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Farmer JG, Specht A, Punshon T, Jackson BP, Bidlack FB, Bakalar CA, Mukherjee R, Davis M, Steadman DW, Weisskopf MG. Lead exposure across the life course and age at death. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:171975. [PMID: 38547974 PMCID: PMC11069331 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, even at low levels. Little is known about how the timing of Pb exposure throughout life may influence these relationships. Quantifying the amount of Pb present in various tissues of the body provides measurements of exposure from different periods of life. These include bone, tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of the crown, and tooth cementum, which is the calcified connective tissue covering the tooth root. The purpose of the study was to examine Pb exposure at multiple periods throughout life, including childhood (enamel), adulthood (cementum), and later life (bone), and to estimate their associations with age at death. METHODS 208 skeleton donors (born 1910-1960) from an ongoing case-control study were included in this study. Pb was measured in tibia (shin), bone using X-Ray Florescence and in teeth using Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy. After excluding unusually high measurements (>2sd), this resulted in a final sample of 111 with all exposure measures. Correlations across measures were determined using partial Spearman correlations. Associations between Pb exposure and age at death were estimated using Multivariable Linear Regression. RESULTS Pb measures across exposure periods were all significantly correlated, with the highest correlation between cementum and tibia measures (r = 0.61). Donors were largely female (63.0 %), White (97.3 %), and attended some college (49.5 %). Single exposure models found that higher tooth cementum Pb (-1.27; 95 % CI: -2.48, -0.06) and tibia bone Pb (-0.91; 95 % CI: -1.67, -0.15) were significantly associated with an earlier age at death. When considered simultaneously, only cementum Pb remained significant (-1.51; 95 % CI: -2.92, -0.11). Secondary analyses suggest that the outer cementum Pb may be especially associated with an earlier age at death. CONCLUSION Results suggest that higher Pb exposure is associated with an earlier age at death, with adulthood as the life period of most relevance. Additional studies using Pb exposure measures from different life stages should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin G Farmer
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Aaron Specht
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, 550 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Tracy Punshon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States
| | | | - Charlotte A Bakalar
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rajarshi Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mary Davis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 1621 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Dawnie W Steadman
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 1621 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, United States
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Martinez-Morata I, Sobel M, Tellez-Plaza M, Navas-Acien A, Howe CG, Sanchez TR. A State-of-the-Science Review on Metal Biomarkers. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:215-249. [PMID: 37337116 PMCID: PMC10822714 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00402-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Biomarkers are commonly used in epidemiological studies to assess metals and metalloid exposure and estimate internal dose, as they integrate multiple sources and routes of exposure. Researchers are increasingly using multi-metal panels and innovative statistical methods to understand how exposure to real-world metal mixtures affects human health. Metals have both common and unique sources and routes of exposure, as well as biotransformation and elimination pathways. The development of multi-element analytical technology allows researchers to examine a broad spectrum of metals in their studies; however, their interpretation is complex as they can reflect different windows of exposure and several biomarkers have critical limitations. This review elaborates on more than 500 scientific publications to discuss major sources of exposure, biotransformation and elimination, and biomarkers of exposure and internal dose for 12 metals/metalloids, including 8 non-essential elements (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, uranium) and 4 essential elements (manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc) commonly used in multi-element analyses. RECENT FINDINGS We conclude that not all metal biomarkers are adequate measures of exposure and that understanding the metabolic biotransformation and elimination of metals is key to metal biomarker interpretation. For example, whole blood is a good biomarker of exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and tin, but it is not a good indicator for barium, nickel, and uranium. For some essential metals, the interpretation of whole blood biomarkers is unclear. Urine is the most commonly used biomarker of exposure across metals but it should not be used to assess lead exposure. Essential metals such as zinc and manganese are tightly regulated by homeostatic processes; thus, elevated levels in urine may reflect body loss and metabolic processes rather than excess exposure. Total urinary arsenic may reflect exposure to both organic and inorganic arsenic, thus, arsenic speciation and adjustment for arsebonetaine are needed in populations with dietary seafood consumption. Hair and nails primarily reflect exposure to organic mercury, except in populations exposed to high levels of inorganic mercury such as in occupational and environmental settings. When selecting biomarkers, it is also critical to consider the exposure window of interest. Most populations are chronically exposed to metals in the low-to-moderate range, yet many biomarkers reflect recent exposures. Toenails are emerging biomarkers in this regard. They are reliable biomarkers of long-term exposure for arsenic, mercury, manganese, and selenium. However, more research is needed to understand the role of nails as a biomarker of exposure to other metals. Similarly, teeth are increasingly used to assess lifelong exposures to several essential and non-essential metals such as lead, including during the prenatal window. As metals epidemiology moves towards embracing a multi-metal/mixtures approach and expanding metal panels to include less commonly studied metals, it is important for researchers to have a strong knowledge base about the metal biomarkers included in their research. This review aims to aid metals researchers in their analysis planning, facilitate sound analytical decision-making, as well as appropriate understanding and interpretation of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martinez-Morata
