Spatial distribution of trace metals in sediments from urban streams of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Elevated environmental concentrations of metals are usually associated with the impact of urbanization. The present study is focused on metal contamination in urban sediments. A field survey was carried out to determine the distribution of four metals, i.e., cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), in the coastal urban area of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Sediment samples were collected from 101 grids of 2x2 km. To map the spatial distribution of these metals, concentrations of each metal were plotted against the corresponding grid coordinate. Cd was below the detection limit (<0.03 microg/g) in all samples, whereas concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu fell into a wide range. Frequency distributions of Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations indicated a similar pattern, in which the major proportion of the sites had a low metal concentration. Some sites, however, had extremely high metal concentrations, Zn up to 1257 microg/g, Pb up to 2666 microg/g, and Cu up to 448 microg/g. The data were used to define background concentrations for sediments in coastal zones of Indonesia ("reference values"). The proposed reference values are 25.6 microg/g, 132.2 microg/g, and 40.7 microg/g, respectively, for Pb, Zn, and Cu. The degree of metal contamination of each individual site was classified according to the calculated value of a combined pollution index, W. Four categories of the degree of metal contamination were proposed, i.e., unpolluted, slightly polluted, polluted, and heavily polluted. Based on this classification, from 101 sites investigated in the greater Semarang area, 51 are unpolluted, 36 slightly polluted, 9 polluted, and 5 heavily polluted.     

Telescopium telescopium as potential biomonitors of Cu, Zn, and Pb for the tropical intertidal area

The distributions of Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations in the selected soft tissues (foot, cephalic tentacle, mantle, muscle, gill, digestive caecum, and remaining soft tissues) and shells of the mud-flat snail Telescopium telescopium were determined in snails from eight geographical sites in the south-western intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia. Generally, the digestive caecum compared with other selected soft tissues, accumulated higher concentration of Zn (214.35+/-14.56 microg/g dry weight), indicating that the digestive caecum has higher affinity for the essential Zn to bind to metallothionein. The shell demonstrated higher concentrations of Pb (41.23+/-1.20 microg/g dry weight) when compared to the selected soft tissues except gill from Kuala Sg. Ayam (95.76+/-5.32 microg/g dry weight). The use of different soft tissues also can solve the problem of defecation to reduce error in interpreting the bioavailability of heavy metals in the intertidal area.     

Household dust metal levels in the Sydney metropolitan area

Household dust was collected from 82 residential homes within the Sydney metropolitan area. The geometric mean concentrations of metals in the household dust were Cd, 1.9 microg/g; Cr, 64.3 microg/g; Cu, 103 microg/g; Fe, 2740 microg/g; Mn, 54 microg/g; Ni, 15.6 microg/g; Pb, 85.2 microg/g; and Zn, 437 microg/g. Differences in household income level, dwelling type, or the number of occupants were not statistically significant for the majority of metals. The exceptions were higher amounts of Zn (P=0.033) and Fe (P=0.047) found in households with only 1-2 residents compared to those with 3-4 or >4 residents, and slightly higher Mn levels (P=0.033) were found in low-income households (AUD 0-30,000 dollars/year). Region was highly significant for Pb levels in Sydney but not significant for other metals. Large variations in Pb levels were found in household dust (16-16,600 microg/g), with the inner-west region associated with significantly higher Pb levels (P<0.001). Comparisons with a study from a decade earlier have revealed that the household dust Pb levels have remained constant despite substantial improvements in air quality in the inner-west area of Sydney. New epidemiological studies are required to determine whether Pb blood levels have also remained unchanged and whether accumulated Pb in household dust represents a significant health risk to children in this region.     

The concentration, dry deposition, composition study of ambient air particulate and metallic pollutants at a traffic sampling site

