Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Monitoring of heavy metal levels in the major rivers and in residents’ blood in Zhenjiang City, China, and assessment of heavy metal elimination via urine and sweat in humans

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The coastal areas of China face great challenges, owing to heavy metal contamination caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of the levels of heavy metals in the major rivers of Zhenjiang, one of the most important cities of the Yangtze River Delta in China. In addition, we measured heavy metal levels in the blood of 76 residents of Zhenjiang. The results suggest that the presence of heavy metals in the blood may threaten human health and the distribution appeared to correspond to most highly populated areas and/or areas with high traffic. We also found that the concentration of heavy metals in human blood showed an accumulation effect with increase in age. Moreover, the levels of most heavy metals were lower in participants who regularly exercised than in those who did not. We studied heavy metal levels in the urine and sweat of another 17 volunteers to monitor the elimination of bioaccumulated heavy metal. Heavy metals were found in the urine and sweat of all the 17 participants and were more concentrated in sweat. Induced micturition and sweating appear to be potential methods for the elimination of heavy metals from the human body.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Baki A, Dkhil M, Al-Quraishy S (2013) Bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in tilapia fish relevant to their concentration in water and sediment of Wadi Hanifah, Saudi Arabia. Afr J Biotechnol 10:2541–2547

    Google Scholar 

  • Agusa T, Nomura K, Kunito T, Anan Y, Iwata H, Miyazaki N, Tatsukawa R, Tanabe S (2008) Interelement relationships and age-related variation of trace element concentrations in liver of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Japanese coastal waters. Mar Pollut Bull 57:807–815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akcay H, Oguz A, Karapire C (2003) Study of heavy metal pollution and speciation in Buyak Menderes and Gediz river sediments. Water Research 37:813–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anna Farkas A, Janos Salanki J, Specziar A (2003) Age- and size-specific patterns of heavy metals in theorgans of freshwater fish Abramis brama L. populatinga low-contaminated site. Water Res 37:959–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aposhian HV, Zheng B, Aposhian MM, Le XC, Cebrian ME, Cullen W, Zakharyan RA, Ma M, Dart RC, Cheng Z (2000) DMPS–arsenic challenge test: II. Modulation of arsenic species, including monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII), excreted in human urine. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 165:74–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bai J, Cui B, Chen B, Zhang K, Deng W, Gao H, Xiao R (2011) Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from a typical plateau lake wetland, China. Ecol Modell 222:301–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Begum A, Ramaiah M, Harikrishna KI, Veena K (2009) Heavy metal pollution and chemical profile of Cauvery River Water. E-J Chem 6:47–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund AMM, Koivula MJ, Eeva T (2011) Species- and age-related variation in metal exposure and accumulation of two passerine bird species. Environ Pollut 159:2368–2374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao S, Duan X, Zhao X, Ma J, Dong T, Huang N, Wei F (2014) Health risks from the exposure of children to As, Se, Pb and other heavy metals near the largest coking plant in China. Sci Total Environ 472:1001–1009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng B, Zhang J, Zhang G, Zhou J (2010) Enhanced anthropogenic heavy metal dispersal from tidal disturbance in the Jiaozhou Bay, North China. Environ Monit Assess 161:349–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dwaf (1992) Analytical Methods Manual, TR 151. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson JE (1986) Lead: petrol lead in the environment and its contribution to human blood lead levels. Sci Total Environ 50:1–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forrer R, Gautschi K, Lutz H (2001) Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS. Biol Trace Elem Res 80:77–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabos S, Zemanek M, Cheperdak L, Kinniburgh D, Lee B, Hrudey S, Le C, Li X, Mandal R, Martin J (2008) Chemical biomonitoring in serum of pregnant women in Alberta (2005). A Final Report Submitted to Alberta Health and Wellness, May.

  • Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA (2011a) Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health 2012:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Genuis SJ, Birkholz D, Rodushkin I, Beesoon S (2011b) Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study: monitoring and elimination of bioaccumulated toxic elements. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 61:344–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Lobo RA, Birkholz D (2012) Human elimination of phthalate compounds: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. The Scientific World Journal 2012:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gil F, Hernandez AF, Marquez C, Femia P, Olmedo P, Lopez-Guarnido O, Pla A (2011) Biomonitorization of cadmium, chromium, manganese, nickel and lead in whole blood, urine, axillary hair and saliva in an occupationally exposed population. Sci Total Environ 409:1172–1180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goulle JP, Mahieu L, Castermant J, Neveu N, Bonneau L, Laine G, Bouige D, Lacroix C (2005) Metal and metalloid multi-elementary ICP-MS validation in whole blood, plasma, urine and hair. Reference values Forensic Sci Int 153:39–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter JK, Komarnicki (2000) Tissue, sex and age specific accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) by populations of the mole (Talpa europaea L.) in a central urban area. Chemosphere 41:1593–1602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall JE, Guyton AC (2011) Textbook of medical physiology. Saunders, London, p924–937

  • Hosseini M, Bastami AA, Khoei JK, Esmailian M, Songhori EJ, Najafzadeh M (2012) Concentrations of heavy metals in selected tissues of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) and sediments from Persian Gulf. World Appl Sci J 19:1398–1405

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jan FA, Ishaq M, Khan S, Shakirullah M, Asim SM, Ahmad I (2011) Bioaccumulation of metals in human blood in industrially contaminated area. J Environ Sci 23:2069–2077

