The interpretation of human hair trace element concentrations

Scalp hair samples collected from 86 Canadian elderly, non-institutionalized women (mean age 66.6 +/- 6.2 y) on two separate occasions ten weeks apart, were analyzed for Zn, Cu and Mn content. Fasting blood samples were also collected and serum Zn, Cu and albumin content determined. Median hair Zn, Cu and Mn and mean serum Zn and albumin concentrations were not significantly different at the pre- and post-study periods. Furthermore, hair Zn concentrations at the two sampling times were positively and significantly correlated as were hair Cu, hair Mn, serum Zn and serum albumin values. In contrast no significant correlation related the hair and serum Zn values and hair and serum Cu values at any time. The constancy of the hair Zn, Cu and Mn concentrations at the two sampling periods may reflect the homeostatic regulation which controls absorption and hence body trace element content. In addition, results indicate that, after careful laboratory washing, the effects of adventitious contamination on hair trace element content are small, and can be effectively ignored.     

Sex and age related differences in trace element concentrations in hair

The effects of age and sex on hair trace element levels for five essential minerals and trace elements and five toxic trace elements are reported. Recent studies in the field of hair tissue chemistry are discussed.     

Relationship between trace element concentrations in human blood and atmospheric aerosol

Trace element concentrations in human blood from the U.K., measured by Hamilton et al., are found to be correlated to those of atmospheric aerosol from the U.K., or to an aerosol composition averaged over the globe. The correlation to aerosol is much stronger than to crustal rock or sea water. Elemental enrichment factors for blood are all equal to or greater than those for aerosol. Two possible reasons for the correlation are advanced: aerosol is probably a major source of the trace elements which enter the food chain, and aerosol samples the earth's surface where the food chain originates. The present finding suggests that aerosol plays a major role in the global cycling of the trace elements which enter the blood, with important implications for human health.     

Distribution of trace elements in the tissues of benthic and pelagic fish from the Kerguelen Islands

New information on the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn in the liver, kidney and muscles of eight marine benthic and pelagic sub-Antarctic fish species are presented to determine the importance of these metals in the marine systems of the Kerguelen Islands. Compared to the reported metal concentrations in other Antarctic fish species, the present results are globally within the same range of concentrations, although Cd displayed a very high interspecific variability in liver and kidney. Indeed, the highest Cd concentrations in liver, ranging from 10.0 to 52.1 microg x g(-1) dry wt. but also the lowest Cd concentrations in muscles (<0.030 microg x g(-1) dry wt.) have been displayed by the pelagic Myctophidae Gymnoscopelus piabilis. Metal concentrations differences might be related to diet and feeding habits of benthic and pelagic fish species. However, Cd and Hg concentrations in the edible muscle are lower than the French limit values (相似文献   

Correlation between sub-micron surface roughness of iron oxide encrustations and trace element concentrations

Iron oxide encrustations are formed on black slate surfaces during oxidative weathering of iron sulfide and phosphate bearing, organic matter-rich slates. Synchronously, trace elements are released during ongoing weathering. Laser ablation ICP-MS analyses of a weathered and encrusted slate showed that major portions of the V, Cu, As, Mo, Pb, Th, and U reside in the encrustation.Recently a potential relationship between several micrometer to 500 nm surface topography roughness of such encrustations and its uranium concentration was shown. Based on laser scanning microscopy measurements, the present study shows that this interrelation must be expanded to small submicron-sized half-pores with diameters between 100 nm and 500 nm. We demonstrate that the relationship is not limited to topography variations of a single encrustation in the hand-specimen scale. Surface topography and geochemical analyses of iron oxide encrustations from several locations but from the same geochemical environment and with similar weathering history showed that the concentrations of U, P, Cu, and Zn correlate inversely with the surface roughness parameter F. This parameter represents the total surface area and is - in this case - a proxy for the root-mean square surface roughness Rq.This study substantiates the environmental importance that micrometer- to submicrometer topography variations of fluid-rock interfaces govern the trapping of trace elements.     