Aerosol samples were collected by total suspended particulate (TSP) and dry deposition plate (downward, upward) from August to November in 2003 in central Taiwan. The particulate metallic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) were also measured in this study during the summer and autumn periods of 2003. The results obtained in this study indicated that the ambient air particulate mass concentrations in the daytime period (averaged 975.4 microg/m3) were higher than the night-time period (averaged 542.1 microg/m3). And the downward dry deposition fluxes (averaged 58.12 microg/m2-sec) were about 2.2 times that of upward dry deposition fluxes (averaged 26.37 microg/m2-sec) in the daytime period. Furthermore, the average downward dry deposition fluxes (averaged 26.54 microg/m2-sec) were also about 2.3 times that of upward dry deposition fluxes (averaged 11.52 microg/m2-sec) in the night-time period. Moreover, the average downward dry deposition fluxes are greater than the upward dry deposition fluxes for all the heavy metals in either daytime or night-time period. In addition, the deposition velocity for mass, metallic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) during daytime and night-time period were also calculated. In addition, the average TSP composition (mg/g) in the daytime period of the metallic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) is 1.73, 0.26, 1.16, 0.28, 0.43 and 0.12 mg/g, respectively. And the average TSP composition in the night-time period of the metallic elements (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) is 3.02, 0.33, 1.57, 0.41, 0.58 and 0.13 mg/g, respectively at traffic sampling site of central Taiwan.     

L-蛋氨酸驱铅对小鼠体内微量元素的影响

目的　探讨L 蛋氨酸 (L Met)驱铅对小鼠体内微量元素Zn、Cu、Mn、Fe的影响。方法　分别给小鼠蒸馏水 (样本数 =1 0 ,正常对照组 )或 40 0 μg/ml(以Pb2 + 计 )的醋酸铅溶液 (样本数 =2 0 )作为饮用水 ,持续 1 0d,然后 ,停止喂铅 ;将染铅小鼠再随机均分为 2组 ,一组改用蒸馏水 (样本数 =1 0 ,Pb对照组 ) ,另一组改用 0 .5mg/mlL Met溶液 (样本数 =1 0 ,Pb +L Met组 )作为饮用水 ,持续进行 4周。实验开始和结束时 ,分别称取小鼠的体重。 4周后的第 1天 ,杀死所有动物 ,取出各组小鼠的肝、脑、脾、肾 ,用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法 (ICP)测定其中的Pb、Zn、Cu、Mn、Fe含量 ,并与正常对照组和Pb对照组进行比较。结果　Pb对照组小鼠肝、脑、脾、肾中Pb含量 [(1 .490± 1 .654)、(3 .470±2 .757)、(4.975± 2 .993)、(0 .0 66± 0 .0 0 1 ) μg/g]明显高于正常对照组 [(0 .0 1 5± 0 .0 0 1 )、(0 .0 0 9±0 .0 0 7)、(0 .0 2 7± 0 .0 0 2 )、(0 .0 0 6± 0 .0 1 5) μg/g] ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5) ;肝、脑、脾中Zn含量 ,肝、脑、脾、肾中Fe含量及Mn含量均明显低于正常对照组 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5)。L Met组小鼠脑、脾中的Pb含量和肾Cu含量明显高于正常对照组 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5) ;肝、脑、     

Determination of normal concentration levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn in hair of the child population in the Czech Republic

Knowledge of normal levels of concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn) in the population serve, among others, in the designing of regulations of exposure limits and prevention of diseases caused by deficiency in essential trace elements. Concentrations of the named elements in the hair of children in the Czech population were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples of hair were collected during 1994- 2001 from 3,556 children (1,741 boys and 1,815 girls, average age 9.9 years). Mineralization in a microwave digestion system was used following a washing procedure. The accuracy of results was checked by means of the control materials CRM Human Hair GBW 07601. Values of concentrations of the trace elements in hair found for children were (in medians) 0.14 microg Cd.g(-1), 0.22 microg Cr.g(-1), 12 microg Cu.g(-1), 0.19 microg Hg.g(-1), 1.6 microg Pb.g(-1), 0.22 microg Se.g(-1) and 124 microg Zn.g(-1), respectively. Statistically significant differences between boys and girls were found for Cd, Cu and Zn. Concentrations of the elements under study correspond to the published values for the non-exposed population.     

Levels of Selected Heavy Metals in Black Tea Varieties Consumed in Saudi Arabia

The metal contents (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co) of 17 black tea samples were analyzed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Among the investigated metals Mn was the highest (1,071.7 microg/g), whereas Pb showed minimum levels (0.30 microg/g). Iron was the second highest element found in black tea samples. Lowest Pb concentration (0.30 microg/g) was found in Abu Jabal tea; whereas maximum (2.2 microg/g) was found in Manasul tea. Lowest Cd concentration was found in Lipton whereas maximum level was observed for Al-Diafa tea. The concentrations of Co and Zn in the analyzed samples were in the range of 4.5-17.4 and 23.7-122.4 microg/g, respectively. Metal-to-metal correlation studies showed strong correlations between iron-chromium, iron-cadmium and lead-copper pairs. The data obtained in the present work compared well with the counterpart data reported internationally. Based upon the present safety standards, the tea versions selected in the present study were found to be safe for human consumption.     

