Determination of cadmium and lead levels in human blood of a general Czech population by GFAAS

The development of a method for the direct determination of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in blood samples by GFAAS, is described. Samples were properly diluted by a matrix modifier to enable measuring both analytes in one solution. For the determination of Cd, a matrix-matched, and for the determination of Pb, an aqueous calibration was used. The precision, accuracy, and detection limits of this method are presented. A method is applied to the investigation of Cd and Pb levels in a general Czech population, selected according to the WHO-MONICA project criteria. To avoid possible contaminations, samples were treated in a clean room class 100.     

Determination of selenium in the human brain by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

For the investigation of neurological disorders, a development of simple and accessible methods for determining selenium in human brain samples is required. We devised a method of determining selenium using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). An electrodeless discharge lamp provided the sufficient sensitivity to determine brain selenium. The matrix interferences were avoided by using high temperature, a prolonged pyrolysis step, and a palladium matrix modifier. The technique of standard addition was used to evaluate the sample concentrations. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by a bovine liver reference material. The detection limit of selenium was 0.04 ng. The determined selenium concentrations of human brain cortex and white matter were higher than those of putamen (115–155 and 206–222 ng/g wet wt, respectively). These GFAAS values agreed with those obtained by fluorometric analysis (r=0.91,n=10). Moreover, the GFAAS values were compatible to those reported by other researchers (99–274 ng/g wet wt), in which selenium concentrations in putamen also tended to be higher than the other two regions. We conclude that GFAAS is useful for selenium analysis in brain samples.     

Lead and Cadmium Contamination in Roadside Soils in Irbid City,Jordan: A Case Study

This study evaluates the amount and distribution of Pb and Cd in roadside soils adjacent to two main roads in Irbid, Jordan, from October 2001 to July 2002. A total of 260 samples were collected from Irbid-Howara Street and Yarmouk University Street. Lead and Cd content were measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The environmental significance of this study is discussed in terms of the influence of traffic density on Pb and Cd concentrations in roadside soils, and enrichment factors were calculated to evaluate the degree of pollution. The accuracy of the results obtained has been examined and two standard reference materials, CRM 142 R (soil) and SRM 2709 (soil), were analyzed to confirm the accuracy of the results. The precision of the measurements was assessed in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD) using five replicate analyses of samples collected from the roadside sites. RSD values for Pb and Cd were found to be less than 6%. The overall Pb concentration in roadside soil samples was 325 and 431 μg g^?1 for Pb and 1.142 and 1.135 μg g^?1 for Cd in Yarmouk University Street and Irbid-Houwa Street, respectively. Results indicated that levels of Pb and Cd were decreasing as the distance from the road increases. Enrichment factor results were 655 and 826 for Pb, and 252 and 237 for Cd in Yarmouk University Street and Irbid-Houwa Street, respectively.     

Smoking does not influence cadmium concentrations in blood and urine in relatively high levels of environmental cadmium areas in Japan

We examined how the influence of smoking on blood and urinary cadmium (Cd) concentrations was modified by the level of environmental Cd. We measured blood and urinary Cd concentrations of 1134 men over 50 yr of age in three areas in Japan that were exposed to different levels of environmental Cd. Analysis of variance was used to compare Cd concentrations in blood and urine of smokers with those of nonsmokers living in the three areas. Correlation coefficients between the number of cigarets smoked per day or smoking indices (the number of cigarets smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked) and blood and urinary Cd concentrations were calculated. No significant difference in Cd concentrations between smokers and nonsmokers was observed in areas where the average Cd concentration in blood was over approx 2.4 ng/g, 2.0 μg/L in urine, and 2.3 μg/g creatinine in urine, respectively. Therefore, it was suggested that an influence of smoking on blood and urinary Cd concentrations was not observed in areas exposed to relatively high levels of environmental Cd.     

