Age-Dependent Changes in Pb Concentration in Human Teeth

The result of exposure to Pb is its accumulation in mineralized tissues. In human body, they constitute a reservoir of approx. 90 % of the Pb reserve. The conducted research aimed at determining the accumulation of Pb in calcified tissues of permanent teeth. The concentration of Pb in 390 samples of teeth taken from a selected group of Polish people was determined using the AAS method. Average concentration of Pb in teeth amounted to 14.3 ± 8.18 μg/g, range of changes: 2.21-54.8 μgPb/g. Accumulation of Pb in human body was determined based on changes in Pb concentration in teeth of subjects aged 13-84 years. It was found that in calcified tissues of teeth, the increase in concentration of Pb that occurs with age is a statistically significant process (p = 0.02, the ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test). It was determined that the annual increase in concentration of Pb in tissues of teeth is approx. 0.1 μg/g. Moreover, a different course of changes in Pb concentration in tissues of teeth in people born in different years was observed. The level of Pb concentration in teeth of the oldest subjects (>60 years) decreased for those born in the 1930s compared to those in the 1950s. Teeth from younger persons (<60 years) were characterized by an increasing level of Pb concentration. The analysis of changes of Pb indicates that for low exposure, a relatively greater accumulation of Pb concentration in calcified tissues of teeth can occur.

[Fatal poisoning of pentedron – cases reports]

The issue of sudden deaths due to acute pentedron poisoning is presented in the report. The analysis included three cases autopsied. Biological material were delivered to the Toxicological Laboratory ToxLab placed in Katowice, during the autopsy were subjected to chemical-toxicological analysis. Analysis of blood samples in the first case present concentration of the pentedrone were 385 ng/ml, and present the concentration of delta- 9-tetrahydrocannabinol were 2.6 ng/ml. Analysis of blood and urine samples in the next case present pentedrone concentrations were 280 ng/ml i 255 ng/ml. Analysis of blood samples in the third case present concentration of the pentedrone were 340 ng/ml.

[Knowledge to the subject of legal highs and popularity of their use amongst secondary-school students from the Silesian Voivodeship]

AIM OF WORK

Evaluation of knowledge to the subject of legal highs and popularity of their use amongst secondary-school students from the Silesian Voivodeship.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Studies were conducted in spring of 2016 in two randomly selected secondary schools in Katowice and Dąbrowa Górnicza. The survey was carried out amongst students of these schools and concerned question about the knowledge of legal highs effect on the body and their use by young people. The study consisted of 336 questionnaire forms, 159 filled by secondaryschool students from Katowice and 177 by secondary-school students from Dąbrowa Górnicza.

RESULTS

Legal highs for 78.3% of young people are as dangerous as drugs. Almost 70% of respondents believe that legal highs strongly affected the physical health, psyche, may cause a loss of life or health, as well as cause addiction. As the main effects of legal highs, young people point to strong agitation and aggression, as well as visions and hallucinations. 12.5% of respondents answered “Yes” to the question, whether they ever took legal highs. Most of students (69.7%) think that legal highs should be forbidden.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of legal highs declared 12.5% of secondaryschool students. Most of respondents are aware of threats to health associated with use of legal highs.

Analysis of the content of cadmium and zinc in parts of the human hip joint

Cadmium is an element with proven direct and indirect toxic effects on bones. Zinc affects the content of cadmium in the human body. These elements show antagonistic interactions. The aim of the research was to determine the levels of cadmium and zinc in the hip joint tissues and interactions between these elements. The study group consisted of 91 subjects, 66 women and 25 men. The tissues were obtained intraoperatively during hip endoprosthetic surgery. The levels of cadmium and zinc were assayed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The analysis of the content of cadmium and zinc in different parts of the hip joint, i.e., articular cartilage, cortical bone, and cancellous bone of the femoral head as well as the articular capsule and a fragment of the cancellous bone taken from the intertrochanteric region of the femoral bone showed significant differences. The cancellous bone was found to have the highest potential to accumulate the elements studied, whereas part of the articular capsule the lowest. Higher levels of cadmium and zinc were observed in samples obtained from men. Patients with bone fractures had higher cadmium content than those with osteoarthritis. The study on the content of cadmium and zinc in the tissues of the hip joint is one of the primary research biomonitoring.