Short-term variability of dissolved trace element concentrations in the Marne and Seine rivers near Paris

The concentrations of dissolved trace elements (Li, B, Mn, Cu, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Ba, Pb) in the Marne and Seine rivers in the Paris urban area were monitored over a 2-year period. The resulting data indicated moderate contamination of waters by the most toxic elements (Cu, As, Cd and Pb). The River Marne upstream and the River Seine downstream of the city of Paris displayed similar concentrations. However higher fluxes of trace elements were observed in the Seine than in the Marne due to their different discharges. Li, B, Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations were correlated with river discharge and concentrations were higher during high river flow. This was interpreted as a dilution by discharge from a major natural or anthropogenic source. Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd and Pb concentrations were not correlated with discharge. Dissolved Mn, Cu and Cd increased rapidly in summer, whereas the concentration of Mo decreased. These variations were attributed to redox processes. During summer when the dissolved oxygen concentrations decrease, Mn, Cu, Cd and Pb are released into solution whereas Mo is immobilised. Like metals, variations in arsenic contents were not linked with discharge. Its similarity with phosphate distribution suggests similar controls involving phytoplankton uptake and release from sediments through organic matter mineralization.     

Ambient trace element background concentrations in soils and their use in risk assessment

The definition of ambient background concentrations (ABCs) is used in this study to assess the potential environmental risk of trace elements in soils and parent materials from Granada, Spain. Two different layers of soil (0-20 and 20-40 cm) and parent material samples were collected at 93 sites. From cumulative frequency distribution curves, ABCs for As, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn were estimated at 3.5-20, 7-23, 13-25.6, 29-66, 7-20, 15-36, and 5.5-76 mg kg^− 1, respectively. Tukey box-plots were used to discriminate different concentration classes and identify potentially contaminated sites. Weakly-weathered soils (Entisols) over carbonate materials showed the lowest background contents, the most developed soils (Alfisols) over metamorphic rocks the highest ones. Outliers were mainly found near a former iron mine where arsenic concentrations were by far exceeding the corresponding regional ABC. These soils were however, not toxic to Escherichia coli and Vibrio fischeri. The prediction of site-specific ABCs together with bioavailability and toxicity assessment is a valuable tool for giving further insight into the risk of trace elements in soils.     

Impact on the water column biogeochemistry of a Mediterranean mussel and fish farm

We investigated and compared the impact of organic loads due to the biodeposition of mussel and fish farms on the water column of a coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Physico-chemical data (including oxygen, nutrients. DOC and particulate organic matter), microbial variables (picoplankton and picophytoplankton density and biomass) and phytoplankton biomass (as chlorophyll-a) were determined on a monthly basis from March 1997 to February 1998. The results of this study indicate that both fish farm and mussel culture did not alter significantly dissolved inorganic phosphorus and chlorophyll-a values, while inorganic nitrogen concentrations were higher in mussel farm area. However, waters overlying the fish farm presented significantly higher DOC concentrations. In contrast, no significant differences were observed comparing particulate matter concentrations. The increased DOC concentrations determined a response of the heterotrophic fraction of picoplankton, while picophytoplankton, likewise phytoplankton. did not display differences among fish or mussel farms and control site. From the analysis of the different microbial components, it is possible to conclude that the impact of fish farms is evident only for the heterotrophic components. The comparative analysis of the mussel biodeposition and fish-farm impact revealed that mussel farms induced a considerably lower disturbance, apparently limited to an increased density and biomass of microbial assemblages beneath the mussel cultures.     

