A Positive Relationship between Exposure to Heavy Metals and Development of Chronic Diseases

A Case Study from Chile

Bibliographic Data

ID15504163
AuthorsSusana Cortés (0000-0003-3293-1419, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, corresponding author), Liliana Zúñiga‐Venegas (0000-0001-8434-0704, Catholic University of the Maule), Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas (Catholic University of the Maule), Floria Pancetti (0000-0002-6990-9832, Universidad Católica del Norte), Alejandra A Covarrubias (0000-0003-0439-3414, Universidad Católica del Norte), Alejandra Covarrubias (Universidad Católica del Norte), Muriel Ramírez-Santana (0000-0002-3642-6965, Universidad Católica del Norte), Héctor Adaros (Hospital Dr. Jerónimo Méndez, Chañaral, Chañaral 1490000, Chile), Luis Muñoz (0000-0002-2738-939X, Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue4
Pages1419-1419
Publication date2021-02-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18041419
PMID33546415
OpenAlexW3129108076
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited29

Chile is a mining country, where waste mining is frequently found in the vicinity of inhabited areas. To explore the association between metal exposure and alterations in glucose metabolism, inflammatory status, and oxidative stress in individuals with chronic exposure to metals, a cross-sectional study was performed with 25 volunteers, between 45-65 years old. Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure urinary levels of total arsenic (As) and its metabolites, cooper, nickel, chromium, and lead. Lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in blood, as well as inflammation (interleukin-6, IL-6) and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) markers. Increased levels of Low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and 8-OHdG, and the index for homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were observed in 72%, 60%, and 56% of the volunteers, respectively. Blood-glucose levels were correlated with dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) (R 2 = 0.47, p = 0.019), inorganic As (As i ) (R 2 = 0.40, p = 0.012), and Ni (R 2 = 0.56; p = 0.044). The models with these compounds explained 72% of the glycemia variability (β DMA = -6.47; β Asi = 6.68; β Ni = 6.87). Ni showed a significantly influence on IL-6 variability (β = 0.85: R 2 = 0.36). Changes in glycemia could be related to exposure to low levels of As i and Ni, representing risk factors for metabolic diseases. Body mass index would confuse the relation between IL-6 and Ni levels, probably due to known chronic inflammation present in obese people

Arsenic · Body mass index · Diabetes mellitus · Homeostasis · Homeostatic model assessment · Inflammation · Insulin · Insulin resistance · Metabolic syndrome · Oxidative stress · Arsenic contamination and mitigation · Chemistry · Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity · Heavy metals in environment · Medicine · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine

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