Chromium content in the human hip joint tissues

OBJECTIVE

Chromium has many important functions in the human body. For the osseous tissue, its role has not been clearly defined. This study was aimed at determining chromium content in hip joint tissues.

METHODS

A total of 91 hip joint samples were taken in this study, including 66 from females and 25 from males. The sample tissues were separated according to their anatomical parts. The chromium content was determined by the AAS method. The statistical analysis was performed with U Mann-Whitney's non-parametric test, P≤0.05.

RESULTS

The overall chromium content in tissues of the hip joint in the study subjects was as follows: 5.73 µg/g in the articular cartilage, 5.33 µg/g in the cortical bone, 17.86 µg/g in the cancellous bone, 5.95 µg/g in the fragment of the cancellous bone from the intertrochanteric region, and 1.28 µg/g in the joint capsule. The chromium contents were observed in 2 group patients, it was 7.04 µg/g in people with osteoarthritis and 12.59 µg/g in people with fractures.

CONCLUSION

The observed chromium content was highest in the cancellous bone and the lowest in the joint capsule. Chromium content was significantly different between the people with hip joint osteoarthritis and the people with femoral neck fractures.

The study of barium concentration in deciduous teeth, impacted teeth, and facial bones of Polish residents

The study determines the concentration of Ba in mineralized tissues of deciduous teeth, permanent impacted teeth, and facial bones. The study covers the population of children and adults (aged 6-78) living in an industrial area of Poland. Teeth were analyzed in whole, with no division into dentine and enamel. Facial bones and teeth were subjected to the following preparation: washing, drying, grinding in a porcelain mortar, sample weighing (about 0.2 g), and microwave mineralization with spectrally pure nitric acid. The aim of the study was to determinate the concentration of Ba in deciduous teeth, impacted permanent teeth, and facial bones. The concentration of barium in samples was determined over the ICP OES method. The Ba concentration in the tested bone tissues amounted to 2.2-15.5 μg/g (6.6 μg/g ± 3.9). The highest concentration of Ba was present in deciduous teeth (10.5 μg/g), followed by facial bones (5.2 μg/g), and impacted teeth (4.3 μg/g) (ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis rank test, p = 0.0002). In bone tissue and impacted teeth, Ba concentration increased with age. In deciduous teeth, the level of Ba decreased with children's age.

Beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children

Power plant dust is believed to be the main source of the increased presence of the element beryllium in the environment which has been detected in the atmospheric air, surface waters, groundwater, soil, food, and cigarette smoke. In humans, beryllium absorption occurs mainly via the respiratory system. The pharyngeal tonsils are located on the roof of the nasopharynx and are in direct contact with dust particles in inhaled air. As a result, the concentration levels of beryllium in the pharyngeal tonsils are likely to be a good indicator of concentration levels in the air. The presented study had two primary aims: to investigate the beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children living in southern Poland, and the appropriate reference range for this element in children's pharyngeal tonsils. Pharyngeal tonsils were extracted from a total of 379 children (age 2-17 years, mean 6.2 ± 2.7 years) living in southern Poland. Tonsil samples were mineralized in a closed cycle in a pressure mineralizer PDS 6, using 65% spectrally pure nitric acid. Beryllium concentration was determined using the ICP-AES method with a Perkin Elmer Optima 5300DVTM. The software Statistica v. 9 was used for the statistical analysis. It was found that girls had a significantly greater beryllium concentration in their pharyngeal tonsils than boys. Beryllium concentration varies greatly, mostly according to the place of residence. Based on the study results, the reference value for beryllium in pharyngeal tonsils of children is recommended to be determined at 0.02-0.04 µg/g.

Changes of concentrations of elements in deciduous teeth with age

The aim of this study was to describe the issue of changes in the concentration of some elements (Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu, K, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ca) in the mineral composition of deciduous teeth and to answer the question whether there was a tendency to change the metal concentration, depending on children's age. Physiological replacement of deciduous teeth is preceded with the remodeling process occurring in the mineral structure. The elemental composition of deciduous teeth tissue during their natural loss is the result of these transformations. The subject of the study was deciduous teeth taken from the children (n = 45, aged 5-14 years), residing in southern Poland, obtained as a result of noninvasive physiological replacement. The concentration of metals in samples was determined over the atomic absorption spectroscopy method. The results of the research showed a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of the analyzed elements in deciduous teeth of older children compared to younger children. The total concentration of all metals studied against the Ca content, expressed as the value of the constant cationic equilibrium, did not change in a statistically significant manner, depending on the age of the children (p > 0.05).

The content of manganese and iron in hip joint tissue

Manganese and iron are elements that constitute components of bone tissue. The aim of this study was to determine presence of manganese and iron in hip joint tissue and interdependencies between these elements. The objects of the research were hip joint elements from people residing in cities on the territory of the Upper Silesian Industrial District. The number of people in the study group was 91 samples, including 66 samples from women and 25 from a man. The examined tissues were obtained intraoperatively during hip replacement procedures. The content of manganese and iron was determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method. The lowest content of manganese and iron was found in the cortical bone, and the largest, in the case of manganese, in the articular cartilage, whereas in the case of iron in a fragment of the cancellous bone from the intertrochanteric area. The content of iron in selected elements of the hip joint decreased with age. Higher content of manganese in hip joint tissue of women compared to men was confirmed. What is more, higher content of iron in hip joint tissue of men was confirmed as well.

Chromium, zinc and magnesium concentrations in the pubic hair of obese and overweight women

The study addressed chromium, zinc and magnesium concentrations in the pubic hair of obese and overweight women. It was carried out on hair collected from 85 women at the age of 16-80 living in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship (southern Poland). The experimental and control groups consisted of 39 and 46 females, respectively. The pubic hair was prepared under a procedure established by the International Atomic Energy Agency, followed by wet digestion in a microwave oven. The concentration of the metals in the pubic hair and reference material was assayed with the flame (Mg, Zn) and flameless (Cr) atomic absorption spectrometry. The pubic hair of overweight and obese women from the experimental group revealed significantly higher chromium and magnesium concentrations and significantly lower concentrations of zinc than in the control group. An increase in BMI brought about an increase in chromium and magnesium concentrations while zinc concentration decreased with increasing BMI. The disturbances in the mineral balance of overweight and obese women were also demonstrated by significantly different ratios of the elements compared with the control group.

Concentrations of metals in maxilla and mandible deciduous and permanent human teeth

The study shows the results of research on the concentrations of metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Na, K, Mg, and Ca) in deciduous and permanent teeth with respect to their location in the oral cavity (maxilla, mandible). It has been found that the concentrations of metals were significantly higher in the deciduous teeth than in permanent ones. Regression analysis and principal component analysis revealed an increased dynamics of the processes of binding the elements by the hydroxyapatite of deciduous teeth. Higher concentrations of the metals were found in the maxilla permanent and deciduous teeth than in the mandible ones.

An assessment of natural concentrations of selected metals in the bone tissues of the femur head

The study was aimed at assessing the natural concentrations of copper, iron, potassium, lead and cadmium in the femur head using regression analysis. The material was collected during the operation of total hip arthroplasty from patients of southern and central Poland suffering from diagnosed coxarthrosis. In total, 197 samples were collected, including 68 samples of spongious bone, 59 samples of cortical bone and 70 samples of cartilage surface. After wet microwave digestion, the metal content in the samples was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The average concentrations of metals in the femur head were 67.30 microgFe/g, 760.58 microgK/g, 0.07 microgCd/g, 0.81 microgCu/g and 2.76 microgPb/g. A comparison of metal concentrations in bone tissues assessed by regression analysis to the findings of other authors revealed that the technique can be used to assess the natural concentration of elements in tissues and the results may provide a basis for the evaluation of metal concentrations in the human organism.

