Perception of pollution and arsenic in hair of indigenous living near a ferronickel open-pit mine (Córdoba, Colombia): Public health case report
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Universidad Industrial de Santander
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Introducción: Desde hace varios años indígenas de la comunidad Zenú residentes alrededor de la mina de ferroníquel “Cerro Matoso” (Montelibano, Córdoba, Colombia), se quejan de efectos adversos en la salud. Objetivo: Explorar la percepción sobre fuentes de polución, efectos adversos en salud y niveles de arsénico en cabello en individuos residentes cerca de la mina en 2015. Presentación del caso: Se realizaron dos sesiones de grupos nominales (con hombres y mujeres aisladamente). Se revisó la piel de 15 individuos buscando manchas en la piel sugerentes de hidroarsenicismo. Se recolectaron siete muestras de cabello de mujeres, que fueron enviadas para análisis mediante espectrometría de masas con plasma de acoplamiento inductivo en The Centre de Toxicologie du Québec. Se evaluaron los segmentos proximal, medio y distal de cada cabello (n=21). Los participantes identificaron la mina de ferroníquel como la principal fuente de contaminación en la región. Las vías de exposición reportadas corresponden a vías reconocidas en salud ambiental para NiO y arsénico. Los efectos adversos que se perciben relacionados con la contaminación pueden ser esperados cuando existe NiO y arsénico. Las concentraciones de arsénico en cabello variaron entre 0.011 y 0.26 µg/g. La mayor ocurrió hace tres años aproximadamente en una niña que en ese tiempo tenía 9 años. Conclusiones: Se confirma la exposición a arsénico en los alrededores de la mina de ferroníquel, que se suma a la de NiO, mercurio y otros metales. Futuros estudios podrán explorar la ocurrencia de efectos adversos del arsénico como cáncer, dermatosis, hipertensión arterial y trastornos reproductivos y cardiovasculares.
Introduction: Indigenous Zenu residents living near the Cerro Matoso ferronickel mine (Montelibano, Cordoba, Colombia) have complained for many years about adverse health effects. Objective: To explore the perception of sources of pollution, adverse health effects and arsenic levels in the hair of residents near the mine in 2015. Case presentation: Two nominal grouping sessions were conducted (with men and women, separately). The skin of 15 individuals was examined for spots suggestive of hydroarsenicism. Seven hair samples were collected from women and sent to the Centre de Toxicologie du Québec for analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The proximal, medium and distal segments of the hair were evaluated (n=21). The participants identified the ferronickel mine as the main source of pollution in the region. The exposure pathways they reported correspond to those recognized by environmental health for NiO and arsenic. The perceived adverse effects from the pollution are consistent with what can be expected when NiO and arsenic are present. The arsenic concentrations in hair ranged from 0.011 to 0.26 μg/g. The highest occurred roughly three years earlier in a girl who was 9 years old at that time. Conclusions: Exposure to arsenic near the ferronickel mine was confirmed, in addition to NiO, mercury and other metals. Future studies could explore the occurrence of adverse effects from arsenic, such as cancer, dermatosis, high blood pressure and reproductive and cardiovascular disorders.
Introduction: Indigenous Zenu residents living near the Cerro Matoso ferronickel mine (Montelibano, Cordoba, Colombia) have complained for many years about adverse health effects. Objective: To explore the perception of sources of pollution, adverse health effects and arsenic levels in the hair of residents near the mine in 2015. Case presentation: Two nominal grouping sessions were conducted (with men and women, separately). The skin of 15 individuals was examined for spots suggestive of hydroarsenicism. Seven hair samples were collected from women and sent to the Centre de Toxicologie du Québec for analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The proximal, medium and distal segments of the hair were evaluated (n=21). The participants identified the ferronickel mine as the main source of pollution in the region. The exposure pathways they reported correspond to those recognized by environmental health for NiO and arsenic. The perceived adverse effects from the pollution are consistent with what can be expected when NiO and arsenic are present. The arsenic concentrations in hair ranged from 0.011 to 0.26 μg/g. The highest occurred roughly three years earlier in a girl who was 9 years old at that time. Conclusions: Exposure to arsenic near the ferronickel mine was confirmed, in addition to NiO, mercury and other metals. Future studies could explore the occurrence of adverse effects from arsenic, such as cancer, dermatosis, high blood pressure and reproductive and cardiovascular disorders.
Keywords
Arsenic, environmental pollution, mercury, mining, nickel monoxide, qualitative study, toxicology (MeSH), arsénico, contaminación ambiental, minería, estudio cualitativo, toxicología (DeCs)