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

Knowledge of normal levels of concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Se) in the population serves, among others, in design of regulations concerning health protection, determination of exposition limits and prevention of diseases caused by deficiency of trace elements. Concentrations of the named elements in urine of the Czech population were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The urine has been collected during 1996-2000 from 1192 individuals (816 males and 376 females, average age 34.6 years) and 2008 children (1052 boys and 956 girls, average age 9.9 years). Mineralization in a microwave digestion system was used in sample preparation. The accuracy of results was checked by means of the Control Materials Seronorm 403,125 and BioRad 69,041. Values of concentrations of the trace elements in urine found for adult (medians) were 0.36 microgram Cd.g-1 creatinine, 10.6 micrograms Cu.g-1 creatinine, 0.68 microgram Hg.g-1 creatinine, 3.3 micrograms Pb.g-1 creatinine, 6.2 micrograms Se.g-1 creatinine, and 397 micrograms Zn.g-1 creatinine, respectively. Statistically significant differences between men and women have been found in the concentrations of Cu and Hg. In the juvenile population following concentrations have been found: 0.29 microgram Cd.g-1 creatinine, 16.1 micrograms Cu.g-1 creatinine, 0.32 microgram Hg.g-1 creatinine, 4.8 micrograms Pb.g-1 creatinine, 10.2 micrograms Se.g-1 creatinine and 460 micrograms Zn.g-1 creatinine. Statistically significant differences between boys and girls were found only in Cu and Hg concentrations. Concentrations of the studied elements correspond to the published values concerning population not exposed professionally.     

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.     

Retrospective study of concentration levels of Pb, Cd, Cu and Se in serum of the Czech population in time period 1970-1999.

The retrospective study evolution of trends in concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Se in the population of the Czech Republic over 30 years period could be useful in design of regulations concerning health protection, prevention of diseases caused by deficiency of trace elements and have considerable economic importance. Concentrations of the named elements in the serum were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after mineralisation in a microwave digestion system. The 1433 samples of serum (730 males and 703 females, average age 48.7 and 49.1 years respectively) from a time period 1970-1995 were obtained from the Serum bank of National Institute of Public Health and volunteers (1999). Serum samples from the years 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 1999 were examined. The accuracy of the results was checked by means of the Control material Seronorm Whole Blood 404,107 and Seronorm Serum 704,121, Nycomed. The concentration of Cd had a decreasing trend for the years 1975-1999 (0.82 microgram Cd.l-1 vs 0.47 microgram Cd.l-1). The levels of Pb are falling in the interval 1970-1980 (15.6 micrograms Pb.l-1 vs. 6.6 micrograms Pb.l-1). In year 1985 concentration of Pb increased (10.7 micrograms Pb.l-1) but subsequently decreased again (1995--6.4 micrograms Pb.l-1). In year 1999, it was 8.9 micrograms.l-1. The concentration of Cu decreased in period 1970-1990 (1525 micrograms Cu.l-1 vs. 990 micrograms Cu.l-1). From 1990 to 1999 the levels of Cu had an increasing tendency (1999--1060 micrograms Cu.l-1). Levels of Se in the interval 1970-1985 were surprisingly equal (58.1 micrograms Se.l(-1)-54.4 micrograms Se.l-1). However in the interval 1986-1990 the level of Se sharp declined (38.3 micrograms Se.l-1). Since 1990 levels of Se in serum increased again, up to 67.1 micrograms Se.l-1 in 1999. Statistically significant differences between men and women were found only in Cu and Pb concentrations. Concentrations of under study elements corresponded to the published values concerning unexposed population.     