Laser ablation ICP-MS profiling and semiquantitative determination of trace element concentrations in desert tortoise shells: documenting the uptake of elemental toxicants

The outer keratin layer (scute) of desert tortoise shells consists of incrementally grown laminae in which various bioaccumulated trace elements are sequestered during scute deposition. Laser ablation ICP-MS examination of laminae in scutes of dead tortoises revealed patterns of trace elemental distribution from which the chronology of elemental uptake can be inferred. These patterns may be of pathologic significance in the case of elemental toxicants such as arsenic, which has been linked to both shell and respiratory diseases. Laser ablation transects, performed along the lateral surfaces of sectioned scutes, offered the most successful means of avoiding exogenous contamination that was present on the scute exterior. Semiquantitative determination of elemental concentrations was achieved using sulfur, a keratin matrix element, as an internal standard. The results presented here highlight the potential of laser ablation ICP-MS as a diagnostic tool for investigating toxic element uptake as it pertains to tortoise morbidity and mortality.     

Effect of applications of sewage sludge on N, P, K, Ca, Mg and trace element contents of plant tissues

A four-month study was conducted in a greenhouse with Larix laricina grown on sand and nursery soil. This culture was fertilized with anaerobically digested sludge at various rates and doses. No direct relationship could be established between the growth of seedlings and the quantities of sludge applied. Relationships were, however, established between the quantities of sludge applied and the elemental composition of the tissues. There was a significant, positive correlation between the growth of seedlings and the phosphorus and nitrogen content of their tissues. These elements originated from the wastewater sludge. Tissues had potassium deficiencies and an excess of calcium, magnesium and trace elements.     

The variation of trace element concentration in human hair: The trace element profile in human long hair by sectional analysis using neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis was used to determine the distribution of trace elements in human hair. Hair samples were obtained from five infants (two to seven years of age) with hair length ranging from 15 to 40 cm. The hairs were divided into segments, each of 2.5 cm, starting from the scalp end and trace elements were analysed in each segment. Concentrations of I, Mg, Ca and Cu increased from the scalp end to the tip. Concentrations of Cl and Br decreased inversely. Different profiles of the concentrations of Hg, Se, Ca and Mn were seen in each sample. These results were discussed with reference to the indication of environmental pollution.     

The influence of living habits and family relationships on element concentrations in human hair

The paper discusses the content of elements in hair of subjects studied over several years. The study was performed on 5 subjects (N=28) that lived together or were family related. The elemental composition of hair of the studied subjects was compared with the average content of the population living in the same urban area (Wroc?aw city, south-west Poland), with the population of a non-industrialized area in Poland (Silesian Beskid), as well as with the population of north-east Sweden and Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the composition of hair from the studied subjects with the people living in the same city, it was found that the differences resulted mainly from different living habits (Na, Si, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn) and local exposure (Pb, Cd, Al). When comparing with the reference material for unexposed population, it was found that the studied subjects were exposed to Al. Time profile of element contents in hair of a given person showed that the level changed significantly (even several fold) with changes of living habits or environmental exposure. Also, it was found that there were similar tendencies in the accumulation of the majority of elements by people that lived together. The effect of living habits on the level of a given element was found to be stronger than the influence of either sex or family relationship. The paper also discusses inter-element interactions within the studied group. Statistically significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between elements that occur together: Ca-Mg, Fe-Mn, Na-K, Co-K, Au-Pt, Cd-Pb. In order to determine the influence of various elements on the content of another element, linear multiple regression was performed that revealed the following relationships: Ca=f(Mn, Sr), Na=f(K, Mn), K=f(V, Ti).     

