Cobalt (Co) is an essential trace element but may cause toxic effects upon occupational or environmental exposure. The present study is aimed to determine the urine concentrations of Co in four years-old children in the INMA-Asturias cohort (Spain) and to assess the factors determining the observed levels. This cohort is located in a heavily industrialized zone with strong potential for metal exposure. Some diet components such as consumption of sweets were meaningfully associated with higher urine Co concentrations. Traffic pollution also showed a noteworthy positive association with Co levels. Family tobacco consumption did not show substantial association with the urine concentrations of this metal in the INMA-Asturias children. A significant inverse association between urine Co and venous blood ferritin was found. Iron deficiency anemic children had significantly higher concentrations of Co than those with normal levels, e.g. median values 1.9 μg/g creatinine and 1.0 μg/g creatinine, respectively. This association could be explained by an increased expression of DMT1, a divalent metal transporter that captures higher levels of iron in deficiency states of this metal. This transporter is non-specific and not only captures iron but also other divalent metals such as Co. The presence of this metal in iron deficiency anemic children may represent an additional disturbing health factor that must be considered during treatment.

中文翻译：

---

四岁儿童的尿中钴和铁蛋白。

钴（Co）是必不可少的微量元素，但在职业或环境暴露下可能引起毒性作用。本研究旨在确定西班牙INMA-阿斯图里亚斯队列（西班牙）中4岁儿童的Co尿浓度，并评估决定观察水平的因素。该人群位于工业化程度很高的地区，极有可能暴露金属。饮食中的某些饮食成分（如食用甜食）与尿液中Co的浓度较高有显着相关。交通污染也显示出与钴水平的显着正相关。家庭吸烟量与INMA-Asturias儿童的这种金属的尿液浓度没有显着相关性。发现尿Co和静脉血铁蛋白之间存在显着的负相关。缺铁性贫血儿童的Co浓度明显高于正常水平的儿童，例如中值分别为1.9μg/ g肌酐和1.0μg/ g肌酐。这种关联可以通过DMT1的表达增加来解释，DMT1是一种二价金属转运蛋白，可以捕获处于这种金属缺陷状态的较高水平的铁。该转运蛋白是非特异性的，不仅可以捕获铁，而且还可以捕获其他二价金属（例如Co）。缺铁贫血儿童中这种金属的存在可能代表在治疗期间必须考虑的其他有害健康因素。一种二价金属转运体，可在该金属的不足状态下捕获更高含量的铁。该转运蛋白是非特异性的，不仅可以捕获铁，而且还可以捕获其他二价金属（例如Co）。缺铁贫血儿童中这种金属的存在可能代表在治疗期间必须考虑的其他有害健康因素。一种二价金属转运体，可在该金属的不足状态下捕获更高含量的铁。该转运蛋白是非特异性的，不仅可以捕获铁，而且还可以捕获其他二价金属（例如Co）。缺铁贫血儿童中这种金属的存在可能代表在治疗期间必须考虑的其他有害健康因素。