While the harmful effects of some metals such as mercury and lead are well known, metals that are common dietary requirements such as zinc and copper can also cause health problems upon elevated exposure.
Elevated exposure to solar UV irradiation has a broad impact on marine species ranging from reduced photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton to defects in fish larval development [41].
Other studies describe diverse effects of the presence of biodegradation activity prior to elevated exposure.
The mobilization of endogenously stored lead represents an important health threat to individuals who have experienced elevated exposure in the past.
After accounting for the demographics, elevated exposure risk is most strongly associated with reported or observed cockroach activity and increases consistently with more recent or more prevalent activity.
In predictive value calculations for GNB, elevated exposure was defined as greater than the median level of endotoxin (LAL) or midchain 3-OHFAs in bed dust.
Elevated exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) is associated with cancers of the skin, bladder, and lung [ 1- 3], reproductive and developmental effects [ 4, 5], cardiovascular disease [ 6, 7], and skin lesions [ 8, 9].
In fish-eating populations of the lower Tapajós region, elevated exposure to mercury (Hg) has been reported, and blood levels of selenium (Se) range from normal to very high (> 1,000 μg/L).
The U.S. EPA also referred to the concept of increased vulnerability to pollution-related effects, as distinct from susceptibility, because of factors including socioeconomic status or experiencing "particularly elevated exposure levels" (U.S. EPA 2004b).
For exposure to oil combustion, adverse associations were strongest for elevated exposure in first trimester, more prominently among Hispanic (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.30) and black women (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.38).
In the present study, concentrations from 10 to 1000 μg/L of both metals were used; they were selected and used as they likely represent environmentally relevant, albeit elevated, exposure.
