Assessment of the content of heavy metals in the snow cover and hair in children

Introduction. Environmental pollution leads to the need for regular monitoring and analysis of the content of toxic elements in the components of the environment and biosubstrates of the population to determine the degree of contamination of the territory, their accumulation in the body and assess the risk of health disorders.

Materials and methods. Samples of snow cover were taken from eleven different sections of functional zones, and 52 hair samples were examined in two groups of children in different schools of the city. Determination of the content of water–soluble heavy metals and arsenic (HMAr) was carried out by atomic absorption method on the AAC-240 DUO “Agilent Technolgies” device.

Results. In the snow cover of individual functional zones of Svirsk, a significant excess of Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, Pb, and As content was found in comparison with background values in the range of 2–11 times. Indicator elements (Mn, Cr, Zn, Cd, As) reflecting the specifics of increased accumulation of HMAr in the hair of children in different areas of the city were identified. Strong correlations (r = 0.78–0.83) were established between the content of HMAr in the snow cover near schools and in the hair in the examined groups of children.

Limitations. The assessment of content of HMs in the snow cover and in the hair in children population was evaluated without determining the accumulation of elements in the soil and migration to plant cultures.

Conclusion. The revealed high levels of accumulation of HMAr in the snow cover and hair in children in Svirsk, due to the significant anthropogenic impact of emissions from industrial enterprises, motor vehicles, and residential households, indicate the tension of the environmental situation in the city and the need to implement a set of measures to improve it.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of research set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). All study participants signed an informed consent form.

Contribution:
Shayakhmetov S.F. — research concept and design, interpretation of results, text writing, editing;
Merinov A.V. — sample analysis and data processing, analysis of research results, editing, design of tables, references;
Zhurba O.M. — research concept and design, search for information;
Alekseenko A.N. — concept and design of the study, collection of material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship. The work was performed within the framework of funds allocated for the implementation of the state task East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research.

Received: June 9, 2023 / Accepted: November 15, 2023 / Published: December 28, 2023