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Marisa Sobel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Maria Tellez-Plaza
- Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Tiffany R Sanchez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 1107, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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Westerhausen MT, Bernard M, Choi G, Jeffries-Stokes C, Chandrajith R, Banati R, Bishop DP. Preparation of matrix-matched standards for the analysis of teeth via laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:797-806. [PMID: 36722471 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay02015g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mineralised tissue such as teeth can serve as a retrospective, chronological bioindicator of past exposure to toxic metals. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) can be used to determine the presence and spatial distribution of toxic metals in teeth, giving a record of when an exposure occurred. Concentrations of these metals are often determined by a one-point calibration against NIST glass using an equation that requires an internal standard factor that accounts for differences in ablation behaviour between the glass and the tooth. However, an ideal external calibration would contain multiple matrix-matched standards to obtain a calibration curve. Here, we investigated optimal procedures for preparing synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) doped with elements of interest as a calibration material. The materials were examined for homogeneity of metal incorporation, matrix-matched ablation characteristics, linearity, and limits of detection. A homogenised and pelleted HA was the most suitable material, providing improved ablation characteristics over previous HA materials and NIST glass for the analysis of teeth. An ablation yield of 1.1 showed its suitability to analyse teeth, the metals were homogeneously incorporated, and it produced excellent linearity with limits of detection ranging from 0.1-2 μg kg-1 for magnesium, aluminium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, barium and lead. A juvenile incisor from a remote indigenous community in Australia and an adult molar from Sri Lanka were assessed for toxic metal exposure. The molar showed evidence of exposure to cadmium and lead. The synthetic HA material was straightforward to prepare, and will improve confidence in the analysis of teeth and other biomineralised material when assessing toxic metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika T Westerhausen
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (HyMaS), School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Martin Bernard
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (HyMaS), School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Gina Choi
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (HyMaS), School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | | | - Rohana Chandrajith
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Richard Banati
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - David P Bishop
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (HyMaS), School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
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Laffoon JE, Shuler KA, Millard AR, Connelly JN, Schroeder H. Isotopic evidence for anthropogenic lead exposure on a 17th/18th century Barbadian plantation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 171:529-538. [PMID: 31618449 PMCID: PMC7028029 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify and characterize anthropogenic lead sources on a 17th/18th century Barbadian plantation and to test if lead isotope analyses can be used to identify the geographic origins of first-generation African captives. MATERIALS AND METHODS We carried out lead (Pb) isotope analyses on dental enamel samples from 24 individuals from the Newton Plantation Cemetery in Barbados, which had previously been analyzed for strontium (Sr) and oxygen (O) isotope composition (Schroeder et al., American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2009, 139:547-557) and Pb concentrations (Schroeder et al., American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2013, 150:203-209. RESULTS We are able to identify British Pb sources, and more specifically Bristol/Mendips Pb, as the most likely source of anthropogenic Pb on the plantation, highlighting the impact of the British Atlantic economy on the lives of enslaved peoples in Barbados during the period of plantation slavery. Furthermore, we find that there is only one clear outlier among seven individuals who had previously been identified as African-born based on their enamel Sr isotope composition (Schroeder et al., American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2009, 139:547-557). All other individuals present a very homogenous Pb isotope composition, which overlaps with that of British Pb sources. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that while Pb isotope analyses can help identify and further characterize the sources of anthropogenic Pb in plantation settings, they might not be suited for identifying the origins of African-born individuals in diasporic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristrina A. Shuler
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social WorkAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabama
| | | | - James N. Connelly
- Center for Star and Planet FormationThe GLOBE Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Hannes Schroeder
