1980年到2022年東亞及東南亞國家鉻、鉛、砷、鎘和汞五種重金屬在人體中含量的時間變化趨勢

Abstract

重金屬被定義為密度大於5 g/cm3的無機元素。常見的重金屬有鉻(Cr)、鉛(Pb)、鎘(Cd)、汞(Hg) 和砷(As)等。人類通過吸入、攝入或與皮膚接觸而暴露于重金屬。雖然重金屬是整個地殼中天然存在的元素，但人為活動產生的重金屬釋出會造成空氣、土壤、水的污染，並可在植物、農作物、海產品和肉類中積累而間接影響人類。另有研究顯示亞洲地區空氣中鉛、鎘和汞的濃度很高。不同時期暴露重金屬的程度不同，可能表現在人體內重金屬含量的變化上。 本研究使用PubMed醫學文獻資料庫進行檢索，選取了東亞和東南亞國家一般人群的重金屬生物監測研究資料，收集 1980 年至 2022 年採樣時間範圍內的人體重金屬暴露生物偵測的研究論文，根據預先設定的納入標準篩選合格論文進行進一步分析。目的是在於瞭解1980年至2022年間東亞和東南亞人類重金屬水準的變化趨勢以及各國之間的差異。 本研究一共收集到271篇文獻。研究結果顯示，1980年至2022年間，東亞及東南亞人體內鉻、鉛、砷、鎘和汞的含量呈現顯著變化。鉛在人體中的含量呈現出顯著下降的趨勢。日本一般人群血鉛濃度從1981年的60 μg/L下降至2017年的8.3 μg/L。臺灣的血鉛濃度從1983年的201.4 μg/L下降至2017年的15 μg/L。中國的血鉛濃度從1986年的127.9 μg/L下降到2017年的17.8 μg/L，仍高於其他國家同年的血鉛濃度。鎘在一些國家下降趨勢顯著，日本的血鎘濃度從1983年的3.6 μg/L下降到2017年的1.0 μg/L。在另外一些國家變化不大，中國的血鎘甚至有上升的情況。人體內砷、鉻和汞濃度的相關文獻資料較少，只有少部分國家有足夠的資料能夠看到時間上的變化趨勢，在某些地區人體中的含量呈現逐漸下降的趨勢。 不同國家和地區一般人群體內的重金屬濃度存在差異，與當地的工業活動、自然環境和社會經濟條件密切相關。工業化進程和環境保護政策對重金屬含量的影響顯著。工業活動是重金屬污染的主要來源，而嚴格的環境保護政策和措施在控制污染方面起到關鍵作用。例如，日本的鎘暴露較嚴重，與該國的飲食結構和環境歷史有關；而中國則因快速工業化導致存在鉻、鉛、汞污染問題。在不同的年份中，重金屬含量的波動反映了環境政策、工業活動以及經濟發展的影響。 本研究結果為理解東亞及東南亞重金屬污染的變化提供了資料，並為該地區相關政府部門以及環境保護組織的環境管理提供科學依據。

Heavy metals are defined as inorganic elements with a density greater than 5 g/cm3. Examples of common heavy metals are chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). Humans are exposed to heavy metals through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact. Although heavy metals are naturally occurring elements throughout the earth's crust, the release of heavy metals from human activities can cause air, soil, and water pollution, and can accumulate in plants, crops, seafood, and meat, indirectly affecting humans. Other studies have shown high concentrations of lead, cadmium and mercury in the air in Asia. The degree of exposure to heavy metals varies over time, which may be manifested in changes in the content of heavy metals in the human body. This study used the PubMed medical literature database to search, select heavy metal biomonitoring research data on populations in East and Southeast Asia, and collected research papers on biomonitoring of human heavy metal exposure within the sampling time range from 1980 to 2022. Eligible papers were selected according to the specified inclusion criteria for further analysis. The purpose is to understand the changing trends of human heavy metal levels in East and Southeast Asia from 1980 to 2022 and the differences between countries. A total of 271 literatures were collected in this study. The results showed significant changes in the levels of chromium, lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in people in East and Southeast Asia between 1980 and 2022. The content of lead in the human body showed a significant decreasing trend. Blood lead concentrations in the general population of Japan decreased from 60 μg/L in 1981 to 8.3 μg/L in 2017. The blood lead concentration in Taiwan dropped from 201.4 μg/L in 1983 to 15 μg/L in 2017. The blood lead concentration in China dropped from 127.9 μg/L in 1986 to 17.8μg/L in 2017, still higher than the blood lead concentration in other countries in the same year. Cadmium declined significantly in some countries, with the blood cadmium concentration in Japan falling from 3.6 μg/L in 1983 to 1 μg/L in 2017. In other countries, little has changed, with blood cadmium even rising in China. There is little relevant literature on arsenic, chromium and mercury concentrations in the human body, and only a small number of countries have sufficient data to see the changing trend over time, with the content in the human body showing a gradually decreasing trend in some regions. Differences exist in the concentration of heavy metals within the general population in different countries and regions, closely related to local industrial activities, natural environment, and socioeconomic conditions. The impact of industrialization and environmental protection policies on heavy metal content is significant. Industrial activities are a major source of heavy metal pollution, and strict environmental protection policies and measures play a key role in pollution control. For example, Japan’s more severe cadmium exposure is related to the country’s dietary structure and environmental history, while China’s rapid industrialization has led to the existence of chromium, lead, and mercury pollution problems. Fluctuations in heavy metal content in different years reflect the impact of environmental policies, industrial activities as well as economic development. The results of this study provide information for understanding changes in heavy metal pollution in East and Southeast Asia and provide a scientific basis for environmental management by relevant government departments as well as environmental protection organizations in the region.