The influence of living habits and family relationships on element concentrations in human hair.

The paper discusses the content of elements in hair of subjects studied over several years. The study was performed on 5 subjects (N=28) that lived together or were family related. The elemental composition of hair of the studied subjects was compared with the average content of the population living in the same urban area (Wroclaw city, south-west Poland), with the population of a non-industrialized area in Poland (Silesian Beskid), as well as with the population of north-east Sweden and Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the composition of hair from the studied subjects with the people living in the same city, it was found that the differences resulted mainly from different living habits (Na, Si, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn) and local exposure (Pb, Cd, Al). When comparing with the reference material for unexposed population, it was found that the studied subjects were exposed to Al. Time profile of element contents in hair of a given person showed that the level changed significantly (even several fold) with changes of living habits or environmental exposure. Also, it was found that there were similar tendencies in the accumulation of the majority of elements by people that lived together. The effect of living habits on the level of a given element was found to be stronger than the influence of either sex or family relationship. The paper also discusses inter-element interactions within the studied group. Statistically significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between elements that occur together: Ca-Mg, Fe-Mn, Na-K, Co-K, Au-Pt, Cd-Pb. In order to determine the influence of various elements on the content of another element, linear multiple regression was performed that revealed the following relationships: Ca=f(Mn, Sr), Na=f(K, Mn), K=f(V, Ti).

The application of ICP-MS and ICP-OES in determination of micronutrients in wood ashes used as soil conditioners.

In the present paper, the elemental composition of wood ashes obtained by the combustion of wood in a fireplace was determined with the use of ICP-MS and ICP-OES techniques. Wood ashes may find a potential application as deacidifying agents and soil conditioners, since they contain calcium (in the form of CaCO(3) and CaO), potassium (in the form of K(2)SO(4) and K(2)CO(3)) and significant levels of micronutrients. However, if applied to soil, it is important to assess the bioavailability of particular elements to plants. This process can be simulated by proper extraction procedures. Various species of wood were combusted in a firestove in a single-family house. The ashes underwent multielemental analyses with ICP-MS Varian Ultra Mass 700 (Australia) and ICP-OES Vista-MPX from Varian (Australia) in order to determine the content of macro- and micronutrients as well as toxic elements. Ashes were also extracted with solutions of 0.1M NaNO(3) and water in order to simulate the process of elemental transfer from ash (used as soil conditioner) to soil solution and consequently to plants. Also, the environmental impact of ash supplementation to soil was assessed in these experiments. Soil was supplemented with 0-20% of ash. After elution, the eluent underwent multielemental analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-OES techniques to determine the content of macronutrients (P, K, Mg), micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Co, Mo, Zn, Cu and Ti) and toxic elements (Hg, Pb, As and Cd). It was shown that fireplace ashes can be applied for deacidification of homestead gardens. Ash may be described as a valuable soil conditioner with N:P:K formula 0:1:3. It is concluded therefore that in order to achieve full fertilization, additional supplementation with nitrogen fertilizer would be necessary.

The effect of age, sex, smoking habit and hair color on the composition of hair.

Hair samples (N=83) were collected between the years 1996 and 2003 from inhabitants of Wroclaw, a city located in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland (urbanized and industrialized region). The concentrations of 33 elements: Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn, P, Fe, Mn, Cr, Se, B, Co, Mo, Si, V, Ni, Be, Hg, Cd, Al, Pb, As, Ba, Au, Pt, Ag, Sr, Sn, Ti, W, Sb and Zr in hair were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) techniques. The effect of age, sex, smoking habits and hair color on the elemental composition of hair was investigated. Also, the obtained results were compared with literature data. It was found that the composition of hair varied with age, sex, hair color and smoking habits. This concerned the majority of elements except Ti, Se, Mn, Ni, Hg, Cd, As, Co (in the case of effect of age), Al, Cd, Co (sex), Cd, K, Ag, Ca, Co, Be (smoking habit), P, Fe, Al, Mn and Cr (hair color). Therefore, reference values for the level of the remaining elements should be normalized according to age, sex, smoking habit and hair color. This would make hair analysis more reliable.

Bioavailability of heavy metals from polluted soils to plants.

