Cement plants located in urban areas can increase health risk. Although children are particularly vulnerable, biomonitoring studies are lacking. Toenail concentration of 24 metals was measured in 366 children (6–10 years), who live and attend school in a city hosting a cement plant. Living addresses and schools were geocoded and attributed to exposed or control areas, according to modeled ground concentrations of PM₁₀ generated by the cement plant. Air levels of PM₁₀ and NO₂ were monitored. PM₁₀ levels were higher in the exposed, than in the control area. The highest mean PM₁₀ concentration was recorded close to the cement plant. Conversely, the highest NO₂ concentration was in the control area, where vehicular traffic and home heating were the prevalent sources of pollutants. Exposed children had higher concentrations of Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) than controls. These concentrations correlated each other, indicating a common source. Toenail Barium (Ba) concentration was higher in the control- than in the exposed area. The location of the attended school was a predictor of Cd, Hg, Ni, Ba concentrations, after adjusting for confounders. In conclusion, children living and attending school in an urban area exposed to cement plant emissions show a chronic bioaccumulation of toxic metals, and a significant exposure to PM₁₀ pollution. Cement plants located in populous urban areas seem therefore harmful, and primary prevention policies to protect children health are needed.

位于城市地区的水泥厂会增加健康风险。尽管儿童特别容易受到伤害，但仍缺乏生物监测研究。对 366 名儿童（6-10 岁）的脚趾甲中 24 种金属浓度进行了测量，这些儿童在一座水泥厂所在的城市生活和上学。根据水泥厂产生的 PM ₁₀地面浓度模型，对居住地址和学校进行地理编码，并归属于暴露区域或控制区域。监测空气中 PM ₁₀和 NO ₂的含量。暴露区域的 PM ₁₀水平高于对照区域。 PM ₁₀平均浓度最高记录在水泥厂附近。相反，NO ₂浓度最高的是控制区，其中车辆交通和家庭供暖是主要的污染物来源。暴露儿童的镍 (Ni)、镉 (Cd)、汞 (Hg) 和砷 (As) 浓度高于对照组。这些浓度相互关联，表明有一个共同的来源。对照区域的趾甲钡 (Ba) 浓度高于暴露区域。在调整混杂因素后，就读学校的位置是 Cd、Hg、Ni、Ba 浓度的预测因子。总之，在城市地区生活和上学并接触水泥厂排放物的儿童表现出有毒金属的慢性生物积累，并且大量接触 PM ₁₀污染。因此，位于人口稠密城市地区的水泥厂似乎有害，需要采取初级预防政策来保护儿童健康。