Blood and urine levels of Pb, Cd and Hg in the general population of the Czech Republic and proposed reference values

The Human Biological Monitoring (HBM) project was launched in the Czech Republic in 1994 as a part of the nation-wide Environmental Health Monitoring System to assess the exposure of the Czech general population to a broad spectrum of environmental contaminants. Over the years 2001-2003, the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) were determined in whole blood of 1188 adults (blood donors) and 333 children and in urine of 657 adults and 619 children. In adults, the median blood lead (B-Pb) level was 33microg/l. Men had higher B-Pb levels than women (medians 37microg/l vs. 25microg/l). Significantly higher B-Pb levels were observed in smokers compared to non-smokers (36microg/l vs. 31microg/l). In children, no sex-dependent differences were observed (median 31microg/l). In total, the median blood Cd level (B-Cd) in adults was 0.5microg/l. Smokers showed a median B-Cd level about 3 times as high as non-smokers (1.3microg/l vs. 0.40microg/l). Neither sex- nor age-related differences were observed in B-Cd levels. In 65% of children, B-Cd levels were below the limit of detection (LOD). The overall median urinary cadmium level (U-Cd) in adults was 0.31microg/g creatinine. Significantly higher U-Cd levels were found in women (median 0.39microg/g creatinine) compared to men (0.29microg/g creatinine). No significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers. In more than 50% of children, the U-Cd level was below the LOD (=0.2microg/l). The median blood mercury (B-Hg) level in adults was 0.89microg/l. Significant differences were found between smokers (0.80microg/l) and non-smokers (0.92microg/l), and between men and women (0.86microg/l vs. 0.94microg/l). The median B-Hg level in children was 0.42microg/l and no sex-related differences were observed. The median urinary mercury (U-Hg) levels were 0.63microg/g creatinine in adults and 0.37microg/g creatinine in children. Significantly higher U-Hg levels were obtained in women and non-smokers compared to men and smokers, respectively. The B-Pb, B-Hg, U-Cd, and U-Hg levels significantly correlated with age. The following reference values were recommended for the period 2001-2003: 80, 65 and 55microg/l for B-Pb and 3.1, 4.0 and 1.5microg/l for B-Hg in men, women and children, respectively; 1.1microg/l and 1.2microg/g creatinine for B-Cd and U-Cd, respectively, in adult non-smokers; 5.4 and 12.0microg/g creatinine for U-Hg in men and women, respectively, and 3.7 and 5.5microg/g creatinine for U-Hg in boys and girls, respectively. The previous reference values for B-Pb and B-Cd needed revision and were reduced.     

Effects of age, BMI, smoking and contraception on levels of Cu, Se and Zn in the blood of the population in the Czech Republic

Variations in the levels of Cu, Se and Zn in blood were analyzed in relation to gender, age, BMI, smoking and hormonal contraception. The blood samples were collected from 3,207 blood donors (2,362 men, 845 women) during years 1996-2003. Blood concentrations of these elements were in the same range as those found for populations of other European countries. Significant differences exist between men and women, in blood concentration, for Cu (840 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 970 microg Cu.l(-1), p<0.01) and Zn (6,780 microg Zn.l(-1) vs. 6,235 microg Zn.l(-1), p<0.01) only. The level of Cu in relation to age is increasing in men, but decreasing in women. The level of Se in relation to age increases regardless of sex. Concentrations of Zn rise with age in women group, only. Positive correlation was found between BMI and level of Cu only for group of men. For Se levels and BMI differences exist only in men namely between groups <20 and >35 (82 microg Se.l(-1) vs. 92 microg Se.l(-1)). Slight positive correlations exist between Zn concentration and BMI in women only. The significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers for Cu in men (850 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 830 microg Cu.l(-1)) and Se (81 microg Se.l(-1) vs. 84 microg Se.l(-1)). The smoking has not significant influence on concentration of Zn in the blood. The hormonal contraception significantly increases the concentration of Cu in blood (920 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 1,270 microg Cu.l(-1), p<0.01). The levels of Se and Zn in blood are not influenced using hormonal contraception.     

