Elemental profile of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with Parkinson''s disease

To ascertain the potential role of chemical elements (namely, Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, W, Zn and Zr) as markers in the Parkinson's disease (PD), the elemental concentration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 42 patients with PD and 20 age-matched controls was assessed. Analyses were performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Significantly lower levels of Co, Cr, Fe, Pb, Si and Sn were observed in the CSF of PD patients compared with those in controls, with a percentage of depletion up to 50% for Cr and Pb. No such variations were detected for all the other elements. Results suggested that Pb, Cr, Fe were the most suitable elements to distinguish between normality and PD. Different cut-off concentrations for these elements could be tentatively proposed as a predictive tool for the PD condition.     

Trace and mineral elements in royal jelly and homeostatic effects

Royal jelly from Apis mellifera is a highly active natural biological substance and is probably one of the most interesting raw substances in natural product chemistry. Trace elements play a key role in the biomedical activities associated with royal jelly, as these elements have a multitude of known and unknown biological functions. For this reason concentrations of 28 trace (Al, Ba, Sr, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Ni, Ti, V, Co, Mo) and mineral (P, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) elements were systematically investigated in botanically and geologically defined royal jelly samples. In addition, concentrations of 14 trace elements were measured in the associated honey samples--honey being the precursor of royal jelly. Concentrations of K, Na, Mg, Ca, P, S, Cu, Fe, Zn, Al, Ba and Sr in royal jelly were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), while concentrations of Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, Co and Mo in royal jelly were determined by double focusing magnetic sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). In the honey samples, trace and mineral element concentrations strongly depended on botanical and geological origin, and substantial variation was found. In contrast, the concentrations of trace and mineral elements were highly constant in the associated royal jelly samples. The most important results were the homeostatic adjustments of trace and mineral element concentrations in royal jelly. This effect was evidently produced in the endocrine glands of nurse bees, which are adapted for needs of bee larvae. In conclusion, this research yielded a surprising and completely new finding--that royal jelly, as a form of lactation on the insect level, shows the same homeostatic adjustment as mammalian and human breast milk.     

Minor and trace elements in human milk from Guatemala,Hungary, Nigeria,Philippines, Sweden,and Zaire

Concentrations of As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, V, and Zn were determined in human whole milk samples from Guatemala, Hungary, Nigeria, Philippines, Sweden, and Zaire; in most of these countries, three groups of subjects representing different socioeconomic conditions were studied. Analytical quality control was a primary consideration throughout. The analytical techniques used were atomic absorption spectrophotometry, atomic emission spectrometry with an inductively coupled plasma, colorimetry, electrochemistry, using an ion-selective electrode and neutron activation analysis. The differences between median concentrations of Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na, and P (minor elements) were lower than 20% among the six countries. Among trace elements, concentrations observed in Filipino milk for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and V were higher than for milk samples from other countries. The remaining five countries showed a mixed picture of high and low values. In the case of at least some elements, such as, F, I, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Se, the environment appears to play a major role in determining their concentrations in human milk. The nutritional status of the mother, as reflected by her socioeconomic status, does not appear to influence significantly the breast milk concentrations of minor and trace elements. Significant differences exist between the actual daily intakes observed in this study and current dietary recommendations made by, for example, WHO and the US National Academy of Sciences. These differences are particularly large (an order of magnitude or more!) for Cr, F, Fe, Mn, and Mo; for other elements, such as, Ca, Cu, Mg, P, and Zn, they amount to at least a factor 2. In the opinion of the present authors, these findings point to the need for a possible reassessment of the dietary requirements of young infants with respect to minor and trace elements, particularly for the elements Ca, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, P, and Zn.     

Quantification of 26 metals in human urine samples using ICP-MSMS in a random sample collective of an occupational and environmental health care center in Aachen,Germany

Despite several studies on metal exposure in the general population, the knowledge on the background burden of distinct metals is still sparse (e.g. Cu, In, Mn, Pb, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te). While up to date reference values exist for 16 distinct metals as Biological Reference Value (BAR) or the 95th percentile for Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Li, Mo, Ni, Pt, Sb, Se, Tl and U respectively, the background burden of the general population for the remaining elements is unknown or yet no matter of scientific counselling. We established and validated an inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MSMS) human biomonitoring method (HBM), that enabled us to determine 26 metals in urine. Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Ga, Gd, Hg, In, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Tl, V and Zn were analyzed. The method was applied to 88 urine samples collected in the ambulance of the Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine (IASU) Aachen, Germany. Patients from two major metal processing companies (steel and copper) and a more heterogenous group of occupational exposed and non-exposed persons were defined and distinguished. HBM data from about 88, in general occupationally unexposed persons against certain metals served as a collective representing the general population in first approximation. For these the 95th percentiles are reported. Significant differences of urinary metal concentrations of the employees of the two metal processing companies compared to the third group were observed among others for Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn and are discussed, thus demonstrating the usefulness of the method for both environmental and occupational purposes.     