The occurrence of copper in deciduous teeth of girls and boys living in Upper Silesian Industry Region (Southern Poland)

This work presents the results of a research concerning the copper content in different types of deciduous teeth (incisor, canine, molar) of boys and girls living in the Upper Silesian Industry Region (Southern Poland). The average copper concentration in deciduous teeth was 9.92 microg/g and was significantly higher in the deciduous teeth of boys (12.24 microg/g) in comparison to the deciduous teeth of girls (8.60 microg/g). The concentration of copper was statistically variable depending on the type of tooth (incisor, canine, molar). The results of the correlation analysis and cluster analysis indicate mainly the participation of lead, iron, manganese and chromium ions in the formation of copper content in hard tissue of deciduous teeth.

Multivariate statistical analysis of metal concentrations in teeth of residents of Silesian region, southern Poland

Concentrations of 11 metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Na, K, Ca, and Mg) were assayed in the teeth of two populations of the Silesian region. The first group (n = 83) comprised the residents of Katowice-Szopienice, a town located in the center of the Upper Silesian industrial region, in close proximity to a Pb plant, whereas the other was a group of residents of the agricultural community Strumień (n = 44). The concentrations of all the trace metals were found to be higher in the teeth of Katowice-Szopienice residents. The methods of cluster analysis distinguished two clusters of metals in the teeth: essential (Ca, Na, Mg, Zn, and K) and trace (Cd, Mn, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb) elements. Euclidean distances reflected the differences in concentrations between the two groups. The results obtained were analyzed using principal component analysis. Four principal factors accounted for 68.1% of the total variance for Katowice-Szopienice residents and for 80.1% for Strumień residents. The first factor showed high contributions of Cu and Cr, elements present in humans as a result of diet, and also Mn for Katowice-Szopienice residents because of environmental contamination. The second factor was characterized by large Zn and Cd fractions and, for Katowice-Szopienice residents, Pb and K as well. The diversified exposure of both populations was reflected by the differences in Euclidean distances and contribution of particular elements with respect of principal components.

Lead content in the femoral heads of inhabitants of Silesia (Poland)

Lead content was evaluated in spongious and cortical bone as well as in cartilage surface of human femoral heads obtained during hip arthroplasty from 45 inhabitants (11 males and 34 females) of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. The average age of this group was 63.9+/-14.4 years. Lead content was assessed using microwave mineralization with the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) method. The average lead content in the specimens from spongious bone was 2.56 microg/g, 3.05 microg/g in cortical bone and 3.53 microg/g in cartilage surface. The calculated average Pb/Ca ratio was 1783x10(-8) in spongious bone, 1623x10(-8) in cortical bone, and 2512x10(-8) in the cartilage. Both lead concentration and Pb/Ca ratio increased with the age of the patients. Higher lead content was found in the specimens from male hips and in the group of cigarette smokers.

Metal content in femoral head spongious bone of people living in regions of different degrees of environmental pollution in Southern and Middle Poland

The content of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and silver was evaluated in femoral head spongious bone of inhabitants of southern (Silesia, n = 13; Cracow, n = 13) and middle Poland (Lodz, n = 12). A total of 38 persons (29 females and 9 males) were included in the study. The average age in the Silesian group was 68 +/- 9.9 years old, in the group from Cracow 69.2 +/- 9.6 years old, and 68.3 +/- 7.3 years old for the inhabitants of Lodz. The AAS method was used to determine the femoral heads metal content after microwave mineralization. A similar content of calcium (av 18.4% dry weight), phosphorus (av 6.8%), magnesium (av 1883.5 microg/g), potassium (av 598.1 microg/g), iron (av 59.5 microg/g), zinc (av 90.1 microg/g), copper (av 90.1 microg/g), arsenic (av 0.3 microg/g), and silver (av 0.03 microg/g) was found in every group. Specimens from different regions differed in lead and cadmium content, illustrating the differences in environmental pollution exposure.

