Background levels of key biomarkers of chemical exposure within the UK general population – Pilot study

• Published in: International journal of hygiene and environmental health Vol. 210; no. 3; pp. 387 - 391
• Main Authors: Levy, L.S., Jones, K., Cocker, J., Assem, F.L., Capleton, A.C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01.05.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Biological and medical sciences; Biological monitoring; Biomarkers - urine; Cadmium - urine; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemiology; Female; General aspects; Health Surveys; Human biomonitoring; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mercury - urine; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Postal questionnaire; Postal Service; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Sex Factors; Smoking - urine; Toxicology; United Kingdom; Urinary biomarkers; Urinary cadmium; Urinary mercury; United Kingdom; Europe; British Isles; Human biomonitoring; Urinary mercury; Postal questionnaire; Urinary biomarkers; Urinary cadmium; Biological monitoring; Human; Urine; Cadmium; Chemical compound; Biological marker; Exposure; Epidemiology; Heavy metal; Health and environment; Toxicological exploration; Clinical biology; Population; Mercury; Public health
• ISSN: 1438-4639; 1618-131X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.01.032

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) μg/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.