Heavy metal concentrations in natural and human-impacted sediments of Segara Anakan Lagoon, Indonesia.

The concentrations of eight elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, and Zn) in surface sediments from Segara Anakan Nature Reserve (SARN), Indonesia, were determined using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy following microwave-assisted acid digestion. In general, the heavy metal concentrations of the sediments were found to decrease in the sequence Fe > Ti > Mn > Zn > V > Cu > Cr > Ni. Sediment pollution assessment was carried out using a pollution status index contamination factor, pollution load index, geoaccumulation index, and enrichment factor as well as by comparing the measured values with two sediment quality guidelines, i.e., threshold effect level and probable effect level. The evaluation showed that in the refinery site stations, Cr, Ni, and Zn concentrations found in the SANR sediments may cause the adverse effect to occur over a wider range of organisms and can contribute to a more serious harmful effect.

G6PD enzyme activity in normal term Malaysian neonates and adults using a OSMMR2000-D kit with Hb normalization.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the commonest causes of neonatal jaundice in Malaysia. Screening of cord blood for G6PD deficiency by the semiquantitative fluorescent spot test (FST) is performed in Malaysia but this test can miss cases of partial G6PD deficiency. The OSMMR-D kit assay measures G6PD activity and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, allowing direct expression of results in U/gHb. We evaluated this method and established the normal range for G6PD activity in normal term neonates and adults. EDTA blood from 94 neonates and 295 adults (age 15-59 years old) with normal Hb and FST were selected. The normal means for G6PD activity for neonates and adults were 12.43 +/- 2.28 U/gHb and 9.21 +/- 2.6 U/gHb, respectively; the reference ranges for normal G6PD activity in neonates and adults were 10.15-14.71 U/gHb and 6.61-11.81 U/gHb respectively. There were no significant differences in mean normal G6PD activity between the Malays and Chinese racial groups or between genders. The upper and lower limit cut-off points for partial deficiency in neonates were 7.4 U/gHb (60% of the normal mean) and 2.5 U/gHb (20% of the normal mean), respectively. For adults, the upper and lower limit cut-off points for partial deficiency in adults were 5.52 U/gHb (60% of the normal mean) and 1.84 U/gHb (20% of the normal mean), respectively. The quantitation of G6PD enzymes using this OSMMR-D kit with Hb normalization was simple since the Hb was analyzed simultaneously and the results were reproducible with a CV of less than 5%.