Potential health risk of selected metals for Polish consumers of oolong tea from the Fujian Province,China

The influence of environmental pollution on the heavy metal content in oolong teas from the Fujian Province, China, and the health risk for the Polish consumers were studied. Average contents of the metals in made oolong tea leaves were (mg kg^?1): Al 1452, Cd 0.08, Co 0.23, Cr 1.59, Cu 10.5, Fe 140, Hg 0.10, Mn 1465, Mo 0.63, Ni 3.45, Pb 1.99, Sb 0.78, Se 5.15, Sn 3.16, Tl 0.28, and Zn 26.9. The metals easily released from leaves to infusions were: Tl, Se, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ni, Al, and Pb. No concentration of As, Hg, Mo, or Pb was found in the first infusion and no As, Co, Hg, or Mo was found in the second one. The hazard quotient values for particular metals found in the infusions and tea leaves and the appraised combined hazard index (HI) amounted to <1. The highest HI values, resulting from the consumption of both infusions, did not exceed 5.88E-03, or 6.94E-04a in the case of tea leaves. No health hazard for the Polish consumers of oolong teas was identified at any of the examined stages of consumption. However, we recommend discarding the first tea infusion to reduce the metal concentrations before consumption.     

Sources and risk assessment of toxic elements in the agricultural soil of Tiantai County of Zhejiang province,China

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the pollution level of toxic elements, their ecological risk and human health hazard in the agricultural soil of Tiantai County, Zhejiang province. A total of 2651 soil samples were collected and analyzed for 13 toxic elements using different analytical techniques. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Hg, Mn, and Zn was higher than the Zhejiang background value in more than 50% of samples. Enrichment factor showed that As, Cd, Hg, Mo, Pb, Se, V, and Zn were anthropogenically loaded and most of the toxic elements showed poor spatial distribution. Nemerow pollution index showed that Chicheng, Shiliang, Pingqiao, Tantou, and Youngxi towns were seriously polluted by toxic elements. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that Co, Cr, Ni, and Cu, whereas, Cd, Pb, and Zn shared the similar source of origin. A large area of Tiantai County experiencing moderate to a serious level of pollution but most of the toxic elements exhibit low risk to the environment except Cd and Hg. Furthermore, children were more prone to health hazards than adults with following order: As?>?Cr?>?Pb?>?Mn. Overall, As and Pb were prominent for pollution, ecological risk, and human health hazards.     

Trace element status of hemodialyzed patients

The trace elements Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Hg, La, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Tl, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in plasma samples of 68 hemodialysis patients. The same elements (with exception of La and Mn) were also determined in whole blood after mineralization with high-purity nitric acid/hydrogen peroxide in a closed-pressurized microwave system. The accuracy and precision was checked by analyzing two Seronorm “whole blood” reference materials. All samples were contaminated with barium (heparinized tubes) and the plasma samples with tin (collection tubes). The concentrations for Bi, Hg, Pb, Rb, Sb, and Sr in whole blood were within the literature ranges for healthy adults. All of the concentrations for Co, and some of the concentrations for Cd, Cs, Tl, and Zn were higher than the high limits of the normal ranges. Approximately 14% of the Cu concentrations were lower than the low limit of the normal range. The Mo and Sn concentrations are difficult to evaluate, because the normal ranges appears to be unreliable. All concentrations for Cd, Co, Mo, Pb, Sn, and Sr and some of the concentrations for Cu (15%) and Mn (75%) in the plasma samples were higher than the high limits of the normal ranges. The concentrations for Rb tended to be lower than the normal range. To establish unequivocally the causes for elevated and reduced concentrations of trace elements in whole blood and plasma of dialysis patients, all fluids in the dialysis process must be investigated.     

Comparison of the toxicity of heavy metals to cabbage growth

Summary Cabbage plants were grown for 55 days with a nutrient solution containing 1 and 10 ppm of V, Cr(III), Cr(VI), Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg(I), orHg(II). A comparison of the plant growth and chemical analysis revealed that Cr(VI), Cu, Cd, and Hg(II) in the solution are most toxic to the plant growth (hence detrimental to the cabbage-head formation) and Mn, Fe, and Zn are less toxic than other heavy metals, and that Mn, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cd and translocated into all the plant organs while V, Cr(III), Cr(VI), Fe, Cu, Hg(I), and Hg(II) are accumulated in the roots.     

