Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners
<b> </b>Timber treated with the anti-fungal chemical copper chrome arsenate is used extensively in the New Zealand building industry. While illegal, the burning of treated timber is commonplace in New Zealand and presents a health risk. Outdoor ambient monitoring of arsenic in airborne p...
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doaj-cfc63403f987475fa7c8722e0b1580a62020-11-25T03:31:11ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012020-06-01173944394410.3390/ijerph17113944Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood BurnersKim N. Dirks0Alana Chester1Jennifer A. Salmond2Nicholas Talbot3Simon Thornley4Perry Davy5Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92091 Auckland, New ZealandFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92091 Auckland, New ZealandFaculty of Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92091 Auckland, New ZealandAuckland Council, Private Bag 92300, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New ZealandFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92091 Auckland, New ZealandInstitute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 30-368, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand<b> </b>Timber treated with the anti-fungal chemical copper chrome arsenate is used extensively in the New Zealand building industry. While illegal, the burning of treated timber is commonplace in New Zealand and presents a health risk. Outdoor ambient monitoring of arsenic in airborne particulate matter in New Zealand has identified levels that exceed the maximum standards of 5.5 ng m<sup>−3</sup> (annual average) at some urban locations. In this study, two-week-old beard hair samples were collected during the winter months to establish individual exposure to arsenic using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. These results were then compared with questionnaire data about wood burner use for the two weeks prior to sampling, and spatial trends in arsenic from ambient monitoring. Results suggest that the burning of construction timber that may contain arsenic is associated with a higher level of arsenic in hair than those who burn logs or coal exclusively. There is no association between the area-level density of wood burners and arsenic levels but a significant correlation with individual household choice of fuel as well as the smell of wood smoke in the community, suggesting very localised influences. Strategies are needed to raise awareness of the risks of burning treated timber and to provide economically-viable alternatives.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3944arsenicwood-burningexposureheatinghousehair |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kim N. Dirks Alana Chester Jennifer A. Salmond Nicholas Talbot Simon Thornley Perry Davy |
spellingShingle |
Kim N. Dirks Alana Chester Jennifer A. Salmond Nicholas Talbot Simon Thornley Perry Davy Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health arsenic wood-burning exposure heating house hair |
author_facet |
Kim N. Dirks Alana Chester Jennifer A. Salmond Nicholas Talbot Simon Thornley Perry Davy |
author_sort |
Kim N. Dirks |
title |
Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners |
title_short |
Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners |
title_full |
Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners |
title_fullStr |
Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners |
title_full_unstemmed |
Arsenic in Hair as a Marker of Exposure to Smoke from the Burning of Treated Wood in Domestic Wood Burners |
title_sort |
arsenic in hair as a marker of exposure to smoke from the burning of treated wood in domestic wood burners |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
<b> </b>Timber treated with the anti-fungal chemical copper chrome arsenate is used extensively in the New Zealand building industry. While illegal, the burning of treated timber is commonplace in New Zealand and presents a health risk. Outdoor ambient monitoring of arsenic in airborne particulate matter in New Zealand has identified levels that exceed the maximum standards of 5.5 ng m<sup>−3</sup> (annual average) at some urban locations. In this study, two-week-old beard hair samples were collected during the winter months to establish individual exposure to arsenic using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. These results were then compared with questionnaire data about wood burner use for the two weeks prior to sampling, and spatial trends in arsenic from ambient monitoring. Results suggest that the burning of construction timber that may contain arsenic is associated with a higher level of arsenic in hair than those who burn logs or coal exclusively. There is no association between the area-level density of wood burners and arsenic levels but a significant correlation with individual household choice of fuel as well as the smell of wood smoke in the community, suggesting very localised influences. Strategies are needed to raise awareness of the risks of burning treated timber and to provide economically-viable alternatives. |
topic |
arsenic wood-burning exposure heating house hair |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3944 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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