Assessment of the exposure to heavy metals in the population of Taranto, Southern Italy

Introduction
Taranto area is among the highest environmental risk ones, giving the vast presence of industrial plants in it. On this basis, we carried out a biological monitoring programme on Taranto resident population, not occupational exposed to heavy metals. Particularly, we investigated Arsenic (As), Chrome (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) due to the ubiquitous characteristics of these metals, widely diffuse in nature, and from the potential carcinogenic effects. In fact, both Cr VI and As are a Group I human carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification (IARC Lyon).

Methods
We measured iAs+MMA+DMA, Cr, Hg, Mg and Pb in 142 urinary samples of subjects living in Taranto area. We also administrated a questionnaire, in order to investigate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on urinary metals excretion. The analysis of urinary samples were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

Results
Preliminary results have shown mean values of urinary excretion of iAs+MMA+DMA equal to 7.99 µg/l, of Cr equal to 0.45 µg/l, of Hg equal to 1.81 µg/l, of Mn equal to 1.38 µg/l and of Pb equal to 10.80 µg/l.

Discussion
The mean values of urinary excretion of Pb and Cr were above the reference values observed by the Italian Association for Reference Values in the general population not occupational exposed to metals. We observed statistically significant differences in urinary excretion of iAs+MMA+DMA in subjects which consumed fish and shellfish in the 72 hours prior to the collection of urinary samples. For this reason, in order to the occupational exposure to As, these results confirms the suggestions of other authorative studies to recommended As exposed workers to abstain from eating sea food in the 2-3 days prior to the collection of urinary samples to determine the level of As.