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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Sehrawat JS, Singh M. Application of Trace Elemental Profile of Known Teeth for Sex and Age Estimation of Ajnala Skeletal Remains: a Forensic Anthropological Cross-Validation Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 2020; 193:295-310. [PMID: 31030383 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-019-01712-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Teeth store crucial information needed for medical, environmental, genomics, public health, and forensic anthropological research work. The prolonged forensic utility of teeth is ensured by their extended postmortem longevity as they can resist almost all sorts of chemical, biological, and physical degradations or destructions. The main aim of the present investigation was to utilize the discriminant functions and regression equations generated from the elemental profile of known teeth for estimating sex and age of unknown human skeletal remains excavated from an abandoned well at Ajnala (Amritsar, India). The written records mentioned that 282 Indian mutineer soldiers were killed in July 1857, their cadavers were dumped in the disused well, and then a religious structure was built over the periphery of the said well. These human remains, along with some contextual items, were excavated non-scientifically in April 2014. Preliminary results obtained from application of different forensic anthropological techniques like stable isotope, pulp-tooth area ratio, and mtDNA analyses have indicated that these remains belonged to adult males. In present study, the elemental concentrations of 100 mandibular molars of known age and sex were estimated from wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometer (WD-XRF) analyzer. The statistical equations so generated from elemental concentrations of known teeth were applied to estimate the probable age and the sex of unknown mandibular teeth (N = 100) collected from Ajnala skeletal assemblage. The elements Pb and As were detected in ancient teeth only whereas the detection of elements like Ba, Se, and Te was limited to modern teeth samples only. When the statistical equations so generated were applied to elemental concentrations of Ajnala teeth, it was found that 96% teeth belonged to adult males and the remaining ones were classified to be that of females. Though sexual differences were observed in concentrations of majority of elements, statistically significant differences were found in elemental concentrations of very few teeth. Age estimates of unknown teeth were found in the age ranges of 19 to 48 years. Thus, the trace elemental analysis results supported the written records that the victims were adult males. The cross-validated application of elemental profiles of known teeth for establishing the identity of unknown teeth is the first forensic anthropological study reported from India. Though the obtained accuracy levels were not found within acceptable forensic threshold limits, the present study results may guide future researches involving human hard tissues. It may be concluded that trace elemental concentrations of teeth may be influenced by the factors like age and sex of an individual and thus cannot be used for accurate and reliable forensic sex or age estimations. Dental trace elemental composition can be used as a forensic tool only if used in conjunction with other morphological or molecular analysis of the unknown dental remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Sehrawat
- Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Monika Singh
- UGC-SRF, Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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Olympio KPK, Huila MFG, de Almeida Baldini Cardoso C, da Silva Ferreira APS, Ortiz AG, Toma HE, da Silva RHA, Luz MS, Cardoso MRA, Kelmer GAR, de Oliveira PV, Bechara EJH, Günther WMR, Buzalaf MAR. Can in vivo surface dental enamelmicrobiopsies be used to measure remote lead exposure? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:9322-9329. [PMID: 29264857 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0988-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Measuring lead in the surface dental enamel (SDE) using biopsies is a rapid, safe, and painless procedure. The dental enamel lead levels (DELLs) decrease from the outermost superficial layer to the inner layer of dental enamel, which becomes crucial for the biopsy depth (BD) measurement. However, whether the origin of lead found in SDE is fully endogenous is not yet established. There is also controversy about the biopsy protocol. The aims of this study were to investigate if DELLs are altered by extrinsic contamination (A) and to evaluate the real geometric figure formed by the erosion provoked by biopsy procedure and the respective BD in SDE (B). To accomplish the aim A, lead from 90 bovine incisor crowns lead was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer as a function of exposure time and lead concentration. Two biopsies were performed in each tooth, before and after lead exposure. Six 15-tooth groups differed by exposure time (1 or 30 min) and lead concentrations (A. 0 mg/L-placebo, B. 0.01 mg/L-standard for drinking water, or C. 0.06 mg/L-concentration found in contaminated groundwater). Phosphorus was determined by an inductively coupled plasm optical emission spectrometer to quantify the enamel removed. To compare intakes/losses of lead in SDE among the groups, values of DELL differences between before and after lead exposure were compared by ANOVA (p < 0.05). To attain the objective B, one extracted human permanent tooth was studied by confocal Raman microscopy. Lead measurements and the surface profile were determined. There was no difference in DELL among the groups (p = 0.964). The biopsy bottom surface area, analyzed by microscopy, showed an irregular area, with regions of peaks and valleys, where areas with depth ranging from 0.2 (peaks) to 1.8 μm (valleys) (± 0.1 μm) could be found. BD carried out in vivo is commonly calculated using the cylinder height formula. The real BD was shown to be very similar to already published data. In conclusion, the SDE of erupted teeth does not seem to be susceptible to environmental lead intake, being thus reliable to measure remote exposures to lead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Polido Kaneshiro Olympio
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01246-904, Brazil.