渭河陕西段沉积物重金属空间分布及来源解析

为了了解渭河陕西段河道沉积物重金属空间分布特征,本研究对渭河陕西段干流及其支流17个采样点沉积物中的10种重金属元素(Cd、Sb、As、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn)含量进行测定及来源辨析。结果表明: 重金属元素Cd、Sb、As、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn的平均含量分别为0.10、1.24、11.73、11.95、24.90、24.91、29.31、54.18、72.74、626.85 mg·kg^-1, 除Cd的变异系数大于1以外,其他元素的变异系数均低于0.5。其中,Cd、Pb、Cr含量于灞河入渭处达到峰值,Co和Mn在黑河入渭处达到峰值,Cu和Zn在清姜河入渭处达到峰值, Sb、As和Ni分别于沙王渡、咸阳铁桥和林家村处达到峰值。相关性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析表明,Cd、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn主要来源于以工业源和生活源为主的污染源;Sb、As主要来源于农业和地球化学污染源。     

Multianalysis of trace elements in mosses with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

As a part of an air-pollution biomonitoring survey, a procedure using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and microwave digestion was developed to achieve a high sample throughput and guarantee the accuracy of the results. This article presents an analytical method to measure 22 trace elements. As, Ba, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, W were analyzed in 563 mosses collected in France. The digestion was performed in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vessel using the mixture HNO₃-H₂O₂-HF. The data were reprocessed taking into account the drift curve calculated for each element. The detection limits (DL) calculation was based on the standard deviations of the reagent blanks concentrations. The DL varied from one batch to another, because of the heterogeneity of the mosses’ elemental contents. The DL ranged between 0.001 μg/g (Cs, Tl) and 70 μg/g (Fe) and were mainly around 0.01 μg/g (As, Cd, Ce, Co, Hg, La, Mo, Sb, Sr, U, V, W). The detection limits obtained were in agreement with the concentrations observed in the samples, except for Hg and Ni. The reproducibility between duplicates and the analytical precision were near 10%. The procedure was tested with the mosses’ reference materials.     

奉节脐橙不同器官元素含量分布特征

对奉节脐橙果、叶、干、根中的必需大量元素 (N、K、Ca、Mg、P、S)、微量元素 (Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、B、Mo)、有益元素 (Si、Co、F、Se、Ni、Sr)、有毒有害元素 (Hg、As、Cr、Cd、Pb、Sb、Bi)的分布特征进行分析 ,结果表明 :果、叶、干、根对各元素的吸收与富集特征具有明显的规律性 ,如叶、干、根中大量元素含量次序均为 Ca>N>K>Mg,叶、干、根中微量元素含量均有 Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Mo的规律 ,根、干、叶中有益微量元素含量次序均为 Si>Sr>F>Ni>Co>Se,叶、干、根中有毒有害元素含量次序均有 Pb>As>Sb >Hg的规律 ;在脐橙各器官中 ,叶是大量元素与有毒有害元素最富集的器官 ,根则是有益元素最富集的器官 ,有毒有害元素的 Cr、微量元素的 Mn、Fe、Mo也以根最为富集 ,干则是上述元素最不富集的器官 ,所有元素中 ,仅 Zn在干中最富集 ;大量元素 (除 N外 )、微量元素、有益元素在脐橙各器官的分配含量与地壳土壤背景值的分异含量趋势基本一致 ,土壤背景是这三类元素的主要控制因素。但有毒有害元素的分配形式则明显受人类活动的影响     

Pollution Assessment and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils around Four Pb/Zn Mines of Shaoguan City,China

A total of 455 agricultural soil samples from four nonferrous mines/smelting sites in Shaoguan City, China, were investigated for concentrations of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The mean concentrations of the metals were 72.4, 5.16, 13.3, 54.8, 84.5, 1.52, 425, 28.2, 529, and 722 mg kg^?1, respectively. The values for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn were more than 8 and 1.5 times higher than their background values in this region and the limit values of Grade II soil quality standard in China, respectively. Estimated ecological risks based on contamination factors and potential ecological risk factors were also high or very high for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Multivariate analysis (Pearson's correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis) strongly implied three distinct groups; i.e., As/Cu/Hg/Zn, Co/Cr/Mn/Ni, and Cd/Pb. Local anomalies for As, Cu, Hg, and Zn by a probably anthropogenic source (identified as mining activity), Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni by natural contribution, and a mixed source for Cd and Pb, were identified. This is one of the few studies with a focus on potential sources of heavy metals in agricultural topsoil around mining/smelting sites, providing evidence for establishing priorities in the reduction of ecological risks posed by heavy metals in Southern China and elsewhere.     

