Determination of Lead in Lime-preserved Egg by Microwave Digestion and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

[Objectives] To establish a method for determining the lead content in lime-preserved eggs, to provide a theoretical basis for the quality control of production enterprises and the sampling and testing of supervision departments. [Methods] The lead content in lime-preserved eggs was measured by the microwave digestion and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. [Results] The method had a correlation coefficient of r2=0.998 in the injection concentration range of 0-4 mg/L. The detection limit of the method was 0.008 2 mg/kg. In the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mg/kg addition concentration, the recovery rate of the method was 92.5%-108.0%, and the relative standard deviation(RSD) was <5%. [Conclusions] This method is accurate and reliable, simple and efficient, and is suitable for the detection of lead in lime-preserved eggs.

Dental Erosion by Beverages and Determination of Trace Elements in Teeth by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The analysis of trace elements in human tooth for use as biomarkers continues to generate considerable interest in environmental and bioanalytical studies, medical diagnostic and forensic science. This study investigated concentrations of essential and toxic elements (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and (Na and K) flame atomic emission spectroscopy (FAES) in human tooth obtained from Misan province, Iraq. The influence of smoking habits and born children on the levels of trace elements in additional to dental erosion by some beverages in the tooth samples were investigated. The overall of mean concentrations of (Zn 185.2 ppm, Cu 36.11 ppm, Pb 18.63 ppm, Ni 13.44 ppm, Co 3.45 ppm, and Cd 0.58 ppm, Na 11.683 ppm and K 115.27 ppm), (Zn 178.243 ppm, Cu 35.877 ppm, Pb 15.64 ppm, Ni 12.89 ppm, Co 3.421 ppm, Cd 0.455 ppm, Na 11,558.04 ppm and K 114.04 ppm) in smokers and non-smokers tooth groups respectively, (Zn 81.12 ppm, Cu 24.37 ppm, Pb 11.18 ppm, Ni 13.68 ppm, Co 3.32 ppm, Cd 0.44 ppm, Na 8227 ppm and K 76.42 ppm), (Zn 80.58 ppm, Cu 24.30 ppm, Pb 10.86 ppm, Ni 12.74 ppm, Co 2.71 ppm, Cd 0.23 ppm, Na 8165 ppm and K 72.80 ppm) in mothers and wives tooth groups respectively. However the w/w% loss of tooth immersed in following order of beverages (green tea, black tea, cinnamon, hibiscus, vinegar and citrus aurantifolia (9.09, 9.68, 12.36, 15.01, 16.77 and 17.38), (8.19, 8.25, 9.76, 13.37, 14.02 and 15.33) in smokers and non-smokers groups respectively, (11.25, 11.47, 13.30, 15.75, 19.58, and 20.91), (8.31, 7.96, 11.39, 13.49, 17.40, and 17.67) in mothers and wives groups respectively. However, there is a statistically significant variance found Zn (tcal 5.029, ttab 2.131), Pb (tcal 4.8538, ttab 2.131), Ni (tcal 5.243, ttab 2.131), Cd (tcal 3.9062, ttab 2.131) and Na (tcal 3.0832, ttab 2.131) between smokers and non-smokers tooth groups. However, the Co (tcal 2.7403, ttab 2.131) also shows statistically significant variance between mothers and wives groups. There is no statistically significant variance in w/w% loss after immersed the tooth in some beverages but in general it was higher in smokers than non-smokers and in mothers higher than wives.

Levels of Selected Essential and Non-Essential Metals in the Soil and Ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>) Cultivated in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an important spice and medicinal plant used in different parts of the world. The objective of current study was to determine the level of essential and non-essential metals in ginger and its correlation with concentration of metals in the supporting soil. The level of K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Cd and Pb in soil and ginger cultivated in the selected districts of Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. A 0.5 g ginger sample was digested using a mixture of 4 ml HNO3 and 1.5 ml HClO4 at 210°C for 150 minutes, and a 0.5 g soil sample was digested employing a mixture of 6 ml aqua-regia and 1 ml H2O2 at 280°C for 150 minutes. The metal concentrations range in dry weight basis for ginger samples is decreasing in the order: K (1691 - 3487 mg/kg) > Mg (701 - 1583 mg/kg) > Ca (862 - 1476 mg/kg) > Na (398 - 776 mg/kg) > Mn (325 - 672 mg/kg) > Fe (6.14 - 11.92 mg/kg) > Zn (5.30 - 10.09 mg/kg) > (0.12 - 0.23 mg/kg) for Pb. The concentration of Cd, Cu and Co in ginger samples were below the limit of detection. The results revealed that ginger has the ability to accumulate relatively higher amounts of K and Mg among the determined essential metals. The soil samples have been found to be acidic pH, sandy clay loam in texture, a very low electrical conductivity and moderate level of (CEC, organic carbon, available phosphorus and total nitrogen). Although, a positive correlation between the levels of K, Mg, Zn, Mn in ginger and soil samples were observed. All the non-essential metals analyzed in this study were below the permissible ranges set by FAO/WHO.