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kampa M, Castanas E (2008) Human health effects of air pollution. Environ Pollut 151:362–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kar D, Sur P, Mandal SK, Saha TR, Kole K (2008) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface water. Environ Sci Tech 5:119–124

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karadede H, Unlu E (2000) Concentrations of some heavy metals in water, sediment and fish species from the Ataturk Dam Lake. Chemosphere 41:1371–1376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Kazi N, Jamali MK, Arain MB, Jalbani N, Kandhro GA (2008) Copper, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, and zinc levels in biological samples of diabetes mellitus patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 122:1–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc A (2004) Étude sur l’établissement de valeurs de référence d’éléments traces et de métaux dans le sang, le sérum et l’urine de la population de la grande région de Québec. Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Direction toxicologie humaine, Direction risques biologiques, environnementaux et occupationnels

  • Li Z, Ma Z, van der Kuijp TJ, Yuan Z, Huang L (2014) A review of soil heavy metal pollution from mines in China: pollution and health risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 468–469:843–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilley S, Florence T, Stauber J (1988) The use of sweat to monitor lead absorption through the skin. Sci Total Environ 76:267–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muhammad S, Shah MT, Khan S (2011) Health risk assessment of heavy metals and their source apportionment in drinking water of Kohistan region, northern Pakistan. Microchem J 98:334–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omokhodion F, Crockford G (1991) Lead in sweat and its relationship to salivary and urinary levels in normal healthy subjects. Sci Total Environ 103:113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pasha Q, Malik SA, Shaheen N, Shah MH (2010) Investigation of trace metals in the blood plasma and scalp hair of gastrointestinal cancer patients in comparison with controls. Clin Chim Acta 411:531–539

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira R, Ribeiro R, Goncalves F (2004) Scalp hair analysis as a tool in assessing human exposure to heavy metals (S. Domingos mine, Portugal). Sci Total Environ 327:81–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rainbow PS, Luoma SN (2011) Metal toxicity, uptake and bioaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates--modelling zinc in crustaceans. Aquat Toxicol 105:455–465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rollin HB, Sandanger TM, Hansen L, Channa K, Odland JO (2009) Concentration of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in South Africa. Sci Total Environ 408:146–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ronteltap M, Maurer M, Gujer W (2007) The behaviour of pharmaceuticals and heavy metals during struvite precipitation in urine. Water research 41:1859–1868

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI (2012) Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. J Environ Public Health 2012:184745

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi R, Wang P, Gao Y, Wang XJ, Wang MM, Gong YL, Tian Y (2010) Correlative study of trace elements and toxic elements in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Medical Science) 8:007

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokalioǧlu Ş, Kartal Ş, Elci L (2000) Determination of heavy metals and their speciation in lake sediments by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after a four-stage sequential extraction procedure. Anal Chim Acta 413:33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turgut C (2003) The contamination with organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in surface water in Kucuk Menderes River in Turkey, 2000–2002. Environ Int 29:29–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tüzen M (2003) Determination of heavy metals in soil, mushroom and plant samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. Microchem J 74:289–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Chen P, Cui R, Si W, Zhang Y, Ji W (2010) Heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, and tissues of two fish species (Triplohysa pappenheimi, Gobio hwanghensis) from the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River, China. Environ Monit Assess 165:97–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Ou YL, Liu YQ, Xie Q, Liu QF, Wu Q, Wang JY (2012) Correlations of trace element levels in the diet, blood, urine, and feces in the Chinese male. Biol Trace Elem Res 145:127–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SL, Xu XR, Sun YX, Liu JL, Li HB (2013) Heavy metal pollution in coastal areas of South China: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 76:7–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Chu Z, Zha F, Liu S, Liu G, Dong Z (2015) Determination of heavy metals in water and tissues of Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus Gibelio) collected from subsidence pools in Huainan Coal Fields (China). Anal Lett 48:861–877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei M, Yanwen Q, Zheng B, ZHANG L (2008) Heavy metal pollution in Tianjin Bohai bay, China. J Environ Sci 20:814–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Abuduwaili J, Jiang F (2013) Determination of occurrence characteristics of heavy metals in soil and water environments in Tianshan Mountains, Central Asia. Anal Lett 46:2122–2131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the Editor Dr. Philippe Garrigues and the anonymous reviewer for critical revisions. This work was supported by the National Nature Science foundation of China (2008ZX7313), the Science foundation of Zhenjiang, Jiangshu (grants SH2011013), and China Scholarship Council (no. 201406890057). The authors are grateful to Allan Mock of University of California at Los Angeles and David Chang for their assistance in polishing the English in this paper.

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Institute of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, China

      Jianguo Sheng, Hui Xu & Chong Tang

    2. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

      Wenhui Qiu & Bentuo Xu

    3. Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 53-231 CHS, Physiology 650 Charles E Young DR S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

      Wenhui Qiu

    Authors
    1. Jianguo Sheng
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. Wenhui Qiu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. Bentuo Xu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    4. Hui Xu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    5. Chong Tang
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Wenhui Qiu.

    Ethics declarations

    Conflict of interest

    The authors declare no competing financial interest.

    Additional information

    Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

    Jianguo Sheng and Wenhui Qiu contributed equally to this work.

    Electronic supplementary material

    Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

    ESM 1

    (JPG 1.64 MB)

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Sheng, J., Qiu, W., Xu, B. et al. Monitoring of heavy metal levels in the major rivers and in residents’ blood in Zhenjiang City, China, and assessment of heavy metal elimination via urine and sweat in humans. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 11034–11045 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6287-z

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6287-z

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation