Objectives: The method for the determination of As, Al, Cd, Ni, Pb (toxic elements) and Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn (essential elements) in human urine by the use of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (quadrupole ICP-MS DRCe Elan, Perkin Elmer) with the dynamic reaction cell (DRC) was developed. Materials and Methods: The method has been applied for multi-element analysis of the urine of 16 non-exposed healthy volunteers and 27 workers employed in a copper smelter. The analysis was conducted after initial 10-fold dilution of the urine samples with 0,1% nitric acid. Rhodium was used as an internal standard. The method validation parameters such as detection limit, sensitivity, precision were described for all elements. Accuracy of the method was checked by the regular use of certified reference materials ClinCheck®-Control Urine (Recipe) as well as by participation of the laboratory in the German External Quality Assessment Scheme (G-EQUAS). Results: The detection limits (DL 3s) of the applied method were 0.025, 0.007, 0.002, 0.004, 0.004, 0.086, 0.037, 0.009, 0.016, 0.008, 0.064 (μg/l) for Al, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn in urine, respectively. For each element linearity with correlation coefficient of at least 0.999 was determined. Spectral interferences from some of the ions were removed using DRC-e with addition of alternative gas: methane for cobalt, copper, cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese, nickel and rhodium, and oxygen for arsenic. Conclusions: The developed method allows to determine simultaneously eleven elements in the urine with low detection limits, high sensitivity and good accuracy. Moreover, the method is appropriate for the assessment of both environmental and occupational exposure.
Objectives: To describe blood lead (Pb-B), cadmium (Cd-B) and mercury (Hg-B) levels in children living in urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city (north of Morocco) and to identify the determinants and some renal effects of exposure. Material and Methods: The study was conducted from June 2007 to January 2008 in 209 school children (113 girls, 96 boys), aged 6-12 years, from urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city. Interview and questionnaires data were obtained. Blood and urinary samples were analyzed. Results: The mean of blood lead levels (Pb-B) in our population was 55.53 μg/l (range: 7.5-231.1 μg/l). Children from the urban area had higher blood lead levels (BLLs) mean (82.36 μg/l) than children from industrial and rural areas (48.23 and 35.99 μg/l, respectively); with no significant difference between boys and girls. BLLs were associated with traffic intensity, passive smoking and infancy in the urban area. The mean of blood cadmium levels (BCLs) was 0.22 μg/l (range: 0.06-0.68 μg/l), with no difference between various areas. Rural boys had higher BCLs mean than rural girls, but no gender influence was noticed in the other areas. BCLs were associated with the number of cigarettes smoked at children's homes. The blood mercury levels (BMLs) mean was 0.49 μg/l (range: 0.01-5.31 μg/l). The BMLs mean was higher in urban and industrial areas than in the rural area with no gender-related difference. BMLs were associated with amalgam fillings and infancy in the urban area. About 8% of the children had BLLs ≥ 100 μg/l particularly in the urban area, microalbuminuria and a decrease in height were noticed in girls from the inner city of Fez and that can be related to high BLLs (89.45 μg/l). Conclusions: There is a need to control and regulate potential sources of contamination by these trace elements in children; particularly for lead.
The genus Agrimonia L. of the family Rosaceae Juss. is known to include valuable medicinal plants. Agrimony is well known for its beneficial effects in various diseases such as liver complaints, gall-bladder stones; diarrhea, edemas and kidney ailments. The contents of microelements in aerial parts of Agrimonia eupatoria, an official herbal drug, collected from wild samples in the suburb of Lviv city, Western Ukraine, have been determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization (ААС/ЕА) on VARIAN AA 240Z after mineralization in the microwave Milestone Start D. The found quantities of trace elements in the analyzed samples were as follows: manganese – 46.9 µg/g, copper – 7.9 µg/g, selenium – 0.16 µg/g, lead – 0.15 µg/g, cadmium – 0.05 µg/g. The received research outcomes were compared with results of other known scientific investigations of the medicinal plant material. The determined amounts of lead and cadmium in the investigated samples of the herbal drug complied with the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements. The special attention is paid for pharmacological effects, related to its renal impact, contents of selenium and phenolic compounds that allows considering the herbal drug as a promising nephroprotective agent.
W artykule zaprezentowano analizę geochemiczną profili torfowych z dwóch torfowisk, położonych w Polsce Południowej, dokumentujących przedział czasowy od okresu atlantyckiego (od 4900 BC Wolbrom i od 4200 BC Otrębowskie Brzegi) do czasów współczesnych. Jej wyniki poddano analizie statystycznej z użyciem programu PAST, celem porównania badanych torfowisk pod względem wpływu działalności człowieka oraz położenia w różnych zlewniach, z uwzględnieniem przeprowadzonych wcześniej analiz botanicznych, datowania radiowęglowego i ołowiem-210 oraz analizy składu izotopowego Pb. Koncentracja pierwiastków w badanych profilach torfowych zależała od rodzaju osadu i była mocno zróżnicowana, wahając się w przedziale od wartości niskich, zbliżonych do lokalnego tła geochemicznego, aż do ekstremalnie wysokich (w szczególności w przypadku metali ciężkich, takich jak cynk i ołów). Przeprowadzona analiza porównawcza pozwoliła na zaobserwowanie synchronicznego zapisu lokalnych, jak i regionalnych zmian składu chemicznego w dwóch torfowiskach, różniących się lokalizacją, litologią i rodzajem torfu.