| | - Manuel Fernando Gonzalez Huila
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Cristiane de Almeida Baldini Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, área de concentração Odontopediatria, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL), Rua Galvão Bueno, 868, Liberdade, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01506-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Sacone da Silva Ferreira
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01246-904, Brazil
| | - Adrielly Garcia Ortiz
- Departamento de Estomatologia, Saúde Coletiva e Odontologia Legal, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av do Café, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP 14040-904, Brazil
| | - Henrique Eisi Toma
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
- Departamento de Estomatologia, Saúde Coletiva e Odontologia Legal, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av do Café, s/n, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP 14040-904, Brazil
| | - Maciel Santos Luz
- Centro de Tecnologia em Metalurgia e Materiais, Laboratório de Processos Metalúrgicos (CTMM/LPM), Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 532, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-901, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Alves Cardoso
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01246-904, Brazil
| | - Gislayne Aparecida Rodrigues Kelmer
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Pedro Vitoriano de Oliveira
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Etelvino José Henriques Bechara
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Wanda Maria Risso Günther
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01246-904, Brazil
| | - Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, Alameda Otávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75, Vila Nova Cidade Universitária, Bauru, SP, CEP 17012-901, Brazil
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Investigating Biogenic Versus Diagenetic Trace Element Incorporation in Archaeological Mineralized Tissues with LA-ICP-MS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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Keller AT, Regan LA, Lundstrom CC, Bower NW. Evaluation of the efficacy of spatiotemporal Pb isoscapes for provenancing of human remains. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 261:83-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kamenov GD, Gulson BL. The Pb isotopic record of historical to modern human lead exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 490:861-70. [PMID: 24907620 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Human teeth and bones incorporate trace amounts of lead (Pb) from the local environment during growth and remodeling. Anthropogenic activities have caused changes in the natural Pb isotopic background since historical times and this is reflected in the Pb isotopes of historical European teeth. Lead mining and use increased exponentially during the last century and the isotopic compositions of modern human teeth reflect the modern anthropogenic Pb. USA teeth show the most radiogenic Pb and Australian teeth show the least radiogenic Pb, a result of different Pb ores used in the two regions. During the last century the Australian Pb was exported to Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, resulting in swamping of the local environmental Pb signal by the imported Pb. As a result, the modern human teeth in Europe show a significant drop to lower isotopic values compared with historical times. Similarly, modern human teeth in other regions of the world show similar Pb isotopic ratios to modern European teeth reflecting the Pb imports. The specific pattern of human Pb exposure allows us to use the Pb isotopic signal recorded in the skeleton as a geo-referencing tool. As historical European teeth show a distinct Pb signal, we can identify early European skeletal remains in the New World and likely elsewhere. In modern forensic investigations we can discriminate to some extent Eastern Europeans from Western and Northern Europeans. Australians can be identified to some extent in any region in the world, although there is some overlap with Western European individuals. Lead isotopes can be used to easily identify foreigners in the USA, as modern USA teeth are distinct from any other region of the world. By analogy, USA individuals can be identified virtually in any other region of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- George D Kamenov
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 241 Williamson Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Brian L Gulson
- Graduate School of the Environment, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Schroeder H, Shuler KA, Chenery SR. Childhood lead exposure in an enslaved African community in Barbados: Implications for birthplace and health status. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2012; 150:203-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Price TD, Burton JH, Cucina A, Zabala P, Frei R, Tykot RH, Tiesler V. Isotopic Studies of Human Skeletal Remains from a Sixteenth to Seventeenth Century AD Churchyard in Campeche, Mexico. CURRENT ANTHROPOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1086/666492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Polido Kaneshiro Olympio K, Naozuka J, Magalhães AC, Valentim de Pera Garcia M, Vitoriano de Oliveira P, Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf M, Henriques Bechara EJ, Risso Günther WM. Microbiopsies of surface dental enamel as a tool to measure body lead burden. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2010; 73:627-636. [PMID: 20391142 DOI: 10.1080/15287390903578224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) poisoning is preventable but continues to be a public health problem in several countries. Measuring Pb in the surface dental enamel (SDE) using microbiopsies is a rapid, safe, and painless procedure. There are different protocols to perform these microbiopsies, but the reliability of dental enamel lead levels (DELL) determination is dependent upon biopsy depth (BD). It is established that DELL decrease from the outermost superficial layer to the inner layer of dental enamel. The aim of this study was to determine DELL obtained by two different microbiopsy techniques on SDE termed protocol I and protocol II. Two consecutive enamel layers were removed from the same subject group (n=138) for both protocols. Protocol I consisted of a biopsied site with a diameter of 4 mm after the application of 10 microl HCl for 35 s. Protocol II involved a biopsied site of 1.6 mm diameter after application of 5 microl HCl for 20 s. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences for BD and DELL between homologous teeth using protocol I. However, there was a significant difference between DELL in the first and second layers using both protocols. Further, the BD in protocol II overestimated DELL values. In conclusion, SDE analyzed by microbiopsy is a reliable biomarker in protocol I, but the chemical method to calculate BD in protocol II appeared to be inadequate for measurement of DELL. Thus, DELL could not be compared among studies that used different methodologies for SDE microbiopsies.
