Human biomonitoring of heavy metals in the vicinity of non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium.

Background: A previous study revealed an environmental contamination by heavy metals in the vicinity of two non-ferrous metal plants in Ath, Belgium. The purpose of the current cross-sectional study was to estimate exposure of the population to heavy metals in the vicinity of the plants, in comparison with population living further away.

Methods: We did a random sampling in the general population of Ath in two areas: a central area, including the plants, and a peripheral area, presumably less exposed.

Human biomonitoring on heavy metals in Ath: methodological aspects.

The municipality of Ath is characterised by the presence, in its center, of two non-ferrous metal industries whose emissions make local residents concerned for their health. Therefore, authorities of the Walloon Region and the municipality of Ath undertook biomonitoring to assess the impact of those industrial emissions on heavy metal body burden in humans.This paper describes the study design and methodology used to carry out this human biomonitoring.