EN
A geochemical analysis was conducted on peat cores from two peatlands in Southern Poland that cover a time span from the Atlantic period (from 4900 BC in Wolbrom and from 4200 BC in Otrębowskie Brzegi) to modern times. The results were subjected to a statistical analysis using PAST software. The analysis was conducted taking into account previous botanical analyses, radiocarbon dating and lead-210 dating. The aim was to compare these two study sites in terms of their locations in different basins and anthropogenic activity. Elemental concentrations in the tested peat profiles were dependent on sediment type and their values range between very low (close to geochemical background values) and extremely high – especially in the case of heavy metals, like zinc and lead. The comparative analysis showed a synchronous record of local and regional changes of chemical composition in the two peatlands, which vary in terms of location, lithology and type of peat sediment.
Artykuł zawiera wnioski z przeprowadzonej oceny żywienia 90. dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym w ciągu pierwszych trzech lat życia. Ocenie został poddany charakter żywienia, a także połączenie żywienia oraz wskaźników rozwoju fizycznego i psychicznego. Określono specyfikę zabezpieczenia witaminami oraz mikroelementami dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym. Stwierdzono, że u dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym wskaźniki rozwoju fizycznego wykazują deficyt masy ciała (60%) lub niewystarczającą masę (26,7%). Posiłki dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym nie dostarczały im wymaganej ilości białek (deficyt 34,5±10,5%), tłuszczu (18±2%), węglowodanów (16,5±2,5%,) i energii (22,5±3,5%). Średnia objętość pokarmu ograniczała się do 15±5%. Poziom hemoglobiny badanej grupy był za niski, łagodną niedokrwistość miało 41 dzieci (45,5%). Zawartość mikroelementów i witamin w surowicy krwi dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym została zredukowana. Po trwającej 2 miesiące kuracji kompleksem witaminowo-mineralnym, badania laboratoryjne wykazały w głównej grupie dzieci, w porównaniu z dziećmi z grupy kontrolnej, wzrost poziomu hemoglobiny, minerałów (żelaza, cynku, miedzi, chromu, manganu) i witamin (B1, B6, A, E). 77% rodziców odnotowało poprawę apetytu dziecka po kuracji. Średnia objętość pokarmu wzrosła do prawidłowego u 67% dzieci, zawartość białka – do 80%, kaloryczność zwiększyła się zaś do 82%–85% normy. Stwierdzono, że wskaźniki rozwoju fizycznego, zawartość mikroelementów i witamin w surowicy krwi u dzieci z porażeniem mózgowym są niższe niż u zdrowych dzieci, a ich dieta nie jest wystarczająca i nie zaspokaja podstawowych potrzeb organizmu. Zmiana diety i wprowadzenie kompleksu witaminowo-mineralnego poprawia stan dziecka i pomaga zoptymalizować proces rehabilitacji.
EN
The quality of nutrition and nutrition status of 90 infants with cerebral palsy, parameters of their physical development, their nutrition, biochemical parameters and the level of trace elements and vitamins in blood serum have been estimated. It was found the lower parameters of physical development in children with cerebral palsy, such as deficit of body weight (60%) or too insufficient weight (26.7%). Feeding of children with cerebral palsy did not supply them with necessary amount of protein (deficit 34.5±10.5%), fat (18±2%), carbohydrates (16.5±2.5%) and energy (22.5±3,5%). The average volume of food was limited to 15±5%. Mild anemia was proved in 41 children, or 45.5%. The content of microelements and vitamins in the blood serum of children with cerebral palsy was reduced. After prescription of vitamin-mineral complex within 2 months for 45 children from main group, laboratory tests had shown increase levels of hemoglobin, minerals (iron, zinc, copper, chrome, manganese) and vitamins (B1, B6, A, E) in the main group of children compared with children in the control group. 77% of parents reported improvement of child’s appetite. The mean volume of food increased to the proper level in 67% children. Amount of protein increased up to 80%, energy – to 82%–85% of norma. It was proved that rates of physical development, the content of microelements and vitamins in the blood serum in children with cerebral palsy is lower than in healthy children, and their diet is inadequate and does not provide the basic needs of the organism. So provision of adequate nutrition and the introduction of vitamin-mineral complex improve the child’s condition and help to optimize the process of rehabilitation.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.