ICP OES and CV AAS in determination of mercury in an unusual fatal case of long-term exposure to elemental mercury in a teenager

Determination of lithium in the blood of the deceased by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in a case of lithium-ion battery fire

In this study, a case of lithium-ion battery fire is presented. The blood of the deceased was analyzed for lithium (Li) using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). When compared to normal individuals in the same region, the deceased had much higher levels of Li in their blood. Therefore, conducting quantitative analyses of Li in the bodies of individuals who die in lithium-ion battery fire can provide valuable information into the specific circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Chromogenic probe adhered porous polymer monolith as real-time solid-state sensor for the detection of ultra-trace toxic mercury ions

The escalating predicament of water pollution has spurred the development of new chromogenic materials for the efficient detection/screening of toxic mercuric (Hg2+) ions. In this study, we report a simple and efficient detection stratagem by infusing a chromogenic ion-receptor (BTDA), i.e., 4-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-N, N-dimethylaniline onto a structurally intertwined meso-/macro-pore polymer template for the target-specific sensing of ultra-trace Hg2+. The structural/surface features of the monolithic polymer template, prepared from glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) monomer crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), facilitate voluminous infusion and uniform decoration of ion-receptor molecules across the continuous porous poly(GMA-co-EGDMA) framework, resulting in a solid-state colorimetric sensory system. The bimodal polymer network's intriguing surface and structural morphology of the chromogenic sensor material are interpreted using scanning/transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, optical spectroscopy, surface area, porosity and thermal analysis. The proposed Hg2+ sensor offers a linear response range of 1-150 μg/L, with a detection and quantification limit of 0.29 and 0.97 μg/L, respectively. The poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-BTDA sensor exhibits a quick ion-sensing response (40 s) with distinct color transitions from pastel yellow to olive as a function of increasing Hg2+ concentration. The matrix tolerance studies for the proposed sensory system reveal high selectivity for Hg2+, with a recovery of ≥99.2% in on-site environmental samples. The sensor material exhibits excellent data reproducibility and reliability up to seven cycles of reusability.

The assessment of the usability of selected instrumental techniques for the elemental analysis of biomedical samples

The fundamental role of major, minor and trace elements in different physiological and pathological processes occurring in living organism makes that elemental analysis of biomedical samples becomes more and more popular issue. The most often used tools for analysis of the elemental composition of biological samples include Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (F-AAS and GF-AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Each of these techniques has many advantages and limitations that should be considered in the first stage of planning the measurement procedure. Their reliability can be checked in the validation process and the precision, trueness and detection limits of elements belong to the most frequently determined validation parameters. The main purpose of this paper was the discussion of selected instrumental techniques (F-AAS, GF-AAS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS) in term of the achieved validation parameters and the usefulness in the analysis of biological samples. The focus in the detailed literature studies was also put on the methods of preparation of the biomedical samples. What is more based on the own data the usefulness of the total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for the elemental analysis of animal tissues was examined. The detection limits of elements, precision and trueness for the technique were determined and compared with the literature data concerning other of the discussed techniques of elemental analysis. Reassuming, the following paper is to serve as a guide and comprehensive source of information concerning the validation parameters achievable in different instrumental techniques used for the elemental analysis of biomedical samples.

Mercury intoxication resembling pediatric rheumatic diseases: case series and literature review

Mercury is the only metal that remains in liquid form at the room temperature. It is a very toxic metal and even short-term exposure can lead to poisoning. Mercury intoxication can affect many systems such as skin, cardiovascular, genitourinary, central and peripheral nervous, respiratory, and musculoskeletal system. Consequently, the diagnosis of mercury intoxication can be challenging due to its non-specific and multisystemic presentation. Herein, we report five pediatric cases with mercury intoxication from two families that were initially misdiagnosed as rheumatic disorders. We also performed a literature review about pediatric cases with mercury intoxication to investigate the clinical findings in children, the source of intoxication, and the current treatment preferences. As in our cases, reported patients were previously misdiagnosed as various infectious and/or rheumatic diseases before the diagnosis of mercury intoxication was established. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can cause serious morbidities and even mortality. We report this case series to emphasize the multisystemic presentation of mercury intoxication, and to remind and provide clues for physicians to recognize this rare toxicologic syndrome.