湿式消解-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定金线莲铅、铜、镉含量

采用湿式消解法对金线莲药材进行处理,石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定其铅(Pb)、铜(Cu)、镉(Cd)等重金属元素含量。结果表明,Pb、Cu、Cd 三种元素的原子化温度分别是2100、2200和1800 ℃,灰化温度分别是400、800和250 ℃。Pb、Cu、Cd三种元素的检出限分别为0.47、0.50、0.62 μg·L-1,其加标回收率在92.7%～94.0%之间,平均相对标准偏差为1.71%,说明仪器精密度良好,湿式消解-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法能有效测定金线莲药材中Pb、Cu、Cd含量。     

Aluminium speciation in soil solutions as studied by size exclusion chromatography

Size exclusion chromatography was used for the fractionation of the aqueous extracts taken from different soil horizons (LOf, Oh, Ah, 15 and 35 cm). The aluminium content in the fractions was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In the fractions obtained from the LOf, Oh and Ah horizons, a great part of the total aluminium was bound to organic molecules. Over 90% of the aluminium in mineral soil solutions (15 and 35 cm depth) was of low molecular weight or associated with those species.     

石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定虾产品中铝的方法研究

目的:本文着重研究利用石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定虾产品中铝,对测定条件进行优化选择,达到快速、准确,以弥补国家标准检测方法中没有虾产品中铝检测方法的不足。方法:利用混合酸硝酸-高氯酸对样品进行消化处理,无基体改进剂,利用石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪进行定量检测。结果:在优化干燥、灰化、原子化、除残四个步骤的时间和温度的实验条件后,铝含量在0.0-50.0μg/L范围内呈线性关系,相关系数达到r=0.9990,最低检出限为0.54 ng/mL,铝的特征质量为5.0 pg。相对标准偏差为3.83%-6.42%,虾产品中铝含量测定回收率为90.7%-105.6%。结论:本法方便准确,灵敏度高,并有较高的回收率,可作为日常检测使用。     

Determination of cobalt in water samples using solidified floating organic drop microextraction coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A simple, rapid and inexpensive method of the solidified floating organic drop extraction (SFODME) technique coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) has been developed for the determination of cobalt in water samples. 8-Hydroxyquinoline was used as a complex agent and 1-undecanol was used as the extraction solvent. The factors, including solvent types, solution pH, extractant volume and interfering ions, were investigated and optimised. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range 0.05–10.0 ng mL^-1 cobalt, the limit of detection was 0.02 ng mL^-1, the limit of quantification was 0.05 ng mL^-1 and the relative standard deviation for 10 replicate measurements of 3 ng mL^-1 cobalt was 2.8%. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of cobalt in different water samples and the results were satisfactory.     

Chromium and manganese levels in the scalp hair of normals and patients with breast cancer

The adverse health effects linked with chromium and manganese and the diverse cellular and molecular effects of chromium and manganese make the study of chromium and manganese carcinogenesis and toxicology very interesting and complex. Quantitative elemental analysis of scalp hair of breast cancer patients (stage III) (n=26) and controls (n=27) were used to study to find correlation and possible changes between breast cancer and healthy controls. The graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis of quantitative method was used for the determination of chromium and manganese element levels. Comparison of mean elemental contents of the breast cancer patients with controls shows a significant enhancement of chromium (p<0.05) but declining trends for manganase (p<0.05) in breast cancer patients. Changes in element content in hair can serve as a guide to opening up new vistas in the treatment of breast cancer on the basis of an overall analysis of symptoms and signs.     

Speciation of platinum in blood plasma and urine by micelle-mediated extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A highly sensitive and selective technique for the speciation of platinum by cloud point extraction prior to determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was described. The separation of Pt(II) from Pt(IV) was performed in the presence of 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)thiosemicarbazide (HCPTS) as chelating agent and Triton X-114 as a non-ionic surfactant. The extraction of Pt(II)–HCPTS complex needs temperature higher than the cloud point temperature of Triton X-114 and pH = 7, while Pt(IV) remains in the aqueous phase. The Pt(II) in the surfactant phase was analyzed by GFAAS, and the concentration of Pt(IV) was calculated by subtraction of Pt(II) from total platinum which was directly determined by GFAAS. The effect of pH, concentration of chelating agent, surfactant, and equilibration temperature were investigated. An enrichment factor of 42 was obtained for the preconcentration of Pt(II) with 50 mL solution. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the calibration curve was linear up to 30 μg L^?1 with detection limit of 0.08 μg L^?1 and the relative standard deviation was 1.8%. No considerable interference was observed due to the presence of coexisting anions and cations. The accuracy of the results was verified by analyzing different spiked samples (tap water, blood plasma and urine). The proposed method was applied to the speciation analysis of Pt in blood plasma and urine with satisfactory results.     

