Palladium--a review of exposure and effects to human health

Palladium is a metal the output and use of which has more than doubled in the past ten years. It is used in dental appliances, chemical catalysts, electrical appliances and jewelry, but the greatest increase in Pd demand has been in automotive emission control catalysts. Studies on Pd concentrations in ancient ice and recent snow samples reflect the increase in mining, smelting and use of palladium in the last decades. Increases of palladium in the environment have been shown in air and dust samples. There is no data as yet available to assess the effect of this exposure. A major source of health concern is the sensitization risk of Pd as very low doses are sufficient to cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Persons with known nickel allergy may be especially susceptible. Workers occupationally exposed to Pd include miners, dental technicians and chemical workers. The latter are exposed mainly to Pd salts several of which may cause primary skin and eye irritations. It is advised that persons with known Pd allergy should not work with Pd compounds. The general population may come into contact with palladium mainly through mucosal contact with dental restorations and jewelry containing palladium and possibly via emissions from Pd catalysts. Protection of the public from related adverse effects may be achieved by the use of alloys with high corrosion stability and thus minimal release of palladium. In general, in dental patients who are sensitive to Pd, restorations using Pd-containing materials should not be used although Pd has been used without allergic effects in some of these individuals. Further, those patients who have an allergy to nickel should be informed that use of Pd-containing dental materials may cause Pd allergy, though this risk appears to be low.

Airborne particulate matter, platinum group elements and human health: a review of recent evidence

Environmental concentrations of the platinum group elements (PGE) platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) have been on the rise, due largely to the use of automobile catalytic converters which employ these metals as exhaust catalysts. It has generally been assumed that the health risks associated with environmental exposures to PGE are minimal. More recent studies on PGE toxicity, environmental bioavailability and concentrations in biologically relevant media indicate however that environmental exposures to these metals may indeed pose a health risk, especially at a chronic, subclinical level. The purpose of this paper is to review the most recent evidence and provide an up-to-date assessment of the risks related to environmental exposures of PGE, particularly in airborne particulate matter (PM). This review concludes that these metals may pose a greater health risk than once thought for several reasons. First, emitted PGE may be easily mobilised and solubilised by various compounds commonly present in the environment, thereby enhancing their bioavailability. Second, PGE may be transformed into more toxic species upon uptake by organisms. The presence of chloride in lung fluids, for instance, may lead to the formation of halogenated PGE complexes that have a greater potential to induce cellular damage. Third, a significant proportion of PGE found in airborne PM is present in the fine fraction that been found to be associated with increases in morbidity and mortality. PGE are also a concern to the extent that they contribute to the suite of metals found in fine PM suspected of eliciting a variety of health effects, especially in vulnerable populations. All these factors highlight the need to monitor environmental levels of PGE and continue research on their bioavailability, behaviour, speciation and associated toxicity to enable us to better assess their potential to elicit health effects in humans.

Cloud point extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cadmium(II), lead(II), palladium(II) and silver(I) in environmental samples

The phase-separation phenomenon of non-ionic surfactants occurring in aqueous solution was used for the extraction of cadmium(II), lead(II), palladium(II) and silver(I). The analytical procedure involved the formation of understudy metals complex with bis((1H-benzo [d] imidazol-2yl)ethyl) sulfane (BIES), and quantitatively extracted to the phase rich in octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) after centrifugation. Methanol acidified with 1molL(-1) HNO(3) was added to the surfactant-rich phase prior to its analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The concentration of BIES, pH and amount of surfactant (Triton X-114) was optimized. At optimum conditions, the detection limits of (3 sdb/m) of 1.4, 2.8, 1.6 and 1.4 ng mL(-1) for Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Pd(2+) and Ag(+) along with preconcentration factors of 30 and enrichment factors of 48, 39, 32 and 42 for Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Pd(2+) and Ag(+), respectively, were obtained. The proposed cloud point extraction has been successfully applied for the determination of metal ions in real samples with complicated matrix such as radiology waste, vegetable, blood and urine samples.

