Fast ultrasound-assisted extraction of copper, iron, manganese and zinc from human hair samples prior to flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

Deposition of heavy metals in biological tissues of workers in metal workshops

Welding and cutting of metals produce large amounts of particulate matter (PM), which poses a significant health risk to exposed workers. Appropriate biological markers to estimate exposure are of great interest for occupational health and safety. Here, hair and nail samples from metal workers were analyzed, which appear to be more suitable than blood or urine samples for assessing long-term exposure. Four workshops working with steel components were included in the study. The hair and nail samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure the concentrations of 12 elements. At the workplaces, the concentrations of 15 elements in particulate matter were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) techniques. The hair and nail samples of the workers contained significantly higher metal concentrations than the analytical results of a nonexposed control group. The most significant difference between the groups was found for Ti, Mn, Fe, and Co.

Metals dust in workers' homes and potential for take home in the Greater Boston area: Pilot study

Toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, are present at construction worksites. From work, metals can easily, unintentionally be transported to homes of workers, contaminating living spaces and affecting others including children, known as "take-home exposure." Focus has been given to minimizing lead take-home exposure but less is known about other metals. This pilot study aims to better understand the sources and predictors of metals in the home primarily of construction workers (n = 21), but also explore other workers potentially exposed [janitorial (n = 4) and auto repair (n = 2) jobs]. Greater Boston workers were recruited in 2018-2019 through collaboration with community-based organizations and worker unions serving low-income/immigrant workers. During a home visit, a dust vacuum sample was collected, a worker questionnaire was administered, and home observations were performed to determine factors that could affect home metals concentration. Thirty elements were analyzed in the dust via inductively coupled plasma coupled to atomic emission and mass spectrometry. We performed univariable and multivariable models, potential predictive factors, and multivariable mixed-effect regression analyses combining metals. Arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, and tin, commonly found in construction, were higher in construction workers' home dust compared to other workers, although not statistically significant. Sociodemographic/work/home-related variables affected home metals dust concentrations. Various work-related factors were associated with higher metal dust levels, for example: no work locker vs. locker (nickel ratio of means or ROM = 4.2, p < 0.05); mixing vs. no mixing work/personal items (nickel ROM = 1.6, p < 0.05); dusty vs. no dusty at work (copper ROM = 3.1, p < 0.05); not washing vs. washing hands after work (manganese ROM = 1.4, p < 0.05); not changing vs. changing clothes after work (cadmium ROM = 6.9, p < 0.05; copper ROM = 3.6, p < 0.05). Mixed effect regression confirmed statistical significance, which suggests a likelihood of metal mixtures carrying a "take-home" potential. Lead home interventions should evaluate other metals exposure reduction.

BMI and levels of zinc, copper in hair, serum and urine of Turkish male patients with androgenetic alopecia

OBJECTIVE

Male pattern androgenetic alopecia is characterized by progressive hair loss from the scalp. It is known that imbalances of some trace elements play a role in the pathomechanism of many forms of alopecia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of zinc and copper in hair, serum and urine samples of Turkish males with male pattern androgenetic alopecia and to compare with healthy controls.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

116 males with male pattern androgenetic alopecia and 100 controls were involved in this study.

RESULTS

Levels of zinc and copper in hair were decreased significantly in the patients (p<0.05), although zinc and copper levels of serum and urine were not different between patients and controls (p>0.05). Body mass index of patients were higher than control group. In addition, in the group with body mass index of 25 and lower zinc level in hair and urine, copper level in serum were significantly higher (p<0.05). Body mass index was negatively correlated with hair zinc levels.

CONCLUSION

We thought that decreased zinc and copper levels in hair may play a role in the etiology of male pattern androgenetic alopecia. In addition, obesity by making changes in the balance of the trace elements in hair, serum and urine may play a role in male pattern androgenetic alopecia. Hence, assessing the levels of trace elements in hair of male pattern androgenetic alopecia patients may be more valuable compared to serum and urine for treatment planning.