The improvement of sensitivity in lead and cadmium determinations using flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Various designs of quartz tubes of the slotted tube atom trap were examined to improve the sensitivity of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The studied designs include the diameter length and the length of the upper slot of quartz tubes. Tubes having a diameter of 5 and 6 mm and an upper slot length of 2.3 cm produce the best sensitivity—as high as 6- and 10-fold enhancement for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), respectively. The limits of quantitation were found to be 35 and 4 ng ml⁻¹ for Pb and Cd, respectively, by the optimized method. The achieved technique was applied to determine the concentrations of Pb and Cd in cancerous (malign) and noncancerous (adenoma) human thyroid tissues.     

Blood pressure in relation to dietary calcium intake, alcohol consumption, blood lead, and blood cadmium in female nonsmokers

The interrelationship of dietary calcium (Ca) intake, alcohol consumption, blood lead (BPb), blood cadmium (BCd), age, and body mass index (BMI) to blood pressure was examined in 267 peasant women 40-85 years of age. They were residents of two rural areas in Croatia and differed with regard to dietary Ca intake: 100 women with low Ca intake (approximately 450 mg/day) and 167 women with relatively high Ca intake (approximately 940 mg/day). All of the women were nonsmokers and consumed very little or no alcohol. Median and range BPb values were 74 (29-251) microg/L in women with low Ca intake and 59 (21-263) microg/L in women with high Ca intake (p < 0.0002), whereas corresponding BCd values were 0.6 (0.2-3.6) microg/L and 0.6 (0.3-4.5) microg/L (p > 0.10). Results of multiple regression showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in systolic blood pressure with age, BMI, and BCd, and marginally with alcohol consumption (multiple r = 0.48, p < 10(- 6)). An increase in diastolic blood pressure was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with BMI, age, and residence area (i.e., it was higher in women with low Ca intake), and marginally with BCd, and alcohol consumption (multiple r = 0.38, p < 10(-6)) When the two groups of women with different Ca intake were subdivided into consumers and nonconsumers of alcohol, BPb was related positively to alcohol consumption and inversely to Ca intake. The highest BPb was found in the subgroup of alcohol consumers with low Ca intake, and the lowest BPb in the subgroup of nonconsumers with high Ca intake: 78 (42-251) microg/L and 51 (22-192) microg/L, respectively (p < 10(-8)). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the former subgroup as compared to the latter: 95 (72-130) mm Hg and 90 (60-120) mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.05). This cannot be explained by age, BMI, or BCd, which were comparable in the two subgroups. The results indicate that alcohol consumption and low Ca intake can increase BPb, which may significantly contribute to an increase in diastolic blood pressure in female nonsmokers even at relatively low-level Pb exposure.     

Analysis of cadmium and lead in mice organs

Analysis and distribution of Pb and Cd in different mice organs, including the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and blood, were evaluated before and after treatment with different aqueous concentrations of Nigella sativa (1.25–10.0 mg/L). Atomic absorption spectrometry was used for analysis of Pb and Cd in these organs. Results indicated that the Pb in the unexposed group of mice without treatment with N. sativa (black cumin) was in the following order: liver>heart>spleen>kidney, and the distribution of Pb in various organs of the unexposed group was not affected significantly by N. sativa. Moreover, results of mice exposed for Pb show that the Pb concentrations in different organs were reduced significantly (p<0.05) by 72.9%, 63.4%, 72.3%, 66.7%, and 39.5% at a dose of 10 mg/L of N. sativa for the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and blood, respectively. Furthermore, the distribution of Cd in the unexposed Cd group of mice without treatment with N. sativa was in the following order: kidney>heart>spleen>liver. Nigella sativa at 10 mg/L reduced Cd levels in mice exposed to Cd by 75.5%, 83.3%, 47.0%, 95.3%, and 100% in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and blood, respectively, whereas blood Cd concentrations were lowered to below the detection limit of 0.05 μg/L. A 28-d exposure of mice to a Cd−Pb mixture at a concentration of 1 ppm in drinking water induced a highly significant inhibition (p<0.0001) of antibody response to human serum (80.5%). The suppressed immune responses in mice pretreated with the Cd−Pb mixture were reversed by 43.1% and 38.9% in the presence of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL of N. sativa, respectively, whereas higher concentrations (5–10 mg/mL) of N. sativa increased the immunosuppression significantly. Nigella sativa at 1.25–10 mg/mL did not induce any significant modulation of the antibody response in unexposed mice.     