Heavy metals in water,sediments, fish and plants of river Hindon,U.P., India

We analysed the concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the water, sediments, fish and plants of the River Hindon, U.P., India, at seven sampling stations, in the year 1982. Considerable variation in concentration between water, sediments, fish and plants were noted. The concentration in the water was in the order Fe > Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd, in the sediments, Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > - Co > Cu > Pb > Cd; in a fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Ni > Co > Cu > Cd > Cr, and in a plant (Eicchornia crassipes) Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > Cd.     

浙江油茶产地土壤和果实金属元素含量特征

为探讨油茶(Camellia oleifera)产地土壤和油茶果实中金属元素分布和富集特征,在油茶果实成熟期,对浙江5个油茶产地土壤及油茶果实中金属元素进行污染分析和富集能力评价.结果表明,浙江油茶产地土壤中Pb、Cr、Cd、As、Hg、Ni、Cu和Zn含量低于农用地土壤污染风险筛选值,综合污染等级为安全.个别产区常山...     

Assessment of reference values for hair minerals of Korean preschool children

Hair samples of 655 children (3–6 yr of age) from metropolitan and small cities in Korea were analyzed to determine the content of 23 minor and trace elements with the aim of assessing reference values. Fifteen essential elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ca, Mg, Mn, P, Na, K, Cr, Se, Li, V, Co, Mo) and 8 harmful elements (Pb, Al, Hg, As, Cd, Ba, Bi, U) were taken into account. Measurements were performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The overall mean values were as follows (μ/g): Al, 8.78; As, 0.11; Ba, 0.32; Bi, 0.04; Ca, 212.47; Cd, 0.08; Co, 0.01; Cr, 0.47; Cu, 15.51; Fe, 12.62; Hg, 0.49; K, 34.10; Li, 0.01; Mg, 12.29; Mn, 0.29; Mo, 0.07; Na; 27.14; P, 121.21; Pb, 1.68; Se, 0.75; U. 0.04; V. 0.08; Zn, 69.99. There was no significant difference in hair mineral content between children living in metropolitan and small cities. There were positive correlations between age and the level of Zn, Ca, Na, P, Mn, and Li, but negative correlations between age and the level of Cr, V, and U. The proposed reference values for hair Zn, Mg, Ca, As, and Cd of Korean children were lower than those of other countries, but the values for other elements of hair were not significantly different from those of other countries.     

Comparison of Trace Elements in the Scalp Hair of Malignant and Benign Breast Lesions Versus Healthy Women

Trace elements including Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, and Zn were analyzed in the scalp hair samples of women with malignant breast lesions, women with benign breast lesions, and healthy donors using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In the scalp hair of malignant-tumor patients, the highest average concentration was shown by Ca (1,187 μg/g), followed by Na (655 μg/g), Mg (478 μg/g), Zn (391 μg/g), Sr (152 μg/g), Fe (114 μg/g), and K (89.8), while in the case of benign-tumor patients, the average estimated element levels were 1,522, 1,093, 572, 457, 217, 80.4, and 74.7 μg/g, respectively. Most of the elements exhibited non-normal distribution evidenced by large spread, standard error, and skewness values. Mean concentrations of Ca (634 μg/g), Zn (206 μg/g), Mg (162 μg/g), Fe (129 μg/g), and Na (82.1 μg/g) were noteworthy in the scalp hair of healthy women. Average levels of Na, Sr, K, Cd, Co, Pb, Mg, Ca, Zn, Ni, Sb, and Mn were revealed to be significantly higher in the hair of malignant and benign patients compared to the healthy women; however, Fe, Cu, Al, and Cr were not significantly different in the scalp hair of the three groups. The quartile distributions of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Sr revealed maximum spread in the scalp hair of malignant and benign groups; nevertheless, Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn exhibited almost comparable quartile levels in the three groups. Strong correlation coefficients were found between Fe and Cd, Al and Na, Mn and Sr, Co and Cr, Cd and Cr, Pb and K, Pb and Mn, Cu and Na, and Al and Fe in the scalp hair of malignant-tumor patients, while Fe and K, Cd and Co, Na and Co, and Cr and Pb showed strong correlations in the scalp hair of benign-tumor patients, both of which were significantly different compared with the healthy subjects. Multivariate cluster analysis also revealed divergent clustering of the elements in the scalp hair of malignant and benign patients in comparison with the healthy women.     