Metal contamination of farming soils affected by industry

The contents of nine elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn) have been assayed in the farming soils of Suszec commune (southern Poland). This area is affected by the main industrial centre of Poland (the Upper Silesian Industrial Region), the Czech Republic (Trzyniec smelter) and local contamination sources (coal mine). The contamination of the soils was assessed on the basis of geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor and degree of contamination. The tests revealed elevated contents of cadmium, lead, arsenic, antimony and mercury. The contents of the other elements were similar to the levels in the Earth's crust or pointed to metal depletion in the soil (EF<1).

[The influence of smoking and passive smoking to occurrence of metals in breast milk]

Concentrations of 7 metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) have been assayed in the breast milk of three groups of women, inhabitant in Cieszyn region. The first group (n=34) comprised the women non-smoking, the second (n=29) passive smoking women, and third (n=18)--women smoking and exposed to cigarette smoke. The concentrations of all the trace metals were found to be higher in the breast milk of women smoking and passive smoking. The results obtained were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA).

[Different distribution of some metals causing intoxication of teeth in smoking and non-smoking people]

The purpose was analysis in the individual species of teeth cigarette smoking and non-smoking people. Also relationships between concentration of some metals in environment and teeth men and women living on seven given towns Silesian Province (Jaworzno, Bedzin, Dabrowa Górnicza, Tychy, Czeladź, Sosnowiec, Katowice).

Application of principal component analysis for the estimation of source of heavy metal contamination in surface sediments from the Rybnik Reservoir

The concentrations of metals, loss of ignition and nutrient (N, P) were determined in the bottom sediments of the Rybnik Reservoir (southern Poland). The mean concentrations of the metals in the bottom sediments were: Cd 25.8 microgram/g, Cu 451.7 microgram/g, Zn 1583.4 microgram/g, Ni 71.1 microgram/g, Pb 118.6 microgram/g, Cr 129.8 microgram/g, Fe 38782 microgram/g and Mn 2018.7 microgram/g. The bottom sediments are very heavily loaded with zinc, manganese, copper, nickel, phosphorus and lead (percentage enrichment factor), and cadmium, phosphorus and zinc (index of geoaccumulation). The increase of cadmium, lead, nickel and zinc concentrations was connected with the inflow of the contaminated water of the river Ruda and long-range transport. The contamination of the reservoir with copper and manganese resulted mainly from atmospheric precipitation. The variability of the bottom sediment loading with metals during the investigations was affected in the first place by changes in the concentration of iron, but also those elements whose concentrations in the bottom sediment were elevated compared to the concentrations in shale--cadmium, nickel and lead.

The cadmium contents in the femoral head in inhabitants of Upper Silesia

The cadmium content was analyzed in tissue samples from the femoral head, obtained perioperatively from 45 patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at the Voivodeship Hospital No. 5 in Sosnowiec. The average cadmium concentration was 0,06 ug/g in the cancellous and cortical bone, and 0,09 ug/g onm the articular surface. No differences were found in the cadmium content between males and females, nor were age a differentiating factor. Increased cadmium content was observed, however, in the cancellous and cortical bone from patients smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Increased cadmium content in the femoral head was found to exert a negative impact on the concentrations of calcium and magnesium.

The femur capitulum as a biomarker of contamination due to indicating lead content in the air by participation of the other metals

The occurrence of nine elements in the coxarthrosis human femoral capitula is described. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method was used to determine Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni and Co concentrations in the three kinds of tissues: spongious and cortical bone and joint surface cartilage. Based on the Pb bone concentrations, an ecotoxicological Pb contamination risk for the industrial region can be predicted.