Application of Poly 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐COOH hybrid material as an efficient sorbent for trace determination of cadmium and lead ions in water samples

Poly 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐COOH hybrid material as an effective sorbents in solid phase extraction has been developed for the separation and preconcentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) at trace levels in environmental water samples. The results indicate that the novel nanocomposite show a high affinity for these heavy metals due to the presence of several good extractive sites, which are introduced to the synthesized nanocomposite The maximum adsorption capacity of the synthesized sorbent for cadmium and lead ions was found to be 101.2 and 175.2 mg g^?1, respectively. The detection limits of this method were 0.09 and 0.7 ng ml^?1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

桑-蚕系统中镉的吸收、累积与迁移

对桑－蚕系统中镉的吸收,累积与迁移行为研究结果表明：（１）桑树对土壤镉污染有一定的耐性,桑树镉累积量和相对累积率与土壤镉浓度的关系可分别用回归方程Ｔａ＝ａ＋ｂｌｏｇ（Ｓｃ）和ｌｏｇ（Ｒａ）＝ａ＋ｂｌｏｇ（Ｓｃ）描述。（２）随着土壤镉浓度的增加,镉在桑树根部的分布率明显增加,地上部分的分布率有所降低,运转到叶片的比率明显降低。（３）蚕体,蚕砂和蚕茧的镉含量,镉累积量,随着桑叶镉含量的增加而增加。     

Subcellular distribution of aluminum, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and lead in cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus)

In this work, the distribution of nine metals in two types of cultivated mushroom had been investigated. For Agaricus bisporus, the biomass was separated into caps and stalks, and for Pleurotus ostreatus, the entire mushrooms were taken for analysis. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used for total element determination in acid digests. For accuracy checking, the certified reference material (NIST 1571, citrus leaves) was analyzed. The results obtained for the two fungi species were within the ranges of concentration reported previously by other authors. Subcellular fractionation was accomplished by centrifugation of cell homogenates, which has been suspended in Tris-HCl buffer. In the first centrifugation (7300g, 4°C, 10 min), cell walls were separated (pellet I), and the second centrifugation (147,000g, 4°C, 60 min) yielded mixed membrane fraction (pellet II) and cytosol (supernatant II). Recoveries of the fractionation procedure were in the range 70–100% (with the exception of Fe). For all elements studied, the highest relative contributions were found in cytosol fractions of the fruiting bodies (63–72%, 49–76%, 44–93%, 26–87pc, 55–85%, 50–68%, 41–78%, 39–78%, 54–67% respectively for Al, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb. Lower contributions were found in cell walls (respectively 22–32%, 24–44%, 6.1–47%, 12–52%, 7.3–37%, 7.9–32%, 19–52%, 20–42%, and 25–38%) and only minute amounts in the mixed membrane fraction (3.0–5.8%, 0.7–7.0%, 0.7–8.3%, 1.0–22%, 7.5–14%, 16–24%, 1.1–19%, and 5.1–7.7%). The results obtained indicate that small water-soluble molecules were the primary forms of nine elements in two mushroom species studied. On the other hand, the evidence has been provided on elements binding to larger, water-insoluble molecules contained in the structures of cell wall and membranes. The relative distribution was both element and fungi dependent. Thus, in P. ostreatus, total element levels were higher than in A. bisporus, with the preference for their accumulation in cytosol. On the contrary, total element content in the latter fungi was lower; however, a clear tendency toward more efficient element incorporation to the water-insoluble structures was observed (no apparent differences between stalks and caps). These findings might contribute in a better understanding of the accumulation of metals in mushrooms.     

