Subject(s)
Aluminum/metabolism , Chlorides , Insecta/metabolism , Aluminum/toxicity , Animals , Electric Conductivity , Electron Probe Microanalysis , Fresh Water , Gills/metabolism , Histocytochemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Mass Spectrometry , Nymph , Thorax/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysisABSTRACT
Toxic potency of quartz-containing dusts, including coal mine dusts, is usually inhibited by protective clay mineral layers on the surface of quartz particles. This investigation of 11 dusts recovered from lungs of coal miners with different silicosis grade shows that such layers persist during long-term contact with human lung tissues. On the other hand, the results suggest that an apparently preferential release of iron occurred in lungs with massive fibrosis. These preliminary results support the hypothesis of an iron-related harmfulness of coal mine dusts.
Subject(s)
Coal Mining , Dust , Iron/metabolism , Lung/metabolism , Minerals/pharmacokinetics , Silicosis/metabolism , Humans , Quartz/pharmacokinetics , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Microgram quantities of dental plaque were taken near amalgam fillings, gold crowns and intact teeth. Such extremely small samples can be analysed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), a fairly new variant of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). More than sixty samples were examined directly without chemical pretreatment. Fifteen elements of interest were detected simultaneously within a wide range of mass fraction and with detection limits of several mg/kg. A significant correlation of the Hg-accumulation in plaque and the amalgam fillings was established. Near these fillings Hg mass fractions can reach a level of 300 mg/kg. The results for other elements, e.g. Au, are less significant.