Levels of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Se and Zn in bovine kidneys and livers in Jamaica

Paired liver and kidney samples from 100 free-range cattle in different parts of Jamaica were analyzed for essential and non-essential trace elements. We found significant enrichment of elements in the kidney (K) compared to the liver (L) with the K/L concentration ratios being 5.2 for Cd, 4.1 for Pb, 3.5 for Se and 2.1 for As, but the Cu contents of the kidney were significantly higher with the K/L ratio of 0.45. A large number of kidney and liver samples showed Cu concentrations in the ranges that were associated with deficiency effects in mammals. About 15% of the hepatic samples had Zn concentrations below 20 microg/g, suggesting that there might be zinc insufficiency in some of the animals. Positive associations were found between the metals in both the kidney and liver. On average, the intake of Cd from consumption of both bovine kidney and liver from the island was estimated to be 5.2 microg/day, equivalent to about 7% of the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI), although anyone who habitually consumed the few kidneys or livers with >40 microg/g cadmium may be at some risk of exceeding the PTDI. The consumption of offal from local animals did not appear to be an important dietary source of any of the essential microelements.     

碰撞池ICP-MS测定近海海水中的Cr、As、Se、Cd、Cu、Zn、Hg和Pb

目的:建立碰撞池ICP-MS测定近海海水中Cr、As、Se、Cd、Cu、Zn、Hg和Pb的分析方法。方法:样品用0.2%HNO3 0.2 mg/L Au溶液稀释5倍后直接用碰撞池ICP-MS进行分析,用耐高盐接口和内标法消除非质谱干扰,用碰撞池技术消除质谱干扰。结果:方法的检出限为0.005~0.03 ng/m l,精密度为0.5%~2.6%,回收率为96.0%~105%,对3个标准参考物质的分析结果令人满意。结论:可以采用碰撞池ICP-MS测定近海海水中Cr、As、Se、Cd、Cu、Zn、Hg和Pb,方法检出限低,并且简单、快速和准确,适用于实验室日常分析。     

RP-HPLC法同时测定头发、血和尿中锌铜铅镉方法研究

目的：建立同时测定头发、血和尿中锌、铜、锌、镉离子的反相高效液相色谱法，方法：进行meso-四（对羟基苯）卟啉和金属离子的配位反应条件，配合物的稳定性以及配合物萃取和分离条件的研究。结果：检出限分别为0．05μg、0．03μg、0．02μg、0．04μg；线性范围分别为0－40μg、0－15μg、0－4μg、0－3μg；测定发样的相对标准偏差（RSD）分别为4．8％、8．9％、6．5％、12．1％；尿样的RSD分别为5．6％、4．2％、13．3％、14．3％；血样锌、铜的RSD分别为9．2％、3．8％；三种样品中四种金属离子的加标回收率分别为92％－94％、86％－93％、100％－101％、84％－100％。结论：对三批样品同时用该法与原子吸收光度法测定锌铜，其结果无显著性差异，结果令人满意。     

孕妇和新生儿脐血中铅、镉、砷、汞、锰、硒含量及胎盘通透性研究

目的了解孕妇和新生儿脐血中铅、镉、砷、汞、锰和硒元素的含量,分析其胎盘通透性。方法于2010年9月至2013年12月在山东省渤海莱州湾某二甲医院,招募符合标准的孕妇及其新生儿为研究对象。共纳入773对孕妇及其新生儿。根据所测定元素的种类,分为汞测定组(595对)、铅测定组(534对)和镉、砷、锰、硒测定组(244对)。问卷调查获得孕妇及新生儿的人口学信息,检测母血和脐血中铅、镉、砷、汞、锰和硒的浓度,并计算各元素的胎盘通透性(某元素脐血浓度/母血浓度);采用Spearman秩相关分析母血和脐血中各元素的相关性。结果773名母亲年龄为(28.34±4.50)岁,孕周为(39.47±1.39)周;773名新生儿出生体重为(3419.47±497.39)g。母血和脐血中铅、镉、砷、汞、锰和硒各元素的中位数浓度分别为31.12和30.02、1.19和0.47、8.05和6.03、0.69和1.26、100.70和105.55、127.25和115.00μg/L。铅、镉、砷、汞、锰和硒的胎盘通透性分别为0.98、0.41、0.73、1.73、0.96和0.91。铅、镉、汞、锰和硒在母血和脐血中均呈正相关,Spearman相关系数分别为0.397、0.298、0.698、0.555和0.285(P值均<0.001)。结论铅、镉、砷、汞、锰和硒元素在母血和脐血中均普遍检出;汞的胎盘通透性较高。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)同时测定工作场所中铅、镉、铜、锌、铬及其化合物

