitoring surveys previously conducted in North America and France. This is the first comprehensive and systematic human biomonitoring study that established population reference ranges for 30 (essential and/or toxic elements) in a Brazilian population group.

Religion and sociodemographic characteristics at baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether sex, age, race, income, education, and marital status are associated with having a religion in a sample of Brazilian men and women. METHODS: Data were obtained from 15,098 participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, a longitudinal study that ultimately aims to investigate long-term outcomes of chronic diseases. The sociodemographic characteristics and data on religion status were self-reported during interviews conducted by trained personnel. All study procedures followed standard and validated protocols. RESULTS: There was a strong association between being a woman and having a religion (adjusted OR=2.12, 95%CI 1.95-2.31) when compared to men. Regarding age, those with 45-54 years were more likely to have a religion (adjusted OR=1.14, 95%CI 1.03-1.27). Blacks and Browns were more religious (adjusted OR=1.31, 95%CI 1.15-1.49, and OR=1.22, 95%CI 1.10-1.34, respectively) compared to Whites. Those with high income and education were less likely to state having a religion (adjusted OR=0.78, 95%CI 0.70-0.87, and adjusted OR=0.50, 95%CI 0.43-0.59, respectively). Those who did not have a stable conjugal union were found to be less religious (adjusted OR=0.82, 95%CI 0.75-0.89). Stratifying the analysis according to income showed that higher education was inversely associated with religion on both strata: lower and higher annual earnings. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that education is one of the most important socioeconomic characteristics to consider when studying religion. Race, sex, income, and marital status are also important factors; however, there was not a clear association between religion and age.