Mercuric chloride poisoning: symptoms, analysis, therapies, and autoptic findings. A review of the literature

Among mercury-related intoxications, the re-emerging of mercuric chloride poisoning has been recently described in literature. Only sparse data, reporting the clinical symptoms, the anatomo-pathological findings, the analytical procedures or the treatment have been published and no exhaustive analysis of all these factors exists in literature. The classic symptoms associated with toxicity of mercuric chloride is a combination of renal, gastrointestinal (GI) and central nervous system (CNS) damages, eventually leading to death. Fatalities related to exposure to mercuric chloride have been reported since the nineteenth century. To date, there have been 45 published cases in the medical literature in which the intoxication or the death is attributed to mercuric chloride. In this review, we will describe the modern medical treatments, with particular attenztion to the developments of the lasts two decades, in order to provide an exhaustive description of the clinical symptoms, the post-mortem findings, and the analytical procedures to act out when mercuric chloride intoxication occurs. The analysis of the data obtained permitted us to accurately describe all the organs and apparatus involved in mercuric chloride intoxication. The target organs were the kidneys, the GI tract and the CNS. A description of the analytical procedures for the determination of mercuric chloride in biological materials, to carry out in vivo and in post-mortem samples has also been described.

Novel sulfonamidospirobifluorenes as fluorescent sensors for mercury(ii) ion and glutathione

Novel spirobifluorene derivatives containing two and four sulfonamide groups are successfully synthesized from the commercially available bromo-9,9'-spirobifluorene by Sonogashira couplings. These compounds exhibit an excellent selective fluorescence quenching by Hg(ii) in DMSO/HEPES buffer mixture with three-times-noise detection limits of 10.4 to 103.8 nM. A static aggregation induced quenching mechanism is proposed based on the data from 1H-NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, as well as the observation of the Tyndall effect. Quantifications of Hg(ii) using these sensors are in good agreement with those obtained from ICP-OES. The reversibility of these sensors is demonstrated by a complete fluorescence restoration upon addition of EDTA or l-glutathione. The application as a turn-on sensor for l-glutathione is demonstrated in a quantitative analysis of three samples of l-glutathione supplement drinks.

Inorganic elemental analysis of decomposition fluids of an in situ animal burial

In homicide investigations, it is critically important that post-mortem (PMI) and post-burial interval (PBI) of buried victims are determined accurately. However, clandestine graves can be difficult to locate; and the detection rates for a variety of search methods can be very low. This paper presents elemental analysis results of 18 months of decomposition fluids from an in situ buried animal cadaver used as a human clandestine burial proxy. Study results showed potassium, sulphate and sodium are key detectable elements which mirror observed conductivity temporal changes from this and other studies. Seasonal rainfall has a strong influence on both fluid generation and subsequent concentration which needs to be accounted for. Study implications suggest inorganic elements could provide both detection and potential dating of discovered clandestine burials.

A new method for quasi-reagent-free biomonitoring of mercury in human urine

A novel analytical method for sampling and extraction of mercury (Hg) from human urine is presented in this work. The method is based on selective accumulation and separation of Hg from fresh urine sample onto active nanogold-coated silica material by highly efficient solid-phase extraction. After thermal desorption of Hg from the extractant, detection is performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The feasibility and validity of the optimized, quasi-reagent-free approach was confirmed by recovery experiments in spiked real urine (recovery rate 96.13 ± 5.34%) and by comparison of found Hg concentrations in real urine samples - originating from occupationally exposed persons - with values obtained from reference methods cold vapor - atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) and cold vapor - atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS). A very good agreement of the found values reveals the validity of the proposed approach. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be as low as 0.004 μg Hg L^-1 and a high reproducibility with a relative standard deviations ≤4.2% (n = 6) is given. Moreover, storage of the samples for up to one week at an ambient temperature of 30 °C reveals no analyte losses or contamination. In conclusion, the proposed method enables easy-to-handle on-site extraction of total Hg from human urine ensuring at the same time reagent-free sample stabilization, providing quick and safe sampling, which can be performed by untrained persons.

Detection of Mercury in Human Organs and Hair in a Case of a Homicidal Poisoning of a Woman Autopsied 6 Years After Death

In the described case of the death of a 53-year-old woman, no toxicological examination was performed directly after death (only an anatomopathological autopsy), although symptoms of serious gastrointestinal disturbances had been present (the woman had been hospitalized twice in the course of several months). It was assumed that the cause of death was myocardial infarction. Five years later, some new circumstances came to light which suggested that somebody could have administered some poison (metals, cyanides) to the woman. Toxicological analysis of postmortem samples from the corpse, exhumed 6 years after death by order of the public prosecutor's office, revealed high tissue mercury contents in biological material (cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry): small intestine, 1516 ng/g; large intestine, 487 ng/g; liver, 1201 ng/g; heart muscle, 1023 ng/g; and scalp hair, 227 ng/g. In samples of soil from places near the coffin, negligible traces of mercury were found (0.5-1.5 ng/g); contamination by mercury from the environment was ruled out. The presented case is a rare example of recognition of mercury poisoning on the basis of the results of analysis of biological material from an exhumed cadaver.