Tissue digestion for aluminum determination in experimental animal studies

Four different procedures for the determination of aluminum in tissues by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) were investigated. They consisted of conventional acid digestion carried out before and after sample drying, associated or not with fat extraction. Drying was carried out in a conventional oven at 65 °C for 24 h. For fat extraction, different solvents and solvent mixtures were investigated considering both extraction yield and sample adequacy for further AAS measurement. Acid digestion was carried out with pure HNO₃ or with its mixture with HClO₄. After digestion, aluminum was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Tissues were collected from Al-exposed and nonexposed mice. The results indicated that drying the sample prior to digestion is advantageous as the amount of acid necessary can be significantly reduced. This procedure does not contribute to increase the aluminum level in the samples providing that careful measures to avoid contamination are taken, as the same procedures carried out without taking any precautions to avoid contamination produced imprecise results. Finally, aluminum was not found in the fatty fraction of any sample, even in exposed mice, demonstrating that aluminum does not accumulate in this part of the tissues.     

不同类型茄对镉的富集及嫁接对镉富集特性的影响

以普通茄(Solanum melongena,绿健)和野生茄(S.torvum,托鲁巴姆)为实验材料,通过对嫁接处理前后7叶龄植株开展7d含Cd水培实验(Cd浓度为0.1 mg· L-1),研究Cd在不同类型茄体内的富集特征以及嫁接对茄体内Cd运输途径和富集特性的影响.结果表明:绿健对Cd的富集能力强于托鲁巴姆.不同部位器官中Cd的分布特征为根＞叶＞茎,其中植株吸收的Cd 80.0％左右富集于根部;不同部位叶片,Cd优先富集于植株顶端幼叶中.嫁接使得Cd在茄地上部的富集量明显减少,接穗Cd的富集量均显著低于砧木:以绿健为对照,正向嫁接减少了48.4％,反向嫁接减少了34.2％,托鲁巴姆自嫁接减少了88.5％;以托鲁巴姆为对照,仅自嫁接地上部Cd富集量减少了58.0％.嫁接减少Cd在茄体内富集的原因可能是嫁接使接穗与砧木植物韧皮部结构产生了差异,由此推断Cd在茄体内的长距离运输过程中韧皮部起到了关键作用.     

Heavy metal concentrations in,and human health risk assessment of,three commercially valuable fish species in the lower Niger River,Nigeria

The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and V in water, sediment and the gill, liver and muscle tissues of Synodontis resupinatus, Heterotis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus, all commercially important fish species of the lower Niger River, were investigated in 2015. Water, sediment and fish samples were collected for six months and heavy metals were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Fe ranked highest in water and sediment, with concentrations of 2.74 mg l^?1 and 61.60 mg kg^?1, respectively. Metals followed the magnitude of Fe > Mn > Ni > V > Pb in the water and Fe > Mn > V > Ni > Pb in the sediments. Metal concentrations were higher in the tissues of S. resupinatus compared with H. niloticus and C. gariepinus. Fe was also highest in the gills, liver and muscle of the three fish species. Its highest concentration of 132.97 mg kg^?1 dry weight was recorded in the gills of S. resupinatus. Bioconcentration factors of metals ranged from 8.79 for Mn in H. niloticus muscle to 67.99 for Ni in S. resupinatus gills. The fish species studied pose no health risk for all metals studied, because the target hazard quotient was less than 1 and the estimated daily intakes of the metals were below the reference doses.     

Palladium exposure of barley: uptake and effects

Motor vehicles are now equipped with exhaust gas catalytic converters containing rare metals, such as palladium (Pd), platinum and rhodium, as catalytic active materials, leading to significantly increased emission of these metals. Compared with platinum and rhodium, low concentrations of Pd have been shown to have more serious effects on cells and organisms. In the present study, uptake of Pd by barley and behaviour of Pd nanoparticles in nutrient solutions used to grow plants were observed in order to develop a model of Pd exposure of plant systems. Pd determination was performed using a selective separation and pre-concentration procedure, which was further developed for this study, and coupled to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results show that uptake of Pd depends on Pd particle diameter. Compared to other toxic metals, like mercury, Pd causes stress effects in leaves at lower concentrations in nutrient solutions. Furthermore, Pd particles are dissolved at different rates, depending on size, in the nutrient solution during plant growth.