Water Quality and Trace Metal Distribution in a Pristine Lake in the Lake Basin in Kenya

Water and surface sediment samples taken from various locations within Lake Kanyaboli in the Lake Victoria basin were analysed to determine the concentration and distribution of heavy metals. There were wide ranges in concentrations of the metals among the sampling points analysed. Sediment concentrations (microg/g dry weight) ranged from n.d.-2.54 (Ag), 0.25-1.08 (Cd), 0.89-1.64 (Co), 3.7-7.73 (Cr), 1.80-30.27 (Cu), 1073-2627 (Mn), 22.61-55.60 (Ni), 11.42-153.9 (Pb), 40.46-154.7 (Sn) and 65.0-146.5 (Zn). Dissolved metal concentrations (microg/L) ranged from n.d.-9.22 (Ag), n.d.-5.54 (Cd), n.d.-8.30 (Co), 5.26-60.82 (Cr), 10.96-43.11 (Cu), 184.7-375.9 (Mn), 1.84-38.3 (Ni), 5.98-47.77 (Pb), n.d.-540.6 (Sn) and 14.5-55.9 (Zn). Compared with WHO standards and other freshwaters worldwide, this lake was found to be unpolluted, with all metals, except Mn, being detected at concentrations lower than the highest desirable levels and maximum permissible levels. Some of the toxic metals, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd (in sediment) and Ag, Co and Pb (in water) were detected at lower concentrations than those found in the polluted Kisumu Pier in Winam Gulf in the Lake basin, which confirms the anthropogenic influence on the latter.     

Toxic metals in aquatic plants surviving in surface water polluted by copper mining industry

Concentrations of the metals Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn, as well as the macronutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were measured in water, sediments, and the aquatic macrophytes Potamogeton pectinatus and Myriophyllum spicatum, growing in surface water receiving sewages and solid wastes from a copper smelter and a copper ore processing factory located in the Legnica-Glogow copper district in Southwest Poland. The deposition of mineral wastes in this area belong to the largest repository in Europe. The plants were able to survive at heavily contaminated sites. The concentrations of Cd (up to 0.6-1.7 microg/L in water and up to 10.1-12.9 mg/kg in sediments), Cu (up to 29-48 microg/L in water and up to 4.6-5.6g/kg in sediments), Pb (up to 1.5-2.2 g/kg in sediments), and Zn (up to 167-200 microg/L in water and up to 1.4-1.8 g/kg in sediments) seriously exceeded background values. P. pectinatus was able to survive tissue concentrations (in mg/kg) of up to 920 Cu, 6240 Mn, 98 Co, and 59 Ni, while M. spicatum survived tissue concentrations up to 1040 Cu, 6660 Mn, and 57 Co for. Enrichment ratios of elements in plant tissue and in water were much higher than those between plant tissue and sediments.     

Prenatal iron supplements impair zinc absorption in pregnant Peruvian women

Prenatal iron supplements may adversely influence zinc absorption during pregnancy. To examine the impact of prenatal iron supplements on supplemental zinc absorption, fractional zinc absorption was measured in 47 pregnant Peruvian women during the third trimester of pregnancy (33 +/- 1 wk gestation). Of these 47 women, 30 received daily prenatal supplements from wk 10-24 of pregnancy until delivery. Supplements contained 60 mg of Fe and 250 microg of folate without [iron group (Fe), n = 16] or with [iron and zinc supplemented group (Fe + Zn), n = 14] 15 mg of Zn. The remaining 17 women [unsupplemented control group (C)] received no prenatal supplementation. Zinc concentrations were measured in plasma, urine and cord blood and percentage zinc absorption was determined following dosing with oral ((67)Zn) and intravenous ((70)Zn) stable zinc isotopes. Percentage zinc absorption was significantly lower than controls in fasting women receiving iron- containing prenatal supplements (20.5 +/- 6.4 vs. 20.2 +/- 4.6 vs. 47.0 +/- 12.6%, Fe, Fe + Zn and C groups, respectively, P: < 0.0001, n = 40). Plasma zinc concentrations were also significantly lower in the Fe group compared to the C group (8.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 9.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 10.9 +/- 1. 8 micromol/L, Fe, Fe + Zn and C groups, respectively, P: = 0.002), and cord zinc concentrations were significantly related to maternal plasma Zn levels (y = 6.383 + 0.555x, r = 0.486, P: = 0.002). The inclusion of zinc in prenatal supplements may reduce the potential for iron supplements to adversely influence zinc status in populations at risk for deficiency of both these nutrients.     

Trace element transfer from the mother to the newborn--investigations on triplets of colostrum, maternal and umbilical cord sera.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the trace element transfer from the mother to the newborn. DESIGN: The concentrations of the eight essential elements calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn), and of the non-essential and toxic elements barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), antimony (Sb), strontium (Sr), and thallium (Tl) were determined in umbilical cord (n = 29) and corresponding maternal sera (n = 29) as well as in colostrum (n = 27). RESULTS: Umbilical cord serum concentrations of Ca, Mn, and Zn were 120%, 150%, and 148% of the maternal value, respectively. Maternal sera had twice the Cu concentrations found in healthy adults and five-times higher Cu than umbilical cord sera. Concentration ratios colostrum/maternal serum and colostrum/umbilical cord serum were approximately one for Co, 1.4 for Mg, two for Ca, Mn, and Sn, five for Cu (maternal serum), eight for Mo, and ten for Zn. Concentrations of the toxic elements Cd and Pb decreased in the order colostrum (Pb 2.6 microg/L; Cd 0.6 microg/L), maternal sera (0.8 microg/L; 0.3 microg/L), umbilical cord sera (0.4 microg/L; 0.2 microg/L). Maternal serum Ba and Rb was 182% and 66% of the umbilical cord value. For Sr and Li, an almost perfect correlation between umbilical cord and maternal sera was found. For Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Zn none, and for Ca, Cs, Mn, Mo, Rb only weak positive correlations between these two compartments could be established. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that an active transport mechanism for the transport of Ca, Mn, Rb, and Zn from the mother to the newborn exists, whereas Cs, Li, and Sr follow concentration gradients. As regards Cu, the placenta showed to have a blocking effect on the transfer from the mother to the baby.     

Concentrations and correlations for eight metals in human liver

This study was undertaken to determine concentrations for eight metals in human liver and investigate correlations among these metals as well as subject age. Autopsy specimens from 32 males, ranging from 38–88 years of age, were analyzed for calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Respective mean concentrations were 49.6, 2.1, 4.9, 318.7, 0.72, 135.2, 0.19, and 53.4 μg/g wet wt., and 209.2, 8.8, 20.6, 1342.2, 0.81, 569.4, 3.1 and 228.8 μg/g dry wt. Variables, including age and metal concentrations, were subjected to simple and multiple correlation analysis. Four metal pairs Zn-Cd, Fe-Pb, Mg-Hg, and Mg-Zn gave significant positive correlations. Age and Cu correlated negatively. Multiple correlations were found for Mg with Hg and Zn, Pb with Fe and age, Pb with Fe and Cu, and Zn with Mg and Cd. Results are discussed within the context of relevant literature.     

Iron, zinc, and copper: contents in common Chilean foods and daily intakes in Santiago, Chile

OBJECTIVES: We determined the iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) contents of common Chilean foods and assessed the intakes of these elements in a population living in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: We selected foods most consumed by a Chilean population (n = 108). We performed wet digestion of the sample by using nitric, perchloric, and sulfuric acids. Fe, Zn, and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Fe, Zn, and Cu intakes were evaluated by a dietary survey (24-h recall questionnaire for 4 non-consecutive days) in a representative sample of the population of Santiago, Chile (n = 252 subjects). RESULTS: Fe intakes (mg/d) were 7.8 +/- 9.6 (in infants), 8.1 +/- 5.3 (in 1- to 10-y-olds), 15.1 +/- 7.3 (11- to 19-y-old males), 9.5 +/- 4.3 (11- to 19-y-old females), 13.5 +/- 6.5 (20- to 64-y-old males), 9.1 +/- 3.9 (20- to 64-y-old females), 11.4 +/- 4.9 (> or =65-y-old males), and 11.3 +/- 5.0 (> or =65-y-old females). Zn intakes (mg/d) were 3.8 +/- 1.8 (infants), 6.2 +/- 3.1 (1- to 10-y-old subjects), 8.9 +/- 4.1 (11- to 19-y-old males), 5.7 +/- 2.0 (11- to 19-y-old females), 7.6 +/- 3.4 (20- to 64-y-old males), 6.4 +/- 3.5 (20- to 64-y-old females), 6.6 +/- 2.9 (> or =65-y-old males), and 6.9 +/- 2.4 (> or =65-y-old females). Cu intakes (mg/d) were 0.5 +/- 0.3 (infants), 0.8 +/- 0.5 (1- to 10-y-old subjects), 1.4 +/- 0.7 (11- to 19-y-old males), 1.2 +/- 0.3 (11- to 19-y-old females), 0.9 +/- 0.4 (20- to 64-y-old males), 1.0 +/- 0.4 (20- to 64-y-old females), 1.1 +/- 0.3 (> or =65-y-old males), and 0.9 +/- 0.4 (> or =65-y-old females). CONCLUSIONS: Fe deficiency was greater in infants and women of fertile age. All age and sex groups had a high risk of Zn deficiency, whereas adults of both sexes had a moderate increased risk of Cu deficiency.     

Ceiling (attic) dust: a "museum" of contamination and potential hazard

Ceiling or attic dusts provide an indirect measure of air pollution integrated over varying time periods. We undertook an investigation into the particle-size distributions and sources and exposure pathways of metals in ceiling dusts from 38 houses in the city of Sydney, Australia. The houses ranged in age from 4 to 106 years and were grouped into three settings: industrial, semi-industrial, and non-industrial. The main roof types were terracotta tile (n=23), cement tile (n=8), and corrugated iron (n=4), with two slate and one asbestos. Soils and rocks from the Sydney area were also analyzed to provide "background" values and allow the estimation of enrichment factors. The bulk of the dusts contained particles derived from soil of crustal origin and organic plant material, with an anthropogenic component estimated at up to 25%. Particle sizes from selected dust samples showed a bimodal distribution, and the volumes of fine dusts were 50% <63 microm, 30%<38 microm, and 7%<10 microm; the highest metal concentrations were in the finest fractions. The geometric mean concentrations of important anthropogenic-derived metals from the industrial setting were 17294 microg/g Zn, 1660 microg/g Pb, 111 microg/g Cr, 261 microg/g Cu, and 26 microg/g As. The metals Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn were consistently higher in the industrial settings than in the other settings. Median regression analyses showed that there were significant differences in the urban setting for the metals Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Enrichment factors for metals in the dust from the industrial site houses compared with background soils and rocks from the Sydney area were As, x 5; Cr, x2; Co, x3; Cu, x 12; Pb, x10; Sb, x 26; and Zn, 596. For the three roof types of terracotta tile, cement, and iron, median regression analyses showed that there were no significant effects with respect to age. Median regression analyses for terracotta tile, cement tile, and corrugated iron roofs showed a "roof" effect for Cu and V. Significant correlations (P0.03) were observed between most of the metals As-Cd-Cu-Pb-Sb-Zn, especially from the industrial settings. Pathways of dust exposure in this study are classified as being passive or active based upon the probable route of dust infiltration. Ceiling dusts pose a probable health hazard if the dust is disturbed and allowed to plume within the living areas of a dwelling, thereby exposing the occupants, especially children, to elevated levels of metals and fine particulates. Modeling shows that exposure to the elevated levels of Pb in dust could give rise to blood lead concentrations exceeding current guidelines for the industrial and semi-industrial areas.     