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Gulson B. Stable lead isotopes in environmental health with emphasis on human investigations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 400:75-92. [PMID: 18718638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2008] [Revised: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 06/30/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
There has been widespread use of stable lead isotopes in the earth sciences for more than 40 years focussed on the origin and age of rocks and minerals with lesser application in environmental investigations where the emphasis has been directed typically to the source of lead in environmental media such as air, water and soils. In contrast, the number of environmental health investigations focussed on humans (and primates) is limited in spite of the demonstrated utility of the approach in pioneering studies in the early 1970's. This paper reviews the status of lead isotopes in human investigations especially over the past 2 decades, the period over which most activity has taken place. Following a brief introduction to the method, examples are provided illustrating the use of lead isotopes in a wide spectrum of activities including sources and pathways of lead in diverse environments from urban to mining communities, various applications associated with pregnancy, the contribution of bone lead to blood lead including in the elderly, the half-life of lead in blood, and lead in bones and other media. A brief outline of critical research on non-human primates is also given. The lead isotope method is a powerful technique for tracing lead and could be employed more widely in human investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Gulson
- Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, Australia.
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14
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Youravong N, Teanpaisan R, Norén JG, Robertson A, Dietz W, Odelius H, Dahlén G. Chemical composition of enamel and dentine in primary teeth in children from Thailand exposed to lead. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 389:253-8. [PMID: 17910978 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.08.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2007] [Revised: 08/30/2007] [Accepted: 08/31/2007] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Enamel and dentine in teeth of children with high blood levels of lead were analyzed by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and X-ray micro-analyses (XRMA) and compare with teeth from children with low blood levels of lead. The SIMS analysis revealed detectable levels of Pb in dentine close to the pulp. The XRMA analyses could not detect any lead. There were no differences found in lead level in enamel of high lead level exposed teeth from low level exposed. The results confirm that children with high blood levels of lead have an uptake of lead in dentine close to the pulp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattaporn Youravong
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
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15
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Lead concentrations and lead and strontium stable-isotope ratios in teeth of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-007-0152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Kamenov GD. High-precision Pb isotopic measurements of teeth and environmental samples from Sofia (Bulgaria): insights for regional lead sources and possible pathways to the human body. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00254-007-1017-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Arora M, Kennedy BJ, Elhlou S, Pearson NJ, Walker DM, Bayl P, Chan SWY. Spatial distribution of lead in human primary teeth as a biomarker of pre- and neonatal lead exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2006; 371:55-62. [PMID: 16950500 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2006] [Revised: 07/19/2006] [Accepted: 07/20/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Lead remains one of the most hazardous toxins in our environment. Because the toxic effects of lead are most prominent during early development, it is important to develop a suitable biomarker for lead exposure during the pre- and neonatal periods. In the present study, the spatial distribution of lead was measured in the enamel and dentine of ten human primary teeth using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The neonatal line, visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy, was used to demarcate the pre- and postnatal regions of the sample teeth. Lead levels in pre- and postnatally formed enamel and dentine were compared to blood-lead levels measured at birth and one year of age for four of these participants. Mean dentine-lead levels ranged from 0.17+/-0.02 to 5.60+/-1.79 microg/g, and mean enamel-lead levels ranged from 0.04+/-0.01 to 1.47+/-0.20 microg/g. The results of this preliminary study showed that the spatial distribution of lead in dentine reflected the blood-lead levels. The present study demonstrates a methodology where the spatial distribution of lead in the dentine of human primary teeth may be used to obtain temporal information of environmental lead exposure during the pre- and neonatal periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Arora
