Factors associated with DNA Damage Levels and Blood Concentrations of Heavy Metals among Female Immigrants

• Main Authors: Wei-Te Wu, 吳威德
• Other Authors: Trong-Neng Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04082347306214233852

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 環境衛生研究所 === 95 === Objective: The growing numbers of international marriages in recent years in Taiwan have drawn our attempts in this study; that is, to explore the possible differences and to examine the correlation of DNA damage levels and blood concentrations of metals in this study. Method: A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 71 female immigrants living in Taiwan within ten years in comparison with their 83 native women. Meanwhile, blood samples were collected. The degree of DNA damage was detected by using Comet Assay. The blood concentrations of metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Se) were analyzed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Results: A significant difference in DNA damage levels were found between immigrants and married natives (31.3 ± 9.8% vs. 23.0 ± 9.6%；p=0.001). The blood concentrations of lead were also significantly higher than married natives (2.14 ± 1.66μg/dl vs. 1.18 ± 0.75μg/dl；p<0.001). In contrast, the blood selenium levels were significantly lower than those in married natives (0.18±0.06mg/l vs. 0.21±0.06mg/l；p=0.03). A weakly negative association appeared between DNA damage levels and blood lead levels with residing length in Taiwan for the immigrants (r=-0.254, p=0.03；r=-0.274, p=0.02, respectively), but a significantly positive association existed between blood zinc levels and the residing length (r=0.245, p=0.04). After adjusted factors releated of DNA damage, we were found that the correlation with DNA damage in marital status, age, ethnicity, vitamin intake and Lead. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the public health and medical efforts in reducing the health hazard of heavy metals and DNA damage should take the environmental and cultural diversity among ethnic groups into accounts.