Accumulation of metals and metalloids in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) irrigated with domestic wastewater in the peri-urban areas of Khushab City,Pakistan

Accumulation of different metals and metalloids was assessed in two vegetables radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) irrigated with domestic wastewater in the peri-urban areas of Khushab City, Pakistan. In general, the metal and metalloid concentrations in radish and spinach were higher at site-II treated with sewage water than those found at site-I treated with canal water. In case of radish at both sites the levels of metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, and Pb) were below the permissible level except those of Mn, Ni, Mo, Cd, and Pb. At both sites, the transfer factor ranged from 0.047–228.3 mg kg^?1 with Cr having the highest transfer factor. The metal pollution index in soil was in the following order: As > Fe > Ni > Zn > Cd > Mo > Se > Co > Pb > Mn > Cr > Cu, respectively. While in case of spinach at both sites, the concentrations of metals and metalloids in vegetable samples irrigated with canal and sewage water were observed below the permissible level except Mn, Ni, Zn, Mo, and Pb. At both sites, the transfer factor ranged from 0.038–245.4 mg kg^?1 with Cr having the highest transfer factor. The metal pollution index in soil was in the following order: Cd > Ni > Co > Se > Mn > Zn > Mo > Pb > Fe > Cr > As > Cu, respectively.     

Fingernails as biological indices of metal exposure

Metal determination in human tissues is the most common application of biological monitoring for screening, diagnosis and assessment of metal exposures and their risks. Various biopsy-materials may be used. This paper deals with the quantitative determination of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn concentrations in nails of male subjects exposed to these metals alongwith their respective controls, while working in locomotive, carriage and roadways workshops, and lead battery factories. The levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in fingernails, assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, were compared with their respective controls by student ‘t’ test. All the obtained values were correlated to the personal and medical history of the subjects under study. Significantly high levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were present in smokers, compared to nonsmokers. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe were not significantly high in vegetarian subjects. It was also observed that there is no contribution of liquor towards nail-metal concentration. Significant correlations were observed between skin disease and Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu; hypertension and Cd, Mn, Cu; mental stress and Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn; diabetes and Cr, Mn, Ni; chest pain and Pb; respiratory trouble and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn; tuberculosis and Zn; acidity and Cd; and ophthalmic problems and Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn     

The Correlation Between Smoking Status of Family Members and Concentrations of Toxic Trace Elements in the Hair of Children

Hair analysis is a promising tool for routine clinical screening and diagnosis of heavy metal exposure and essential trace element status in the human body. Systemic intoxications have been identified by anomalously high values of toxins in hair samples. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between smoking habit of the family members and the levels of toxic and nontoxic trace elements in hair samples of children. The randomized cross-sectional controlled study comprised of 95 children (41 girls and 54 boys) between the ages of 1 and 6 years. After written informed consent was obtained, a face-to-face interview was conducted with the families about educational background, total income of the family, and smoking habits of family members. The mineral elements considered in this study were Zn, Se, B, V, Co, Mo, Mn, iron (Fe), Be, aluminum (Al), As, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), Hg, chromium (Cr), Ag, Be, nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), Sn, and antimony (Sb). Hair mineral contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb, Fe, and Al in hair samples of children whose parents smoked were significantly higher than those whose parents were nonsmokers. The number of smokers and the frequency of smoking at home were positively correlated with Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Sb levels found. At the same time, it was found that there was no correlation between toxic element concentrations and family income or educational background excluding the levels of Cd. A correlation was observed between the smoking status of family members and levels of toxic trace elements in hair where this correlation was more significant with the levels of Pb and Cd. High socioeconomic status and the level of education of family members did not have any effect on toxic trace levels in hair samples of children.     

Characterization and human health risk assessment of trace metal in PM10 in Bac Giang,short-term study in a developing province in Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigated the airborne concentration of PM₁₀ and 20 trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Na, Pb, Ti, V, Zn) in residential, industry, traffic road, coal mining, thermal power plant area of Bac Giang province. The average PM₁₀ concentration was highest at coal site, followed by traffic 1 sites, industrial sites and traffic 2 sites, the residential sites, and lowest at the power plant site located in mountain area. While Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na were the most abundant elements in all sampling sites, accounting for 73–96% of total obtained elements, the concentration of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn occupied from 2.9 to 23.2%. Noticeably, the concentrations of Cd were from 7 to 65 times higher than the concentration limit for Cd (0.1?ng/m³) according the World Health Organization (WHO). Although, the Hazard Index (HI values) of all metals were found to be within the safe level for both children and adults, the Carcinogenic Risk (CR) of Cr and As in all sites were closed to the acceptable levels for children, implying a potential carcinogenic risks of these metals.