Changes in sample collection and analytical techniques and effects on retrospective comparability of low-level concentrations of trace elements in ground water

Ground-water sampling techniques were modified to reduce random low-level contamination during collection of filtered water samples for determination of trace-element concentrations. The modified sampling techniques were first used in New Jersey by the US Geological Survey in 1994 along with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis to determine the concentrations of 18 trace elements at the one microgram-per-liter (microg/L) level in the oxic water of the unconfined sand and gravel Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. The revised technique tested included a combination of the following: collection of samples (1) with flow rates of about 2 L per minute, (2) through acid-washed single-use disposable tubing and (3) a single-use disposable 0.45-microm pore size capsule filter, (4) contained within portable glove boxes, (5) in a dedicated clean sampling van, (6) only after turbidity stabilized at values less than 2 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), when possible. Quality-assurance data, obtained from equipment blanks and split samples, indicated that trace element concentrations, with the exception of iron, chromium, aluminum, and zinc, measured in the samples collected in 1994 were not subject to random contamination at 1 microg/L. Results from samples collected in 1994 were compared to those from samples collected in 1991 from the same 12 PVC-cased observation wells using the available sampling and analytical techniques at that time. Concentrations of copper, lead, manganese and zinc were statistically significantly lower in samples collected in 1994 than in 1991. Sampling techniques used in 1994 likely provided trace-element data that represented concentrations in the aquifer with less bias than data from 1991 when samples were collected without the same degree of attention to sample handling.     

The effects of unbalanced ammonia and BOD concentrations on oxidation ponds

The performance of oxidation ponds and the quality of their effluents is usually defined and evaluated in terms of high or low BOD. The work described here shows that this does not always give a complete picture, because high ammonia concentrations might lead to anoxic conditions in the pond inspite of low BOD of the water.     

Trace element content of commercial shampoos: impact on trace element levels in hair.

Popular shampoos were screened for their contents in trace elements, using ICP-MS detection in a semi-quantitative mode. Hair samples from volunteers were analyzed before and after hair washing with selected shampoos to demonstrate the effect of the contamination and the impact on occupational medicine. While some shampoos showed high levels of certain elements, the degree of contamination on the hair was found to be negligible. Only one shampoo tested, formulated with selenium sulfide, was found to seriously contaminate the hair.     

Calcium content of river water,trace element concentrations in toenails,and blood pressure in village populations in New Guinea

Several studies carried out on industrialized population groups have revealed the presence of an inverse relationship between hardness of drinking water and certain cardiovascular parameters, e.g., death rates, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, etc. In the present paper an attempt was made to see whether such an association also exists in primitive population groups who drink untreated water collected directly from rivers.Blood pressure was measured in persons living in villages along the banks of the Wogupmeri river in New Guinea. The water was analyzed for calcium content. Trace element concentrations were also determined in toenails from the same subjects to see whether a correlation existed. Calcium content of river water decreases as the river flows downstream, while blood pressure of the villagers living along this river increases. The trace element analysis of toenails revealed strong correlations between aluminium and vanadium. The concentrations of these two elements decrease with age. This association is present in both sexes, in adults and in children. A similarly strong correlation also exists between these two elements in staple food. The results of the present investigation tend to confirm the findings of other studies indicating an apparently beneficial effect of relatively hard water on cardiovascular parameters. The concentration of aluminium and vanadium in toenails show interesting trends, the biological meaning of which, if any, is still unknown.     

Radiotracers for the determination of the accuracy of trace element analyses

Many analytical techniques for the determination of trace elements in environmental samples are plagued by ill-defined systematic errors. Investigations of analytical techniques with radioactively labelled analytes can identify systematic errors, lead to their elimination, and can improve the accuracy of the results. Radiotracers are directly detected with high sensitivity and great rapidity in most cases by gamma-ray counters. Examples of the use of radiotracer techniques for the investigation of the following steps of analytical procedures are presented: presampling events, sampling and sample handling, mineralization of samples, separation and preconcentration, and determination. Most of the examples discussed in the text were taken from the analytical chemistry of mercury, sulfur, lead, sodium, zinc and selenium. Other examples are summarized in tables. The results of these investigations clearly show the superiority of the radiotracer technique over other techniques. A more frequent use of the radiotracer technique in investigations aimed at improving the accuracy of analytical procedures is certainly desirable.     