Sources of Heavy Metal Input Into Winam Gulf,Kenya

Water and surface sediment from rivers Kisat, Nyamasaria, Nyando, Sondu-Miriu, Kuja, Awach, Yala, and Nzoia, which flow into Winam Gulf, were analyzed for heavy metals in order to assess the influence of the catchment activities on heavy metal input into the lake. Sampling was done both upstream and at river mouths where the rivers entered in to the lake. The mean sediment concentration of exchangeable cations (in microg/g) for Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn ranged from 0.01 to 263 (for Mn at Kuja). Ag, Cr, and Cd were poorly leachable with 0.1 MHCl but the other cations were found to be fairly exchangeable. Most exchangeable cations in sediment ranged between 2% and 20% of the total heavy metal content obtained by digestion with strong acid. The mean total dissolved metal (0.45 microm filter cut-off) and mean total sediment concentrations ranged from nd-16 (Ag), nd-8 (Cd), nd-23.3 (Co), nd-50 (Cr), 5-157.5 (Cu), 50-3276 (Mn), nd-54.1 (Ni), 7-93.6 (Pb), 25-219.5 (Zn) in microg/L and from nd-8.34 (Ag), 0.48-1.75 (Co), nd-1.78 (Cd), 2.92-5.36 (Cr), 3.90-150.2 (Cu), 133.5-7237 (Mn), 4.33-42.29 (Ni), 3.09-66.06 (Pb), 23.39-7.83 (Sn) and 23.39-350.8 (Zn) in microg/g dry weight, respectively. The rivers analyzed were found to be non-polluted in terms of sediment loads except river Kisat which was found to be polluted because of elevated levels of Pb, Mn, Cu, and Zn. Nyamasaria and Nyando were also found to have higher concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn than those reported previously in the lake sediment. The dissolved metal concentrations were acceptable by WHO maximum limits in drinking water except Mn which was above WHO limit in Kisat, Nyando, and Nyamasaria waters. Enrichment of Cd and Pb was found in all the river sediment samples with factors ranging from 2.12 at Kisat river mouth to 4.41 at Awach (for Cd) and from 1.49 (at Kisat river mouth) to 2.38 (at Nyando river mouth).     

Influence of prenatal iron and zinc supplements on supplemental iron absorption, red blood cell iron incorporation, and iron status in pregnant Peruvian women

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 60% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the influence of iron status on iron absorption during pregnancy by measuring supplemental iron absorption, red blood cell iron incorporation, and iron status in pregnant women. DESIGN: Subjects were 45 pregnant Peruvian women (33+/-1 wk gestation), of whom 28 received daily prenatal supplements containing 60 mg Fe and 250 microg folate without (Fe group, n = 14) or with (Fe+Zn group, n = 14) 15 mg Zn, which were were consumed from week 10 to 24 of gestation until delivery. The remaining 17 women (control) received no prenatal supplementation. Iron status indicators and isotopes were measured in maternal blood collected 2 wk postdosing with oral (57Fe) and intravenous (58Fe) stable iron isotopes. RESULTS: Maternal serum ferritin and folate concentrations were significantly influenced by supplementation (P < 0.05). Serum iron was also significantly higher in the Fe than in the Fe+Zn (P < 0.03) or control (P < 0.001) groups. However, the supplemented groups had significantly lower serum zinc concentrations than the control group (8.4+/-2.3 and 10.9+/-1.8 micromol/L, respectively, P < 0.01). Although percentage iron absorption was inversely related to maternal serum ferritin concentrations (P = 0.036), this effect was limited and percentage iron absorption did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Because absorption of nonheme iron was not substantially greater in pregnant women with depleted iron reserves, prenatal iron supplementation is important for meeting iron requirements during pregnancy.     

Concentrations of Metals in Water,Sediment, Biofilm,Benthic Macroinvertebrates,and Fish in the Boulder River Watershed,Montana, and the Role of Colloids in Metal Uptake

To characterize the partitioning of metals in a stream ecosystem, concentrations of trace metals including As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured in water, colloids, sediment, biofilm (also referred to as aufwuchs), macroinvertebrates, and fish collected from the Boulder River watershed, Montana. Median concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in water throughout the watershed exceeded the U.S. EPA acute and chronic criteria for protection of aquatic life. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in sediment were sufficient in the tributaries to cause invertebrate toxicity. The concentrations of As, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn in invertebrates from lower Cataract Creek (63, 339, 59, 34, and 2,410 μg/g dry wt, respectively) were greater than the concentrations in invertebrates from the Clark Fork River watershed, Montana (19, 174, 2.3, 15, and 648 μg/g, respectively), that were associated with reduced survival, growth, and health of cutthroat trout fed diets composed of those invertebrates. Colloids and biofilm seem to play a critical role in the pathway of metals into the food chain and concentrations of As, Cu, Pb, and Zn in these two components are significantly correlated. We suggest that transfer of metals associated with Fe colloids to biological components of biofilm is an important pathway where metals associated with abiotic components are first available to biotic components. The significant correlations suggest that Cd, Cu, and Zn may move independently to biota (biofilm, invertebrates, or fish tissues) from water and sediment. The possibility exists that Cd, Cu, and Zn concentrations increase in fish tissues as a result of direct contact with water and sediment and indirect exposure through the food chain. However, uptake through the food chain to fish may be more important for As. Although As concentrations in colloids and biofilm were significantly correlated with As water concentrations, As concentrations in fish tissues were not correlated with water. The pathway for Pb into biological components seems to begin with sediment because concentrations of Pb in water were not significantly correlated with any other component and because concentrations of Pb in the water were often below detection limits.     