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Research Unit, Department of Oral Pathology, University of Sydney, Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
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18
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Farmer JG, MacKenzie AB, Moody GH. Human teeth as historical biomonitors of environmental and dietary lead: some lessons from isotopic studies of 19th and 20th century archival material. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2006; 28:421-30. [PMID: 16752125 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-006-9041-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2005] [Accepted: 02/06/2006] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The lead isotopic composition of various sections (crown, crown base, root) of teeth was determined in specimens collected from 19th century skulls preserved in museum collections and, upon extraction or exfoliation, from humans of known ages residing in Scotland in the 1990s. For most 20th century samples, calculation of accurate crown-complete or root-complete dates of tooth formation ranging from the 1920s to the 1990s enabled comparison of (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratios for teeth sections (crown base root) with corresponding decadally averaged data for archival herbarium Sphagnum moss samples. This showed that the teeth sections had been significantly influenced by incorporation of non-contemporaneous (more recent) lead subsequent to the time of tooth formation, most probably via continuous uptake by dentine. This finding confirmed that separation of enamel from dentine is necessary for the potential of teeth sections as historical biomonitors of environmental (and dietary) lead exposure at the time of tooth formation to be realised. Nevertheless, the mean 19th century value of 1.172+/-0.007 for the (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio in teeth was very similar to the corresponding mean value of 1.173+/-0.004 for 19th century archival moss, although relative contributions from environmental sources - whether direct, by inhalation/ingestion of dust contaminated by local lead smelting ((206)Pb/(207)Pb~1.17) and coal combustion ((206)Pb/(207)Pb~1.18) emissions, or indirect, through ingestion of similarly contaminated food - and drinking/cooking water contaminated by lead pipes of local origin, cannot readily be determined. In the 20th century, however, the much lower values of the (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio (range 1.100-1.166, mean 1.126+/-0.013, median 1.124) for the teeth collected from various age groups in the 1990s reflect the significant influence of imported Australian lead of lower (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratio (~1.04) and released to the environment most notably through car-exhaust emissions arising from the use of alkyl lead additives ((206)Pb/(207)Pb~1.06-1.09) in petrol in the U.K. from ca. 1930 until the end of the 20th century.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Farmer
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JJ, Scotland, UK.
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19
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Montgomery J, Evans JA, Powlesland D, Roberts CA. Continuity or colonization in Anglo-Saxon England? Isotope evidence for mobility, subsistence practice, and status at West Heslerton. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2005; 126:123-38. [PMID: 15386290 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The adventus Saxonum is a crucial event in English protohistory. Scholars from a range of disciplines dispute the scale and demographic profile of the purported colonizing population. The 5th-7th century burial ground at West Heslerton, North Yorkshire, is one of the few Anglian cemeteries where an associated settlement site has been identified and subjected to extensive multidisciplinary postexcavation study. Skeletal and grave good evidence has been used to indicate the presence of Scandinavian settlers. A small, preliminary study using lead and strontium isotope analysis of tooth enamel, mineralized in early childhood, from Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (n = 8), Iron Age (n = 2), and Early Anglo-Saxon (n = 32) skeletons, was carried out to directly investigate this hypothesis. Results suggest that lead provides dissimilar types of information in different time periods. In post-Roman England, it appears to reflect the level of exposure to circulated anthropogenic rather than natural geological lead, thus being a cultural rather than geographical marker. Consequently, only strontium provides mobility evidence among the Anglian population, whereas both isotope systems do so in pre-Roman periods. Strontium data imply the presence of two groups: one of "local" and one of "nonlocal" origin, but more work is required to define the limits of local variation and identify immigrants with confidence. Correlations with traditional archaeological evidence are inconclusive. While the majority of juveniles and prehistoric individuals fall within the "local" group, both groups contain juveniles, and adults of both sexes. There is thus no clear support for the exclusively male, military-elite invasion model at this site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Montgomery
- Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK.
