Arsenic and lead contamination in urban soils of Villa de la Paz (Mexico) affected by historical mine wastes and its effect on children’s health studied by micronucleated exfoliated cells assay

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 37 - 51
• Main Authors: Gamiño-Gutiérrez, Sandra P., González-Pérez, C. Ivonne, Gonsebatt, María E., Monroy-Fernández, Marcos G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Arsenic; Arsenic - chemistry; Arsenic content; Biomonitoring; Child; Child, Preschool; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental control; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Geochemistry; Health risks; Heavy metals; Human exposure; Humans; Lead; Lead - chemistry; Lead content; Mexico; Micronucleus Tests; Mine wastes; Mining; Original Paper; Pollution sources; Public Health; Risk Assessment; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil surfaces; Soils; Terrestrial Pollution; Urban areas; Urban Health; Mexico; Mexico, Baja California Sur, La Paz; Lead; Historical mining residues; Children; Arsenic; Urban soil; Micronucleated exfoliated cells
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-012-9469-8

Environmental geochemical and health studies were carried out in urban areas of Villa de la Paz, S.L.P. (Mexico), where mining activities have been developed for more of 200 years, leading to the pollution of surface soil by arsenic and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn). The analysis of urban soils to determine total and bioaccessibility concentrations of As and Pb, demonstrated a combined contribution of the natural and anthropogenic concentrations in the site, at levels higher than the environmental guideline values that provoke a human health risk. Contour soil mapping confirmed that historical mine waste deposits without environmental control measures, are the main source of pollution soil by As and Pb in the site. Exposure (Pb in blood and As in urine) and effect (micronucleated exfoliated cells assay) biological monitoring were then carried out in the childhood population of the site and in a control site. The exposure biological monitoring demonstrated that at least 20–30 % of children presented Pb and As exposure values higher than the national and international maximum intervention values. The effect biomonitoring by MEC assay confirmed that there is a genotoxic damage in local childhood population that could be associated with the arsenic exposure in the site.