In Utero Exposure to Aluminium and Other Neurotoxic Elements in Urban Coastal South African Women at Delivery: An Emerging Concern.

Aluminium (Al) is a non-essential neurotoxicant and there is limited information regarding exposure to Al in utero. This study sought to evaluate the in utero exposure to Al in urban South African women, its effects on birth outcomes and possible synergistic effects between Al, essential and neurotoxic elements such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As), as well as a a potential sex-dependent response to these elements in neonates. This study has found elevated levels of Al in urban women at delivery.

Prenatal Exposure to Aluminum and Status of Selected Essential Trace Elements in Rural South African Women at Delivery.

This study sought to evaluate the in utero exposure to aluminum and status of selected trace elements in South African women at delivery since aluminum is known to be toxic in all developmental stages even at low concentrations. Serum aluminum was negatively correlated with aluminum in urine, both uncorrected and corrected for creatinine, which suggests the retention of aluminum in body stores. Serum copper and zinc levels were found to be high in this study population.

The placenta as a barrier for toxic and essential elements in paired maternal and cord blood samples of South African delivering women.

Environmental toxicants such as metals may be detrimental to foetus and infant development and health because of their physiological immaturity, opportunistic and differential exposures, and a longer lifetime over which disease, initiated during pregnancy and in early life, can develop. The placental mechanisms responsible for regulation of absorption and excretion of elements during pregnancy are not fully understood. The aim of this paper is to assess the correlation for selected toxic and essential elements in paired whole blood samples of delivering women and cord blood, as well as to evaluate the placental permeability for selected elements.

Addressing the challenges of underdevelopment in environmental and occupational health in southern Africa.

Since 1996, the University of Michigan's Fogarty International Center training and research program in Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) in Southern Africa has contributed to capacity development in the 14 countries of the Southern African Development Community. Methods include training citizens from the region in master's, doctoral, and short-term focused programs; assisting the development of graduate programs in EOH at institutions, developing resources for distance-based degree programs; direct support ofjunior and mid-level researchers, and organizing regional short courses and regional conferences. Substantial EOH resources now present in South Africa are leveraged to assist capacity development in the rest of the region.