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20
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Dolphin AE, Goodman AH, Amarasiriwardena DD. Variation in elemental intensities among teeth and between pre- and postnatal regions of enamel. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2005; 128:878-88. [PMID: 16118782 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Microspatial analyses of the trace element composition of dental enamel are made possible using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Fine spatial resolution, multielement capabilities, and minimal sample destruction make this technique particularly well-suited for documenting the distribution of elements in sequentially calcifying layers of enamel. Because deciduous enamel forms from week 13 in utero up to 9 months postnatally (thereafter essentially becoming inert), the application of LA-ICP-MS allows for the retrospective measurement of prenatal and early postnatal trace-element uptake during a critical period of child development. In this study, we compared intra- and intertooth intensities of 25Mg, 57Fe, 66Zn, 68Zn, 88Sr, 138Ba, and 208Pb via LA-ICP-MS of 38 exfoliated deciduous incisors and canines donated by 36 participants in the Solís Valley Mexico Nutrition Collaborative Research Support Program (NCRSP). Pre- and postnatal comparisons within teeth showed significant increases (P < 0.001) and greater variation in the abundance of all isotopes in postnatal enamel, with the exception of a decrease in 25Mg (P < 0.001) and constant values for 88Sr (P = 0.681). Conversely, comparisons by tooth type and mouth quadrant revealed few significant differences between teeth of the same individual. We argue that more variation in the trace element composition of teeth occurs across developmental areas within a tooth than among different teeth of the same person. This study further demonstrates that sequentially calcifying areas of enamel have different chemical concentrations. The results support the use of microspatial analyses of enamel for understanding changes in nutrition, pollution, and residence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis E Dolphin
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
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21
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Brown CJ, Chenery SRN, Smith B, Mason C, Tomkins A, Roberts GJ, Sserunjogi L, Tiberindwa JV. Environmental influences on the trace element content of teeth--implications for disease and nutritional status. Arch Oral Biol 2004; 49:705-17. [PMID: 15275858 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2004.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the trace element content of children's primary teeth from Uganda and the UK. The Ugandan teeth were from children living in an area where endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF), a cardiac disease, is prevalent. The latter has been putatively linked to insufficient magnesium intake and excess cerium exposure. Primary teeth were collected from 21 Ugandan and 27 UK children. The crowns and roots of the teeth were separated and the former digested and analysed for several major and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). In addition, the enamel and dentine of eight UK and seven Ugandan primary teeth were isolated via density separation and analysed as above. The data were assessed using non-parametric statistical tests. The Ugandan teeth contained significantly (P < 0.05) greater concentrations of strontium, barium, cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium and significantly less zinc than the UK teeth. No significant difference in the concentrations of aluminium, calcium, copper, magnesium, lead and uranium were found. Analysis of enamel and dentine demonstrated that the former was enriched with several elements including cerium. It is concluded, that the environment, influences the trace element content of primary teeth and this may be useful for monitoring nutritional status. With respect to a geochemical cause for EMF, there is no positive evidence that EMF in Uganda is associated with reduced magnesium and increased cerium uptake in primary teeth. This does not, however, exclude cerium from playing a role in the aetiology of EMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catriona J Brown
- Childrens Department, Birmingham Dental Hospital, St. Chad's Queensway, B4 6NN, UK.
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22
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Gdula-Argasińska J, Appleton J, Sawicka-Kapusta K, Spence B. Further investigation of the heavy metal content of the teeth of the bank vole as an exposure indicator of environmental pollution in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2004; 131:71-9. [PMID: 15210277 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2003] [Accepted: 02/06/2004] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The content of heavy metals in mineralised dental tissues is an indicator of the exposure of their mineral phase to heavy metals during the time of tooth development and dental tissue formation. Therefore, teeth have been used as bio-indicators which accurately reflect the environmental or dietary exposure of animals and humans to heavy metals. This study follows from the earlier work in which it was demonstrated that the teeth from bank voles inhabiting various environmentally polluted and non-polluted forests in Southern Poland were reliable indicators of exposure to heavy metals. Using analytical techniques employed in the earlier study heavy metal concentrations were obtained in the teeth of bank voles trapped in 1998-2000 to determine if efforts to clean up the environment could be detected in changes in heavy metal concentrations in the teeth. The results show that these efforts are reflected in lower concentrations of heavy metals in the teeth but that cross border contamination remains a problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Gdula-Argasińska
- Department of Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. R. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Cracow, Poland.