Size-dependence of surface plasmon resonance and oxidation for Pd nanocubes synthesized via a seed etching process

Pd nanocubes between 8 and 50 nm in size were synthesized at the same concentration of Na2PdCl4 precursor by controlling the number of seeds formed in the nucleation stage. Increasing the concentration of FeCl3, an oxidative etchant for Pd, reduced the number of seeds and led to formation of larger Pd nanocubes. The larger nanocubes exhibited surface plasmon resonance peaks in the visible region, the locations of which matched with the results of the discrete dipole approximation calculation. While the nanocubes of 25 and 50 nm in size oxidized in air to form Pd@PdO core-shell structures, the 8-nm nanocubes were stable in air for over 90 days.

Adsorption of platinum(IV) and palladium(II) from aqueous solution by thiourea-modified chitosan microspheres

The chitosan microparticles were prepared using the inverse phase emulsion dispersion method and modified with thiourea (TCS). TCS was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, sulfur elemental analysis, specific surface area and pore diameter. The effects of various parameters, such as pH, contact time, initial concentration and temperature, on the adsorption of Pt(IV) and Pd(II) by TCS were investigated. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was found at pH 2.0 for both Pt(IV) and Pd(II). TCS can selectively adsorb Pt(IV) and Pd(II) from binary mixtures with Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ca(II), and Mg(II). The adsorption reaction followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating the main adsorption mechanism of chemical adsorption. The isotherm adsorption equilibrium was well described by Langmuir isotherms with the maximum adsorption capacity of 129.9 mg/g for Pt(IV) and 112.4 mg/g for Pd(II). The adsorption capacity of both Pt(IV) and Pd(II) decreased with temperature increasing. The negative values of enthalpy (DeltaH degrees ) and Gibbs free energy (DeltaG degrees ) indicate that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The adsorbent was stable without loss of the adsorption capacity up to at least 5 cycles and the desorption efficiencies were above 95% when 0.5 M EDTA-0.5M H2SO4 eluent was used. The results also showed that the preconcentration factor for Pt(IV) and Pd(II) was 196 and 172, respectively, and the recovery was found to be more than 97% for both precious metal ions.

Platinum, palladium and rhodium release from vehicle exhaust catalysts and road dust exposed to simulated lung fluids

The risk associated with the inhalation of platinum group element (PGE) emissions from vehicle exhaust catalysts (VECs) has been investigated by extracting road dust and milled auto catalyst with simulated lung fluids. Gamble's solution (representative of the interstitial fluid of the deep lung) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) (representative of the more acidic environment within the lung) were employed as extraction fluids. The highest PGE release was observed in ALF, implying that inhaled particles would have to be phagocytized before significant amounts of PGEs dissolve. The greatest percentage (up to 88%) of PGEs was released from road dust, possibly due to the presence of mobile PGE species formed in the roadside environment. Pt showed the highest absolute bioavailability, due to its greater concentration in the environmental samples. Pd and Rh had higher percentage of release, however, because of their more soluble nature. From the toxicological perspective, the results demonstrate potential health risks due to the likely formation of PGE-chloride complexes in the respiratory tract, such species having well-known toxic and allergenic effects on human beings and living organisms.

Greenland snow evidence of large scale atmospheric contamination for platinum, palladium, and rhodium

Since 1976 in the United States, Canada, and Japan, and later in other countries, the exhaust system of gasoline powered cars has been equipped with catalytic converters containing Pt and/or Pd and/or Rh. This has resulted in a very significant decrease in urban air pollution for various chemical species such as NOx, CO, and hydrocarbons. There has however been concern that their ever increasing use might lead to Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) becoming widely dispersed in the environment. From the analysis of Pt, Pd, and Rh in central Greenland recent snow and ancient ice using the ultrasensitive inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry technique, we show here that the concentrations of these metals in snow dated from the mid 1990s are indeed approximately 40-120 times higher than in ice dated from 7000 years ago. The fact that such an increase is observed far away from populated areas at a high altitude location indicates there is now a large scale contamination of the troposphere of the Northern Hemisphere for PGMs. Pt/Rh mass ratio in the most recent snow samples is close to the same ratio documented for catalytic converter exhausts in a recent study, which suggests that a large fraction of the recent increase for Pt and Rh might originate from automobile catalytic converters.