Urinary excretion of copper and zinc among cigarette smokers

The urinary levels of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured among 11 adult male non-smokers and 38 adult male cigarette smokers to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on the urinary excretion of Zn and Cu in relation to urinary Cd level. The results indicated that among non-smokers, the urinary levels of Cd, Zn, and Cu were: 1.17-5.24 (3.73 +/- 1.23) microg Cd/gm urinary creatinine, 66.73-156.13 (109.28 +/- 30.27) microg Zn/gm urinary creatinine, 83.17-195.65 (126.72 +/- 41.46) microg Cu/gm urinary creatinine, respectively. The cigarette smokers were classified into two groups according to the level of urinary Cd. The first group contains 13 cases with urinary Cd levels within the normal range of non-smokers, and the urinary levels of both Zn and Cu were observed to be also within the normal range of non-smokers (2.14-4.98 (3.85 +/- 0.97) microg Cd/gm urinary creatinine, 69.40-150.59 (97.61 +/- 21.39) microg Zn/gm urinary creatinine, 85.33-137.42 (96.11 +/- 13.60) microg Cu/gm urinary creatinine, respectively]. The second group contains 25 cases with elevated urinary Cd levels (5.44-40.37 (14.08 +/- 9.69 microg Cd/gm urinary creatinine]. The latter group was further subdivided into two subgroups according to the urinary levels of Zn and Cu. The first subgroup contains 15 cases with urinary levels of both Zn and Cu within the normal range of non-smokers [5.44-13.58 (7.74 +/- 2.11) microg Cd/gm urinary creatinine, 69.54-133.46 (96.95 +/- 22.91) microg Zn/gm urinary creatinine, 93.06-191.90 (133.7 +/- 32.80) microg Cu/gm urinary creatinine, respectively]. The second subgroup contains 10 cases with elevated urinary levels of Zn and/or Cu [13.81-40.37 (23.57 +/- 8.74) microg Cd/gm urinary creatinine, 141.53-511.11 (284.76 +/- 132.45) microg Zn/gm urinary creatinine, 193.06-705.48 (388.49 +/- 158.66) microg Cu/gm urinary creatinine, respectively). In the latter subgroup it was noted that only one case showed elevated levels of urinary Cd and Zn but not Cu, while another case showed increased urinary Cd and Cu levels but not Zn. The results of the present investigation suggest that urinary Cd, at a certain level, may be accompanied by increased urinary excretion of both Zn and Cu among cigarette smokers.     

Characterization of iron,copper and zinc levels in the colostrum of mothers of term and pre-term infants before and after pasteurization

Pasteurization is a thermal treatment applied to the milk used in human milk banks so as to provoke the thermic inactivation of pathogenic micro-organisms, with the aim of avoiding contamination of milk that will be offered to new-born infants in clinical conditions very often demanding special care. The literature has very little data available relating to the effect of pasteurization on the concentration of oligo-elements in human milk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pasteurization on the concentrations of iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the colostrum of mothers of pre-term (PT) and term (T) infants. Samples were collected from the day of birth to the seventh day after birth. The oligo-elements were analyzed using the total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique with synchrotron radiation. The following results of Fe, Cu and Zn (means +/- SD) were obtained for the PT and T colostrum samples, non-pasteurized and pasteurized, respectively: PT: 1.96 +/- 0.73 mg/l Fe/Zn/5.39 +/- 2.73 mg/l Zn; T: 1.71 +/- 1.01 mg/l Fe/1.46 +/- 0.99 mg/l Fe, 0.54 +/- 0.29 mg/l Cu/0.49 +/- 0.19 mg/l Cu, 6.97 +/- 2.82 mg/l Zn/6.75 +/- 2.62 mg/l Zn. There was a significant reduction in the levels of Fe, Cu and Zn in the samples of pasteurized colostrum. These results suggest that, despite the observance of a diminution in the levels of Fe, Cu and Zn in the samples of pasteurized colostrum, the values fell within the acceptable range for the specific nutritional needs of new-born infants during this period of lactation.     

Metals in alcoholic beverages: A review of sources, effects, concentrations, removal, speciation, and analysis

A critical review is offered concerning the different sources, effects, concentrations, removal methods, speciation, and analysis of metals (e.g., Al, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Ni, K, Na, and Zn) present in a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.