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23
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Gomes VE, Rosário de Sousa MDL, Barbosa F, Krug FJ, Pereira Saraiva MDC, Cury JA, Gerlach RF. In vivo studies on lead content of deciduous teeth superficial enamel of preschool children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2004; 320:25-35. [PMID: 14987924 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2003] [Accepted: 08/13/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The amount of lead in the superficial enamel of deciduous teeth from 4- and 5-year-old children was determined by means of an enamel biopsy followed by lead analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Children examined in this study (n=329) attended public preschools in the city of Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The selection of preschools was based on geographical location: some were located in an industrial area of the city, whereas others were located in an area devoid of industries. The objectives of this study were (1) to test whether enamel biopsies were an appropriate method for lead content population screening in young children; (2) to verify the lead content of superficial enamel of preschool children's deciduous teeth and to compare the results obtained from children exposed to different environments; (3) to analyze how biopsy depth correlated with lead content and affected comparisons between groups. An adhesive tape with a central hole (diameter=1.6 mm) was placed on one of the upper central incisors. Five microliters of 1.6 M l(-1) HCl in 70% glycerol (v/v) were applied to this area for 20 s, followed by a rinse with 5-microl ultrapurified water for 10 s. It was shown that the technique was feasible for population studies on young children. The lead concentration in enamel biopsies from the industrial area children (median: 169 ppm Pb) was significantly higher than that from the children living far from industries (118.1 ppm Pb) (P<0.0001). Analysis of the data showed that biopsies deeper than 3.9 microm gave more reliable results for comparisons between groups. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use an enamel microbiopsy to characterize a large sample of young children in vivo for lead monitoring in teeth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Elisângela Gomes
- Department of Community Dentistry, Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas, CEP 13414-018, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
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24
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Budd P, Montgomery J, Evans J, Trickett M. Human lead exposure in England from approximately 5500 BP to the 16th century AD. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2004; 318:45-58. [PMID: 14654274 DOI: 10.1016/s0048-9697(03)00357-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Lead concentration and isotope ratio data are presented for the tooth enamel of 77 individuals buried in England and spanning approximately 5000 years from the Neolithic until the 16th century AD. Whereas other tissues may be affected by diagenesis in the burial environment, the Pb concentration of tooth enamel is directly related to childhood exposure. This record is preserved post-mortem and over archaeological time. Tooth enamel Pb concentrations in the prehistoric period appear to be variable within the range 0.04 to approximately 0.4 ppm, with occasional higher levels. The Romano-British and medieval periods show a marked increase in Pb exposures with enamel concentrations reaching up to approximately 40 ppm. These exposures would today be associated with industrial pollution. Exposures appear to be highly variable compared with modern people, however, with many medieval individuals having very low enamel Pb concentrations comparable with prehistoric people. Lead isotope data refine this picture. We distinguish between the diverse isotopic ratios we believe to be characteristic of 'natural' exposure to Pb-from geological sources via the diet-and the much narrower isotopic range characteristic of exposure to technological Pb from ore sources. Taken together the data suggest that the maximum concentrations associated with 'non-technological' exposure at any period are approximately 0.5-1.0 ppm, similar to that reported for modern people in England.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Budd
- Department of Archaeology, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
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Abstract
AbstractIsotopic and elemental concentration data can be extremely useful in the identification of human remains. Archaeological, ecological and forensic investigations to date have primarily made use of 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd, 18O/16O and trace element data obtained from analysis of carbonate-hydroxyapatite in bones and teeth, and/or 12C/13C, 14N/15N, 18O/16O and 35S/37S ratios in bone collagen. However, a wide range of other chemical parameters are potentially useful for intersample comparison and environmental characterization, and increasing attention is being given to hair, nail and skin tissues, which provide dietary and environmental information over shorter time periods than bones and teeth. This paper reviews some of the principles which underlie such work and the current position with regard to modern forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Pye
- Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd, Crowthorne Enterprise Centre, Crowthorne Business Estate
Old Woking Road, Crowthorne RG45 6AW, UK
- Department of Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EX UK
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Uryu T, Yoshinaga J, Yanagisawa Y, Endo M, Takahashi J. Analysis of Lead in Tooth Enamel by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. ANAL SCI 2003; 19:1413-6. [PMID: 14596408 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.19.1413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine the Pb/Ca ratios in the enamel of deciduous incisors, a biomarker of in utero Pb exposure, using pelletized bone certified reference materials (CRMs) as calibrants. The detection limit for Pb by LA-ICP-MS was 11 microg kg(-1) demonstrating an adequate sensitivity for Pb in the teeth of unexposed individuals (0.1-10 mg kg(-1)). The precision for the Pb/Ca ratios in NIST SRM 1486 Bone Meal was 3.4%. The correlation between Pb/Ca ratios obtained by LA-ICP-MS and those obtained by a digestion method was highly significant. We found one point calibration by a CRM was applicable for the quantification of Pb in tooth enamel. This method will be valuable for the assessment of in utero Pb exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Uryu
- Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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