Author(s):
Machado, Ausenda 
; Paixão, Eleonora ; Caeiro, Sandra ; Dias, Carlos Matias
Date: 2012
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/1256
Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Subject(s): Determinantes da Saúde e da Doença; Estados de Saúde e de Doença; Avaliação de Risco Ecológico e Para Saúde Humana
Description
Introduction
Previous studies found high heavy metal concentration on Sado estuary, its sediments and marine species, related with industrial and non-point anthropogenic sources.
Heavy metal human exposure is associated with neoplasic, renal and neurological diseases, as well as teratogenic effects, but has never been assessed in populations living on this estuary.
The HERA project (Environmental Risk Assessment of a contaminated estuarine environment: a case study) aimed to characterize human exposure pathways and potential health effects of estuarine contamination.
Materials and Method
The cross-sectional epidemiological study compared the population of a small fisherman community (Carrasqueira) on the southern shore of the Sado Estuary, with a non exposed population living in Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (VNMF).
Face to face data collection took place between June and July 2011 using a structured questionnaire. Participants were selected by simple randomization of medical registration lists of local Health Centers. Written informed consent was obtained.
Identification of potential confounders and adjusted OR were computed using Mantel-Haenszel and non-conditional logistic regression. Significance level was set at 5%.
Results
Results relate to 202 participants. Carrasqueira population showed a significantly higher risk of exposure from several sources (occupation, leisure habits, estuarine fish consumption, estuarine water for drinking, food preparation, irrigation, as well as own grown vegetable consumption).
A higher proportion of chronic heavy metal related morbidity (OR= 1,913; IC95%: 1,007-3,635), and congenital anomalies (OR= 1,527; IC95%: 0,474- 4,918) were observed in Carrasqueira. Only age was retained as confounder in logistic regression, resulting in a 2,361 higher risk of having at least one of the diseases in Carrasqueira compared to VNMF (IC95%: 1,189-4,691).
Conclusions
These results support possible health effects of exposure to Sado estuary. However, small sample size and self-reported nature of exposure and outcomes advice caution in interpretation. Further studies should use bioindicators of exposure and outcome.