The influence of the Amazonian floodplain ecosystems on the trace element dynamics of the Amazon River mainstem (Brazil)

The purpose of this paper is to forecast the role of riverine wetlands in the transfer of trace elements. One of the largest riverine wetlands in the world is the floodplain (várzea) of the Amazon River and its tributaries (Junk and Piedade, 1997). The central Amazon wetlands are constituted by a complex network of lakes and floodplains, named várzeas, that extend over more than 300,000 km2 (Junk, W.J., The Amazon floodplain--a sink or source for organic carbon? In Transport of Carbon and Minerals in Major World Rivers, edited by E.T. Degens, S. Kempe, R. Herrera, SCOPE/UNEP; 267-283, 1985.) and are among the most productive ecosystems in the world due to the regular enrichment in nutrients by river waters In order to understand if the adjacent floodplain of Amazon River have a significant influence on the trace element concentrations and fluxes of the mainstem, the concentrations of selected elements (i.e., Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, Rb, Sr, Ba, and U) have been measured in the Amazon River water (Manacapuru Station, Amazonas State, Brazil) and in lake waters and plants (leaves) from a várzea(Ilha de Marchantaria, Amazonas State, Brazil) during different periods of the hydrological cycle. Four plant species (two perennial species: Pseudobombax munguba and Salix humboldtiana, and two annual herbaceous plants: Echinochloa polystachya and Eichhornia crassipes) were selected to represent the ecological functioning of the site. Time series obtained for dissolved Mn and Cu (<0.20 microm) in Amazon River water could not be explained by tributary mixing or instream processes only. Therefore, the contribution of the waters transiting the floodplains should be considered. These results suggest that the chemical composition of the waters draining these floodplains is controlled by reactions occurring at sediment-water and plant-water interfaces. Trace elements concentrations in the plants (leaves) vary strongly with hydrological seasonality. Based on the concentration data and the biological productivity of floodplain ecosystems, a first order approximation of trace element storage (permanent or temporary) in the vegetation of these floodplains was made. It was found that floodplain-mainstem elemental fluxes make a significant contribution to the dissolved flux of the Amazon River. This study is part of the Brazilian_French joint research program Hybam (Hydrology and Geochemistry of the Amazonian Basin).     

Seasonality of bioaccumulation of trace organics and lysosomal integrity in green-lipped mussel Perna viridis

Lysosomal integrity in mussels is widely used as a biomarker in coastal environments to demonstrate exposure to trace organic pollutants. However, few studies have determined the long-term influences of seasonal variations on the bioaccumulation of trace organics and subsequently altered response of lysosomal integrity in mussels. This study aimed to test three null hypotheses that (1) bioaccumulations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (∑ PAH) and (2) total polychlorinated biphenyl (∑ PCB), and (3) lysosomal integrity as indicated by Neutral Red retention time (NRRT) in haemocytes, in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis were not seasonally dependent. The tissue concentrations of ∑ PAH and ∑ PCB and haemocytic NRRT were determined in P. viridis in a metropolitan harbour, subtropical Hong Kong during the wet and dry seasons from 2004 to 2007. Additional information on temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and total ammonia nitrogen in seawater, and sediment levels of ∑ PAH and ∑ PCB, were extracted from published data and re-analyzed. Our results accepted all null hypotheses, based on the minimal seasonal influences of seawater temperature and salinity on all studied parameters, in which no significant differences between the wet and dry seasons were detected. The seasonal effect was likely outweighed by the greatly improved water quality and pollution abatement noted inside the harbour, with a gradual shift in mussel PAHs from a pyrolytic origin to a petrogenic origin. Spatially, the site east of the harbour was relatively unpolluted. The single use of NRRT in P. viridis explained 25% of the total variation of the integrated pollution patterns in seawater, sediments and mussels. The present study suggested that the dynamic change of trace organics could be reflected by the response on lysosomal integrity in P. viridis, which was recommended as a routine screening biomarker in monitoring of harbour water quality across seasons.