目的建立一种同时测定工作场所空气中铅、镉、铜、锌、铬及其化合物含量的方法。方法用微孔滤膜采集工作场所空气中金属及其化合物,5 mL浓硝酸做为消解液,加热消解,电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法同时测定。结果方法在0.0μg/L~10.0μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数0.999,最低检测浓度为0.00043~0.000 81 mg/m~3,精密度RSD在1.03%~3.98%之间,回收率89.0%~105.0%之间。结论该方法具有简便、快速、准确、线性范围宽、灵敏度高的优点,符合GBZ/T《职业卫生标准制定指南第4部分工作场所空气中化学物质测定方法》的要求,结果令人满意。     

Effects of exposure to tobacco smoke in pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios and premature rupture of the membranes. I. Concentration of Cd and Pb in blood and Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in amniotic fluid

To assess the exposure to tobacco smoke in pregnant women with oligohydramnios, idiopathic or caused by premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), cotinine concentrations were measured, using enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In women with idiopathic oligohydramnios (22-31 weeks of gestation), serum cotinine concentration was 1010 +/- 445 micrograms/L which provides evidence that women of this group were heavy smokers. In these women, significantly higher Cd concentrations in blood and amniotic fluid were found as compared to other pregnant women. A positive correlation between Cd concentrations in blood and amniotic fluid was observed (PROM r = 0.784; p < 0.001; idiopathic oligohydramnios r = 0.7118; p < 0.02). In oligohydramnios cases of both types, Cd concentration in amniotic fluid was over two times and Pb concentration ten times lower than blood concentrations of these metals, whereas amniotic fluid Zn concentration was two times lower than that found earlier in women with normal pregnancy. In the group of women with idiopathic oligohydramnios who were mostly exposed to tobacco smoke, a considerably larger number of still births and new-borns with CNS disorders than in PROM cases, were observed. Zn deficiency at increased exposure to Cd and Pb could play a significant role in etiology of these abnormalities. A positive correlation was found between Zn and Cu concentrations (r = 0.862; p < 0.05) in PROM cases which indicates regular transport of trace metals to the fetal ovum. The condition of infants born to this group of women was much better, and prematurity was the only complication of pregnancy.     

Acute Toxicity of Waterborne Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn to First-Instar Chironomus riparius Larvae

The acute toxicities of waterborne Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn were determined in the first-instar larvae (generally considered to be the most sensitive) of Chironomus riparius, under standardized conditions. Toxicity tests were conducted in soft water (hardness, 8 mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalents) in the absence of food and were limited to 24 h to avoid control mortality associated with food deprivation. For each metal, a logarithmic range of concentrations was tested between 0 and 25 mg/L. First-instar C. riparius are most sensitive to Pb, with a 24-h LC50 of 0.61 mg/L (CI of 0.26–1.15 mg/L), and to Cu, with a 24-h LC50 of 2.09 mg/L (CI of 1.57–2.96 mg/L). The LC50 for Cd was 9.38 mg/L, while the LC50s for Zn and Ni were both higher than the highest tested concentration of 25 mg metal/L. Our results found that even first-instar chironomid larvae are well protected by both the current CCME Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life and the USEPA Water Quality Criteria, as LC50s were at least 25 times higher than the guideline concentrations.     

Vitamin C,E and A levels in maternal and fetal blood for Czech and Gypsy ethnic groups in the Czech Republic

Vitamin C, E and A levels in maternal and cord blood sera were examined at delivery in two districts of the Czech Republic. Information on personal and social characteristics, health, ethnicity, and lifestyle was also collected. A highly significant correlation between ascorbate levels in maternal and cord blood was found. Vitamin C levels in cord blood were about 1.7 times those in maternal blood. This ratio was much higher for mothers deficient in vitamin C: it was about 3 for deficient nonsmokers and as high as 5 for deficient mothers who smoked cigarettes (p < 0.01). This finding may suggest a compensatory mechanism in fetuses that are endangered by oxidative stress. The mean maternal blood levels of vitamin A and E were higher than in fetal blood (both p < 0.001). The mean fetal/maternal ratios were 0.7 for vitamin A and 0.2 for vitamin E levels; these ratios were considerably higher for mothers deficient in a particular vitamin as compared with those for well-nourished mothers. Ascorbate levels were associated with maternal education and smoking. Significantly decreased vitamin C levels were observed in Gypsy mothers and their babies; this may be attributed to unfavorable diet and smoking habits: about 78% of Gypsy mothers admitted smoking as compared with 31% of Czech mothers.     