The aim of this work was to estimate, on the basis of soil extraction procedures, whether a given soil is suitable for cultivation of plants used as food or feed. The paper discusses the transfer of metal ions (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) from contaminated soils to plants in terms of transfer factors (TF). The knowledge of transfer factors for a given element should enable prediction, before plants are sowed, whether a given soil is suitable for the cultivation of plants for consumption purposes. TF can only be evaluated when a linear relationship is observed between soil and plant composition for a given element. Such a relationship is rarely observed between the total soil content of a given metal and that of the plant. For this reason, it was necessary to develop an extraction procedure that would represent the content of metal available to plants during growing season. Several extracting agents were tested. The extracting agent that fulfilled these criteria was 2% (w/v) ammonium citrate. Statistically significant correlation coefficients were determined between the citrate-soluble fraction of soil and content in plant in the case of all the elements studied, except Ni. If a statistically significant correlation exists, it is then possible to evaluate the soil-plant transfer factor for a given metal in plants.

Inter-element interactions in human hair.

The concentrations of 33 elements: Ca, Mg, Na, U, Cu, Zn, P, Fe, Mn, Cr, Se, B, Co, Mo, Si, V, Ni, Be, Hg, Cd, Al, Pb, As, Ba, Au, Pt, Ag, Sr, Sn, Ti, W, Sb and Zr in hair were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Hair samples (n=83) were collected between 1996 and 2003 from inhabitants of city of Wroclaw, located in Lower Silesia, south-west Poland (urbanized and industrialized region). Inter-element interactions were studied by evaluation of correlation coefficients between two elements, as well as by multiple regression analysis. The strongest relations found between the elements in the hair were as follows: Mg and Ca, Mn and Ca, Sr and Ca, Sr and Mg, U and Na, Ni and Zn, Mn and Sr, Cd and Ni, Sb and Pt. We obtained also the following essential linear multiple dependences (p<0.05): Al=f(U, P, Mn), As=f(Zn, Fe) (Zn is negatively correlated, ß<0), Cu=f(V), Fe=f(Mn, As), Mg=f(Ca), Ca=f(Mg, Ba), Ni=f(Zn, Cd), Sb=f(Pt, Sn, W) and Ti=f(Fe, Co). These relations can be useful in the explanation of relationships among the elements in man.

Bismuth concentration in blood and urine of children treated with ventrisol (polfa) preliminary study.

The bismuth concentration was measured in the blood and urine of 21 children from 8 to 17 years old (13.12 +/- 2.67) treated with Ventrisol (Polfa)-tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate (TDB). One tablet of TDB-equivalent to 120 mg Bi2O3. One tablet was given orally to the patients four times a day. Blood and urine was taken for measurement of bismuth concentration in the morning, on fasting, before the administration of Ventrisol on the 6-8 days, the 27-28 days of the therapy and in the 4-5, 8-9 weeks after TDB therapy. The reason for TDB treatment was chronic gastritis and/or duodenal ulcers, which were diagnosed by endoscopic examination. No bismuth in the blood and a very low concentration in the urine were determined in 19 children before TDB treatment. After 6-8 days of TDB treatment the bismuth concentration in the blood was 40.85 +/- 31.05 micrograms/L and 75.11 +/- 82.07 micrograms/L in the urine. In the 27-28 days of the treatment the bismuth concentration in the blood was 37.67 +/- 25.06 micrograms/L, and 163.56 +/- 181.86 micrograms/L in the urine. In the 4-5 weeks after the TDB treatment the bismuth concentration in the blood was 7.77 +/- 10.56 micrograms/L, and 15.72 +/- 9.87 micrograms/L in the urine. The bismuth concentration level in the urine rose together with the rise of the bismuth concentration level in the blood, the correlation factor was r = 0.68. No symptoms of side effects caused by the TDB treatment were observed. Before the treatment a high bismuth concentration was found in the blood of two patients. These cases are discussed later.

Determination of uranium in phosphogypsum.

A method for determination of uranium in phosphogypsum is based on extraction of uranium from phosphoric acid in which hydration transformations of calcium sulphate hydrates have occurred. The uranium is extracted with a kerosene solution of a mixture of mono- and dinonylphenylphosphoric acids, then stripped with concentrated phosphoric acid, and determined spectrophotometrically with Arsenazo III.

Determination of uranium in wet phosphoric acid.

A method for quantitative determination of uranium in wet phosphoric acid containing 0.001-0.02% of uranium has been developed. After reduction with Fe or FeSO(4) . H(2)O, uranium(IV) is extracted with a kerosene solution of an equimolar mixture of mono- and dinonylphenylphosphoric acids. The uranium is stripped with an oxidizing medium consisting of 10M H(3)PO(4) containing NaClO(3). The uranium stripped is determined spectrophotometrically with Arsenazo III.