A green analytical method using ultrasound in sample preparation for the flow injection determination of iron, manganese, and zinc in soluble solid samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of iron, manganese, and zinc in soluble solid samples. The method is based on continuous ultrasonic water dissolution of the sample (5-30 mg) at room temperature followed by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination. A good precision of the whole procedure (1.2-4.6%) and a sample throughput of ca. 25 samples h(-1) were obtained. The proposed green analytical method has been successfully applied for the determination of iron, manganese, and zinc in soluble solid food samples (soluble cocoa and soluble coffee) and pharmaceutical preparations (multivitamin tablets). The ranges of concentrations found were 21.4-25.61 μg g(-1) for iron, 5.74-18.30 μg g(-1) for manganese, and 33.27-57.90 μg g(-1) for zinc in soluble solid food samples and 3.75-9.90 μg g(-1) for iron, 0.47-5.05 μg g(-1) for manganese, and 1.55-15.12 μg g(-1) for zinc in multivitamin tablets. The accuracy of the proposed method was established by a comparison with the conventional wet acid digestion method using a paired t-test, indicating the absence of systematic errors.

Old and New Flavors of Flame (Furnace) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper presents some recent applications of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) to different matrices and samples. The time window selected was from 2006 up to March, 2011, and several aspects related to food, biological fluids, environmental, and technological samples analyses were reported and discussed. In addition, the chemometrics application for FAAS methods development was also taken into account, as well as the use of metal tube atomizers in air/acetylene flame. Preconcentration methods coupled to FAAS were discussed, and several approaches related to speciation, flotation, ionic liquids, among others were discussed. This paper can be interesting for researchers and FAAS users in order to see the state of the art of this technique.

Green Sample Preparation Methods

Sample preparation is the stage of the analytical process where greenness-related issues can likely play the most important role. With the exception of direct methods for solid sample analysis, for most analytical methods it is necessary to carry out a certain number of operations to make the sample amenable to the instrument. These operations, which may include digestion, extraction, dissolution, preconcentration and clean-up, typically require the use of large amounts of acids, organic solvents, and in general, chemicals that can often be persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) as well as operating conditions that can become unsafe and energy-consuming. Therefore, sample preparation stages should be targeted as a priority when green chemistry principles are to be adapted to analytical activities. This chapter is devoted to the discussion of most relevant sample preparation strategies that approach the fulfilment of the green chemistry principles. Thus, digestion and extraction strategies from solid samples for both inorganic and organic analysis are approached using microwaves and ultrasound, followed by a discussion of modern extraction techniques, such as microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction for trace organic analysis. Microextraction techniques also deserve a place here, since a high degree of greenness is achieved when they are implemented in analytical methodology. Finally, application of surfactants in techniques such as cloud point extraction or membranes that allow minimizing the use of organic solvents for analysis of liquid samples are discussed.

Vascular metallomics: copper in the vasculature

Owing to recent progress in analytical techniques, metallomics are evolving from detecting distinct trace metals in a defined state to monitor the dynamic changes in the abundance and location of trace metals in vitro and in vivo. Vascular metallomics is an emerging field that studies the role of trace metals in vasculature. This review will introduce common metallomics techniques including atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with a summary table to compare these techniques. Moreover, we will summarize recent research findings that have applied these techniques to human population studies in cardiovascular diseases, with a particular emphasis on the role of copper in these diseases. In order to address the issue of interdisciplinary studies between metallomics and vascular biology, we will review the progress of efforts to understand the role of copper in neovascularization. This recent advance in the metallomics field may be a powerful tool to elucidate the signaling pathways and specific biological functions of these trace metals. Finally, we summarize the evidence to support the notion that copper is a dynamic signaling molecule. As a future direction, vascular metallomics studies may lead to the identification of targets for diagnosis and therapy in cardiovascular disease.

On-line coupled dynamic sonication-assisted extraction-liquid chromatography for the determination of phenolic acids in Lamiaceae herbs

A fast and efficient on-line coupled dynamic sonication-assisted extraction-liquid chromatography (DSAE-LC) method was developed for the determination of phenolic acids in basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, spearmint and thyme. The extraction and chromatography were coupled via a solid-phase trap filled with strong anion exchange material. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the retention times were less than 0.4% and those for the peak heights less than 3% except for gallic acid (RSD 1.2% for the retention times and 11% for the peak heights). Limits of detection were below approximately 3ng.