Environmental risk of particulate and soluble platinum group elements released from gasoline and diesel engine catalytic converters

A comparison of platinum-group element (PGE) emission between gasoline and diesel engine catalytic converters is reported within this work. Whole raw exhaust fumes from four catalysts of three different types were examined during their useful lifetime, from fresh to 80,000 km. Two were gasoline engine catalysts (Pt-Pd-Rh and Pd-Rh), while the other two were diesel engine catalysts (Pt). Samples were collected following the 91441 EUDC driving cycle for light-duty vehicle testing, and the sample collection device used allowed differentiation between the particulate and soluble fractions, the latter being the most relevant from an environmental point of view. Analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (quadrupole and high resolution), and special attention was paid to the control of spectral interference, especially in the case of Pd and Rh. The results obtained show that, for fresh catalysts, the release of particulate PGE through car exhaust fumes does not follow any particular trend, with a wide range (one-two orders of magnitude) for the content of noble metals emitted. The samples collected from 30,000-80,000 km present a more homogeneous PGE release for all catalysts studied. A decrease of approximately one order of magnitude is observed with respect to the release from fresh catalysts, except in the case of the diesel engine catalyst, for which PGE emission continued to be higher than in the case of gasoline engines. The fraction of soluble PGE was found to represent less than 10% of the total amount released from fresh catalysts. For aged catalysts, the figures are significantly higher, especially for Pd and Rh. Particulate PGE can be considered as virtually biologically inert, while soluble PGE forms can represent an environmental risk due to their bioavailability, which leads them to accumulate in the environment.

Temporal and spatial studies of autocatalyst-derived platinum, rhodium, and palladium and selected vehicle-derived trace elements in the environment

The distribution of platinum, rhodium, and palladium (platinum-group elements; PGEs) adjacent to two major U.K. roads shows a rapid decrease (more than 1 order of magnitude) away from the road and reflects patterns shown by other traffic-derived trace elements such as Pb and Zn. However, ratios of Pt:Rh remain relatively constant from 0 to 10 m distance, suggesting that at least some of the PGEs are transported away from the source. A temporal study over a 12-month period, of road dust and surface samples, reveals elevated concentrations above background levels, with maximum values of Pt >500 ng g(-1), Rh 70 ng g(-1), and Pd 70 ng g(-1). Concentrations vary considerably throughout the year and show some tentative correlation with rainfall. Element speciation, an essential control on mobility and hence distribution, was investigated, and the results of solubility experiments show that up to 30% of the Pd present dissolves in acid solutions. This indicates that at least some of the Pd is present in a soluble form and is therefore potentially highly mobile.

Plasmonic properties of supported Pt and Pd nanostructures

The plasmonic properties of nanodisk arrays of Pt, Pd, and, for comparison, Ag are studied over a large size and spectral range and analyzed theoretically by an electrostatic model. Pt and Pd nanodisks exhibit broad localized surface plasmons with a higher sensitivity of the plasmon to the disk aspect ratio compared to Ag. Extinction cross-sections are generally about 50% smaller for Pt and Pd. The spectral plasmon positions, line-widths, and extinction cross-sections are well reproduced by the model.

The release of elements of dental casting alloys into cell-culture medium

Ten dental casting alloys were tested for alloy-element release into cell-culture medium, and this release was related to alloy composition, alloy microstructure, and alloy cytotoxicity (previously determined). Cell-culture medium was analyzed for alloy elements by flame atomic absorption. Concentrations of elements in the medium were normalized by dividing them by their atomic abundance in the alloy, giving element medium-alloy ratios (EMA ratios). Results showed that Au, In, and Pd generally did not dissolve into the medium, but that Ag, Cd, Cu, Ga, Ni, and Zn frequently dissolved. Comparison of EMA ratios for Ag, Cu, and Zn showed that each element retained a behavioral identity in diverse metallurgical environments, but that these environments influenced the release behavior to some degree. Some EMA ratios in multiphase alloys were greater than those in solid solutions, and EMA ratios showed great diversity within all the alloys. Nominal composition seemed to be of little value in the prediction of metal release unless the composition supported multiple-phase formation. In addition, release of alloy elements did not, in itself, completely predict alloy cytotoxicity measured previously. However, cytotoxicity was associated with metal release in each case. The commercial alloys used in this study exhibited more complex and less predictable release behavior than did the simpler ternary alloy systems used by previous investigators. It is believed that the use of commercial preparations is necessary for their in vivo behavior to be modeled.