ICP-MS直接测定儿童全血中Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Mn、Fe和Ca

目的：建立ICP—MS直接测定儿童全血中Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Mn、Fe和Ca的分析方法。方法：采用0．1％TritonX-100和0．1％HNO3对血样稀释20倍后直接用ICP—MS进行分析。结果：整个方法的检出限可以满足测定的要求，精密度优于2．4％，回收率为96．0％～103％。对3个标准参考物质的分析结果令人满意。结论：可用ICP—MS直接测定全血中Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Mn、Fe和Ca，整个方法具有简单、快速和准确的特点。     

Assessment of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn exposures of 6- to 10-year-old children in Mumbai

Population exposures to toxic trace metals are of great concern due to their nonbiodegradable nature and long biological half-lives for elimination from the body. Response to a toxic metal varies with age group; children are more sensitive and hence more at risk than others. The present study was therefore undertaken on 6- to 10-year-old children residing in various localities of Greater Mumbai and Thane. Blood samples from 566 children residing in 13 locations in Mumbai along with 410 air particulate samples and 64 "duplicate diet" samples were collected for this study. Levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in these samples were estimated by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric technique. Intake of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn for 6- to 10-year-old children through ingestion and inhalation pathways have also been assessed. A correlation coefficient of 0.88 is observed between air lead and blood lead. It is also seen that every microgram increase in the Pb concentration in air (m-3) results in 3.56 microg increase in the blood Pb concentration (dl-1) in children. Similar correlation, however, was not observed in cases of Cd, Cu, and Zn.     

青少年血压偏高与发中铜 锌 硒 镉关系的研究

目的 :探讨血压偏高青少年发中Zn、Cu、Se、Cd含量变化与血压偏高的相互关系。方法 :Zn、Cu、Cd采用原子吸收分光光度计测定 ,Se采用荧光分光光度计测定。结果 :血压偏高组发中Zn、Cd含量明显高于正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;而Cu含量明显低于正常对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ;发中Se含量无差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :Zn、Cu、Cd含量变化与血压偏高密切相关     

某些营养素对短期染毒铅镉汞在小鼠体内分布的影响

目的 了解营养素锌（Zn）、硒（Se）和维生素C对小鼠短期铅（Pb）、镉（Cd）、汞（Hg）染毒的体内分布的影响，观察其对Pb、CA、Hg联合损害的拮抗作用。方法 染毒组小鼠灌胃给予Pb（7mg／kg）、CA（1mg／kg）和Hg（0．7mg／kg），处理组除给予Pb、CA、Hg染毒外，同日或次日给予Zn、Se或维生素C，剂量为Zn12．5mg／kg或62．5mg／kg，Se40μg/kg或200μg/kg，维生素c80mg／kg或400mg／kg。连续处理3次。结果 3种营养素都能促进毒物从粪中排出；可减少心脏中Cd含量（P〈0．05）；给予营养素可使由染毒引起的肝脏器系数、肾脏器系数和脾脏器系数增大幅度降低。但是加营养素组的肝和肾中Pb、CA、Hg含量都较染毒组高，体重增长与染毒组亦没有差异。连续染毒引起动物体重下降而隔日染毒对动物体重没有明显影响。营养素拮抗效果以加Se组最好，高Se组优于低Se组，而高维生素C和高Zn组并不优于相应的低剂量组。结论 Zn、Se和维生素C对Pb、CA、Hg联合损害有明确的拮抗作用，但可引起毒物在肝、肾中的含量增加，对体重无影响，表明在此染毒剂量下，Zn、Se和维生素C的拮抗能力是有限的。