1. Beijing Normal Univ, State Key Lab Earth Surface Proc & Resource Ecol, Sch Geog, Beijing 100875, Peoples R China

2. Sichuan Agr Univ, Coll Resources & Environm Sci, Yaan 625014, Sichuan Peoples R China

ABSTRACT: The rate of birth defects in Shanxi Province is among the highest worldwide. In order to identify the impacts of geochemical and environmental factors on birth defect risk, samples of soil, water and food were collected from an area with an unusually high rate of birth defects (study area) and an area with a low rate of birth defects (control area) in Shanxi Province, China. Element contents were determined by ICP-OES, and the results were analyzed using a non-parametric test and stepwise regression. Differences in the level and distribution of 14 geochemical elements, namely arsenic (As), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), iron (Fe), tin (Sn), magnesium (Mg). vanadium (V), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), potassium (K) and sulfur (5) were thus compared between the study and control areas. The results reveal that the geochemical element contents in soil, water and food show a significant difference between the study area and control area, and suggest that the study area was characterized by higher S and lower Sr and Al contents. These findings, based on statistical analysis, may be useful in directing further epidemiological investigations identifying the leading causes of birth defects. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

 

KEYWORD：Birth defect; Geochemical elements; Abnormalities; High birth defect area.

 

Published inSCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. 2011, 409(3): 447-451.