Evaluation of the health risk of platinum group metals emitted from automotive catalytic converters

A health risk assessment of platinum (Pt) emitted from automotive catalytic converters is presented. Following a stepwise approach, the relevant literature is discussed in order to characterize Pt emissions as well as the toxic potential of Pt and its compounds. In an exposure assessment, ambient Pt concentrations in air are predicted to range from approximately 4 pg/m3 (street canyon, typical conditions) up to approximately 112 pg/m3 (express motorway, severe conditions). These values agree well with the few measured concentrations, which are also in the low pg/m3 range. Pt is emitted from catalytic converters in very small amounts (ng/km range), mainly in the (0)-oxidation state (elemental Pt). The nanocrystalline Pt particles are attached to microm-sized aluminum oxide particles. Whether free ultrafine Pt particles may be emitted and result in biological effects has not been studied sufficiently. Hence, risk assessment can only be based on the respiratory sensitizing potential of halogenated Pt salts. The presence of such compounds in automotive Pt emissions cannot definitely be excluded. From recent occupational studies conducted in catalytic converter production, a conservative no-effect level (NOEL) of 1.5 ng/m3 can be derived for the sensitizing effect of halogenated Pt salts. In a (reasonable) worst case approach, it is assumed that such compounds comprise 1% (0.1%) of the total Pt emissions. Applying a safety factor of 10 to account for interindividual variability, a guidance value of 15 (150) ng/m3 is derived for catalyst-borne Pt. The exposure to Pt in ambient air as measured or predicted is at least two orders of magnitude below this guidance range. Rhodium is also contained in automotive catalysts, palladium has increasingly substituted Pt, and iridium-based catalysts have recently been introduced. Although the database on these platinum group metals is rather small, there is no evidence that they pose a health risk to the general population.

Platinum-group elements: quantification in collected exhaust fumes and studies of catalyst surfaces

Automotive catalytic converters, in which Pt, Pd and Rh (platinum-group elements; PGEs) are the active components for eliminating several noxious components from exhaust fumes, have become the main source of environmental urban pollution by PGEs. This work reports on the catalyst morphology through changes in catalyst surface by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) from fresh to aged catalytic converters. The distribution of these elements in the fresh catalysts analysed (Pt-Pd-Rh gasoline catalyst) is not uniform and occurs mainly in a longitudinal direction. This heterogeneity seems to be greater for Pt and Pd. PGEs released by the catalysts, fresh and aged 30,000 km, were studied in parallel. Whole raw exhaust fumes from four catalysts of three different types were also examined. Two of these were gasoline catalysts (Pt-Pd Rh and Pd-Rh) and the other two were diesel catalysts (Pt). Samples were collected following the 91,441 EUDC driving cycle for light-duty vehicle testing. The results show that at 0 km the samples collected first have the highest content of particulate PGEs and although the general tendency is for the release to decrease with increasing number of samples taken, exceptions are frequent. At 30,000 km the released PGEs in gasoline and diesel catalysts decreased significantly. For fresh gasoline catalysts the mean of the total amount released was approximately 100, 250 and 50 ng km(-1) for Pt, Pd and Rh, respectively. In diesel catalysts the Pt release varied in the range 400-800 ng km-1. After ageing the catalysts up to 30,000 km, the gasoline catalysts released amounts of Pt between 6 and 8 ng km(-1), Pd between 12 and 16 ng km(-1) and Rh between 3 and 12 ng km(-1). In diesel catalysts the Pt release varied in the range 108-150 ng km(-1). The soluble portion of PGEs in the HNO3 collector solution represented less than 5% of the total amount for fresh catalysts. For 30,000 km the total amount of soluble PGEs released was similar or slightly higher than for 0 km.

Determination of platinum-group metals and lead in vegetable environmental bio-monitors by voltammetric and spectroscopic techniques: critical comparison

This paper reports voltammetric sequential determination of Pt(II), Pd(II), and Rh(III), by square-wave adsorption stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV), and Pb(II), by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), in vegetable environmental matrices. Analytical procedures were verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Olive Leaves BCR-CRM 062 and Tomato Leaves NIST-SRM 1573a. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error, respectively, were always less than 6% and the limits of detection (LOD) for each element were below 0.096 mug g(-1). Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to laurel leaves sampled in proximity to a superhighway and in the Po river mouth area. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is discussed.

Environmental routes for platinum group elements to biological materials--a review

The increased use of platinum group elements (PGE) in automobile catalysts has led to concern over potential environmental and biological accumulation. Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) concentrations have increased in the environment since the introduction of automobile catalysts. This review summarises current knowledge concerning the environmental mobility, speciation and bioavailability of Pt, Pd and Rh. The greater proportion of PGE emissions is from automobile catalysts, in the form of nanometer-sized catalyst particles, which deposit on roadside surfaces, as evidenced in samples of road dust, grass and soil. In soil, PGE can be transformed into more mobile species through complexation with organic matter and can be solubilised in low pH rainwater. There are indications that environmentally formed Pd species are more soluble and hence more mobile in the environment than Rh and Pt. PGE can reach waterbodies through stormwater transport and deposition in sediments. Besides external contamination of grass close to roads, internal PGE uptake has been observed for plants growing on soil contaminated with automobile catalyst PGE. Fine particles of PGE were also detected on the surface of feathers sampled from passerines and raptors in their natural habitat, and internal organs of these birds also contained PGE. Uptake has been observed in sediment-dwelling invertebrates, and laboratory studies have shown an uptake of PGE in eel and fish exposed to water containing road dust. The available evidence indicates that the PGE, especially Pd, are transported to biological materials through deposition in roots by binding to sulphur-rich low molecular weight species in plants. PGE uptake to exposed animals have uptake rates in the following order: Pd>Pt>Rh. The liver and kidney accumulate the highest levels of PGE, especially Pd. Urinary Pd and Rh, but not Pt, levels are correlated with traffic intensity. Dental alloys may lead to elevated urinary Pt levels. Platinum is a well-known allergen and Pd also shows a strong sensitisation potential.

Importance of automobile exhaust catalyst emissions for the deposition of platinum, palladium, and rhodium in the northern hemisphere

An estimated 500 million vehicles worldwide are equipped with an exhaust catalyst that uses platinum group elements (PGE) as the main active components and thus contribute to global PGE emissions. Although PGE emitted from automobile exhaust catalysts were first believed to remain in the roadside environment, we propose here that fine PGE-containing particles in automobile exhaust have resulted in a widespread distribution of emitted PGE. Regional and long-range transport of PGE from automobile exhaust catalysts is supported by elevated PGE deposition in both a peat bog located 250 m from traffic and in central Greenland, respectively. Russian smelters were also found to contribute to PGE contamination in central Greenland. Deposition rates estimated for the roadside environment, the peat bog, and central Greenland were used to provide a first estimate of PGE deposition in the northern hemisphere. The results show that deposition of regionally or long-range transported PGE accounts for a large fraction of total PGE deposition, and PGE deposition in the roadside environment represents less than 5% of the total deposition. Transport at the regional and global scales represents an important component in the environmental cycle of emitted PGE and needs to be further studied to fully assess the environmental fate of PGE from automobile exhaust catalysts.

Artifacts from dental casting alloys in magnetic resonance imaging

The potential advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been limited by artifacts due to the presence of metallic materials. For quantitative evaluation of the magnitude of artifacts from dental casting alloys and implant materials in MR imaging, 11 dental casting or implant materials were imaged by means of 1.5 T MRI apparatus with three different sequences. Mean and standard deviation of water signal intensity (SI) around the sample in the region of interest (1200 mm(2)) were determined, and the coefficient of variation was compared for evaluation of the homogeneity of the SI. A variety of artifacts with different magnitudes was observed. Only one of the samples, composed mainly of Pd, In, and Sb, showed no artifacts in all imaging sequences. We concluded that selection of specific dental casting alloys according to their elemental compositions could minimize the metal artifacts in MRI; however, titanium alloys currently pose a problem with respect to causing MRI artifacts.

Copper(II)-rubeanic acid coprecipitation system for separation-preconcentration of trace metal ions in environmental samples for their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations

A simple and facile preconcentration procedure based on the coprecipitation of trace heavy metal ions with copper(II)-rubeanic acid complex has been developed. The analytical parameters including pH, amounts of rubeanic acid, sample volume, etc. was investigated for the quantitative recoveries of Pb(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Au(III), Pd(II) and Ni(II). No interferic effects were observed from the concomitant ions. The detection limits for analyte ions by 3 sigma were in the range of 0.14 microg/l for iron-3.4 microg/l for lead. The proposed coprecipitation method was successfully applied to water samples from Palas Lake-Kayseri, soil and sediment samples from Kayseri and Yozgat-Turkey.

Platinum, palladium and rhodium content in road dust, tunnel dust and common grass in Białystok area (Poland): a pilot study

Automobile traffic is the main source of Pt, Pd and Rh, i.e. platinum-group elements (PGEs), contamination in urban areas and there is growing concern about the effects of these emerging contaminants for people living in these areas. PGE contents were determined in samples of road dust, tunnel dust and common grass as well as pine needles collected from the residential areas of Białystok, northeast Poland. High resolution (HR) and quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were compared for their adequacy in the environmental analysis of Pt and Rh. Palladium was determined by total X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and HR-ICP-MS after matrix separation by reductive co-precipitation with Hg. The highest PGEs concentration was found in road dust samples. Platinum content in road dust varied from 34.2 to 110.9 ng g(-1), while that of Rh from 6.0 to 19.7 ng g(-1). The mean concentration of Pd in this matrix was 32.8 ng g(-1) as determined by TXRF analysis and 42.2 ng g(-1) by HR-ICP-MS. The highest Pt concentration in tunnel dust was found in the size fraction below 75 microm (22.3-23.3 ng g(-1)). The mean concentrations of PGEs in grass were 8.63 ng g(-1) for Pt, 0.65 ng g(-1) for Rh and 3.2 ng g(-1) for Pd. The concentration of PGEs in pine needles was below the limits of detection of the methods used.

Optimization of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the selective determination of trace amounts of palladium by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

A new simple and reliable method for rapid and selective extraction and determination of the trace levels of Pd(2+) ion was developed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometry detection. In the proposed approach, thioridazine HCl (TRH) was used as a Pd(2+) ion selective complexing agent. The effective parameters on the extraction recovery were studied and optimized utilizing two decent optimization methods; factorial design and central composite design (CCD). Through factorial design the best efficiency of extraction acquired using ethanol and chloroform as dispersive and extraction solvents respectively. CCD optimization resulted in 1.50 mL of dispersive solvent; 0.15 mL of extraction solvent; 0.45 mg of TRH and 250 mg of potassium chloride salt per 5 mL of sample solution. Under the optimum conditions the calibration graph was linear over the range 100-2000 microgL(-1). The average relative standard deviation was 0.7% for five repeated determinations. The limit of detection was 90 microg L(-1). The average enrichment factor and recovery reached 45.7% and 74.2% respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of palladium in the real water samples.

Palladium in dental alloys--the dermatologists' responsibility to warn?

Palladium is increasingly used in industry, but also in fine jewelry and in dentistry. Thus, palladium-silver alloys comprise a substantial part of the noble metal ceramic alloy sales in Western countries. The increased use of this metal seems, however, to be paralleled by a rise in the number of reports of palladium allergy. Recently a European study reported a sensitization rate of 2.8%. In Austria, where palladium has started to displace amalgam in dental fillings because of concerns about mercury toxicity, and gold due to price factors, we have found a sensitization rate of 8.3% in unselected eczema patients. Despite the current lack of clear clinical relevance of this finding, these numbers should motivate us to question this substance as "the alloy of the future".

Ion release from orthodontic appliances

OBJECTIVE

The microbiological and enzymatic characteristics of the oral cavity would seem to provide a suitable environment for the corrosion of metals. We assayed the release of metal ions from one orthodontic appliance which included two 304 and 316 steel molar bands, ten 316 steel brackets, one nickel-titanium archwire and a brazing alloy to connect the elements of molar bands and brackets.

METHODS

The orthodontic appliance was dipped in both inorganic (pH 3.5-6.5) and organic acid solutions (w/v 1% each of tartaric, citric and ascorbic acid at pH 2.2 or 1.5% each of lactic and acetic acid at pH 2.5). The release of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and palladium (Pd) was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer Varian AA 10.

RESULTS

The release of Ni, Cr and Cu was markedly less at pH 6.5 than at pH 3.5 at all time points in acid solution. Daily release/single appliance after the first day decreased. Contrary to expectations, appliances immersed in organic acid solutions at pH 2.2 or 2.5 after 28 days generally released an amount of ions similar to that observed in inorganic acid solution at pH 3.5, with the exception of Cu. Release of silver and palladium, two metals present in the brazing alloy, proved to be very low (approximately 0.2 microgram after 28 days).

CONCLUSIONS

The daily release of Ni, Cu and Cr by an orthodontic appliance in acid pH, particularly favourable to corrosion, was well below that ingested with a normal daily diet. It is therefore concluded that the quantities of metal ions released in our experimental conditions should not be cause for concern in utilising the appliance.

Determination of palladium in airborne particulate matter in a German city

The part of palladium in ambient urban air that is bound to particles and soluble in aqua regia was determined by means of sorbent extraction, coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and laser absorption fluorescence spectrometry (LAFS). Samples of about 200 m3 air were taken in a suburb of Berlin, Germany. The coupling of the selective and automated pre-concentration procedure for Pd as N,N-diethyl-N'-benzoylthiourea complex with the respective detection methods proved to be sufficiently sensitive. Severe interference with other matrix constituents, occurring mainly by direct LAFS detection, could be overcome and the detection limit was improved tremendously. The concentration of Pd in ambient air was determined to be in the range from 0.2 to 14.6 pg/m3.

In vitro investigations of platinum, palladium, and rhodium mobility in urban airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) using simulated lung fluids

Environmental concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) have been increasing since the introduction of automotive catalytic converters to control harmful emissions. Assessments of the human health risks of exposures to these elements, especially through the inhalation of PGE-associated airborne particulate matter (PM), have been hampered by a lack of data on their bioaccessibility. The purpose of this study is to apply in vitro methods using simulated human lung fluids [artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and Gamble's solution] to assess the mobility of the PGE, platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) in airborne PM of human health concern. Airborne PM samples (PM(10), PM(2.5), and PM(1)) were collected in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. For comparison, the same extraction experiments were conducted using the standard reference material, Used Auto Catalyst (monolith) (NIST 2557). Pt and Pd concentrations were measured using isotope dilution ICP-Q-MS, while Rh was measured directly with ICP-Q-MS (in collision mode with He), following established matrix separation and enrichment procedures, for both solid (filtered residues) and extracted sample phases. The mobilized fractions measured for PGE in PM(10), PM(2.5), and PM(1) were highly variable, which can be attributed to the heterogenic nature of airborne PM and its composition. Overall, the mobility of PGE in airborne PM samples was notable, with a mean of 51% Rh, 22% Pt, and 29% Pd present in PM(1) being mobilized by ALF after 24 h. For PM(1) exposed to Gamble's solution, a mean of 44% Rh, 18% Pt, and 17% Pd was measured in solution after 24 h. The mobility of PGE associated with airborne PM was also determined to be much higher compared to that measured for the auto catalyst standard reference material. The results suggest that PGE emitted from automotive catalytic converters are likely to undergo chemical transformations during and/or after being emitted in the environment. This study highlights the need to conduct bioaccessibility experiments using samples collected in the field to enable an adequate assessment of risk.