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High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.

In developing countries, rapid industrialization without environmental controls has resulted in heavy metal contamination of communities. We hypothesized that residential neighborhoods located near ore industries in three northern Mexican cities would be heavily polluted with multiple contaminants (...

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Autores principales: Benin, A L, Sargent, J D, Dalton, M, Roda, S
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: 1999
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566526/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10090706
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author Benin, A L
Sargent, J D
Dalton, M
Roda, S
author_facet Benin, A L
Sargent, J D
Dalton, M
Roda, S
author_sort Benin, A L
collection PubMed
description In developing countries, rapid industrialization without environmental controls has resulted in heavy metal contamination of communities. We hypothesized that residential neighborhoods located near ore industries in three northern Mexican cities would be heavily polluted with multiple contaminants (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and that these sites would be point sources for the heavy metals. To evaluate these hypotheses, we obtained samples of roadside surface dust from residential neighborhoods within 2 m of metal smelters [Torreón (n = 19)] and Chihuahua (n = 19)] and a metal refinery [Monterrey (n = 23)]. Heavy metal concentrations in dust were mapped with respect to distance from the industrial sites. Correlation between dust metal concentration and distance was estimated with least-squares regression using log-transformed data. Median dust arsenic, cadmium, and lead concentrations were 32, 10, and 277 microg/g, respectively, in Chihuahua; 42, 2, and 467 microg/g, respectively, in Monterrey, and 113, 112, and 2,448 microg/g, respectively, in Torreón. Dust concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly higher around the active smelter in Torreón, where more than 90% of samples exceeded Superfund cleanup goals. At all sites, dust concentrations were inversely related to distance from the industrial source, implicating these industries as the likely source of the contamination. We concluded that residential neighborhoods around metal smelting and refining sites in these three cities are contaminated by heavy metals at concentrations likely to pose a health threat to people living nearby. Evaluations of human exposure near these sites should be conducted. Because multiple heavy metal pollutants may exist near smelter sites, researchers should avoid attributing toxicity to one heavy metal unless others have been measured and shown not to coexist.
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spelling pubmed-15665262006-09-19 High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico. Benin, A L Sargent, J D Dalton, M Roda, S Environ Health Perspect Research Article In developing countries, rapid industrialization without environmental controls has resulted in heavy metal contamination of communities. We hypothesized that residential neighborhoods located near ore industries in three northern Mexican cities would be heavily polluted with multiple contaminants (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and that these sites would be point sources for the heavy metals. To evaluate these hypotheses, we obtained samples of roadside surface dust from residential neighborhoods within 2 m of metal smelters [Torreón (n = 19)] and Chihuahua (n = 19)] and a metal refinery [Monterrey (n = 23)]. Heavy metal concentrations in dust were mapped with respect to distance from the industrial sites. Correlation between dust metal concentration and distance was estimated with least-squares regression using log-transformed data. Median dust arsenic, cadmium, and lead concentrations were 32, 10, and 277 microg/g, respectively, in Chihuahua; 42, 2, and 467 microg/g, respectively, in Monterrey, and 113, 112, and 2,448 microg/g, respectively, in Torreón. Dust concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly higher around the active smelter in Torreón, where more than 90% of samples exceeded Superfund cleanup goals. At all sites, dust concentrations were inversely related to distance from the industrial source, implicating these industries as the likely source of the contamination. We concluded that residential neighborhoods around metal smelting and refining sites in these three cities are contaminated by heavy metals at concentrations likely to pose a health threat to people living nearby. Evaluations of human exposure near these sites should be conducted. Because multiple heavy metal pollutants may exist near smelter sites, researchers should avoid attributing toxicity to one heavy metal unless others have been measured and shown not to coexist. 1999-04 /pmc/articles/PMC1566526/ /pubmed/10090706 Text en
spellingShingle Research Article
Benin, A L
Sargent, J D
Dalton, M
Roda, S
High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title_full High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title_fullStr High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title_full_unstemmed High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title_short High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.
title_sort high concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern mexico.
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566526/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10090706
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