Trace Elements in Health and Diseases

Remarkable progress has occurred in many branches of biology and health sciences during the last few decades. Trace element (TE) research has definitely shared in this explosion of scientific knowledge. Due to the improvements in analytical technology, the discovery of TEs in organism was realized. The developments of TE research have been promoted by the demand of public health (e.g. deficiency or toxicity). The profound knowledge of nutritional importance of TEs has been achieved with application of advanced methods in biological, medical and chemical fields, etc. In this paper, a new definition of essentiality of TEs is introduced. According to this definition, onIy ten TEs (Fe, Zn, F, Cu, I, Se, Mn, Mo, Cr, Co) are considered to be essential to humans. The others need more evidence to prove their essentiality in humans. The recent progress on the biochemical and immunological functions of TEs and on the roles of TEs in brain development are briefly described. The TEs, mainly Se, I, Zn, Fe, are more closely related to public health. Also, emphases are laid on balancing all nutrients when new knowledge of essential TEs is applied in public health

Seasonal variations and health risk assessment of trace elements in the Badigad River,lesser Himalayas,Nepal

The consumption of contaminated river water can have severe effects on human health.This study aims to investigate the trace elements(TEs)content and their health risk assessment in the Badigad River Basin in the lesser Himalayas of Nepal.In total,44 water samples were collected from 22 different sites during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons,and 25 TEs were analyzed.Correlation matrix and principal component analysis(PCA)were used to analyze the potential relationship between the measured TEs and their source tracking.Furthermore,the water quality index(WQI),metal index(MI),and cancer index(CI)were evaluated.The TEs content in all samples were found to be within the WHO recommended guideline for drinking and domestic purposes.The dominancy order of the TEs was observed as Sr>Ba>Li>Rb>Zn>Cr>Sc>Mn>Ti>Cu>As>Ni>Co>U>V>Pb>Cs>Ga>Y>Tl>Th>Zr>Bi>Cd>Nb.The PCA analysis suggested that TEs could have natural,anthropogenic,and mixed origins.The WQI indicated that the river water is safe from a human health perspective.The MI suggested that Badigad River can be considered safer for drinking purposes,and the cancer index(CI)showed that all the reported TEs are at low-risk levels.The findings of this study could be useful for government agencies in developing more sustainable water management policies in the region.However,it is suggested that further investigations should be conducted in terms of other hydrogeochemical variables,including major ions,at spatiotemporal levels for the sustainability of the river basin.

Trace Elements in the Drinking Water and Their Possible Health Effects in Aligarh City, India

Environmental degradation and unethical human intervention in the natural system has increased the concern for the betterment of healthy living. The deterioration of aquatic system is commonplace in the developing world. The present paper shows the trace elements (Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Co, Cu and Mn) concentrations in the drinking water of Aligarh city and their possible effect on the health of the inhabitants. The higher concen- tration of some elements in the drinking water and the poor health of inhabitants are found correlated. The statistical analysis of the data shows positive correlation between some elements. The principal component analysis of the data gives four factors with significance level of 42%, 29%, 15% and 12% respectively.

Dietary exposure estimates of trace elements in selected agricultural products grown in greenhouse and associated health risks in Korean population

This study focuses on the dietary exposure of trace elements (TEs) through the intake of various agricultural products grown in greenhouse, and its corresponding health risks at different age categories in Korean population. It was observed that the mean contents of TEs found in selected agricultural products were well below their guidelines. Mean and 95th percentile intake estimates of TEs were ranged from 0.02 to that considerable attention should be paid to the potential health risks of TEs through intake of various foodstuffs and other exposure pathways.

Selected Trace Elements in Domestic Water Boreholes and Their Implications on Human Health, in Huruma Estate, Eldoret Municipality, Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya

Trace elements constitute less than 1% of the rocks in the crust (Stumm and Morgan, 1991). In the human body, they constitute less than 100 mg/kg (0.01%). These elements are released to the environment naturally by weathering and volcanic activities (Flint and skinner, 1997). It has been observed that trace elements are greatly absorbed and retained in the body when in liquid diet. This phenomenon also influences the risk to human health, especially of infants and children whose immature digestive system further promote absorption of toxic heavy metals. The study was based on the analysis of domestic borehole water supplies in Huruma estate of Eldoret Municipality for selected trace elements and their implications on human health. The boreholes were systematically selected for sampling points and trace elements, Cr, Cu and Se analyzed using AAS. Statistical analysis for mean, standard deviation and confidence interval limits was done using SPSS. The statistical t-test was used to test for significance differences at (p = 0.05). The graphs were drawn using the Microsoft Excel package. The resulting data obtained from analysis were compared with WHO data for drinking water. In the study, the mean values of the following parameters were as follows: Chromium 17.9 μg/L, Copper 563 μg/L and Selenium 22.7 μg/L. There was a significant difference at 5% level of significance (p = 0.000) in all the parameter values among the sampling points in Huruma estate. The above mean values were far below the WHO recommended limits for drinking water. It was concluded that the borehole water from Huruma was fit for drinking and therefore could not cause cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, borehole water should be used if other water sources (tap water etc.) were not available. All the industries near Huruma estate should carefully analyze and regularly monitor their liquid waste effluents to ensure that no harmful discharges get into the soil.

Health Effects of Airborne Particulate Matter Trace Elements

The effects of airborne particulate matter （PM） trace elements on health are widely concerned nowadays. Many achievements have been made while many unknowns exist. This article reports the recent research progresses, describes the effects of exposure to PM trace elements on health epidemiological evidence, toxicology findings, and raises some questions for future studies.

Sources appointment and health risks of PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements in a coastal city of southeastern China

To gain a comprehensive understanding of sources and health risks of trace elements in an area of China with high population densities and low PM_(2.5)concentrations,15 trace elements(Al,K,Ca,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Sn,Ba,Pb)in PM_(2.5)were monitored from December 2020 to November 2021 in a representative city,Xiamen.The concentrations of trace elements in Xiamen displayed an obvious seasonal variation and were dominated by K,Fe,Al,Ca and Zn.Based on Positive Matrix Factorization analysis,source appointment revealed that the major sources of trace elements in Xiamen were traffic,dust,biomass and firework combustion,industrial manufacture and shipping emission.According to health risk assessment combined with the source appointment results,it indicated that the average noncarcinogenic risk was below the threshold and cancer risk of four hazardous metals(Cr,Ni,As,Pb)exceeded the threshold(10^(-6)).Traffic-related source had almost half amount of contribution to the health risk induced by PM_(2.5)-bound trace elements.During the dust transport period or Spring Festival period,the health risks exceeded an acceptable threshold even an order of magnitude higher,suggesting that the serious health risks still existed in low PM_(2.5)environment at certain times.Health risk assessment reminded that the health risk reduction in PM_(2.5)at southeastern China should prioritize traffic-related hazardous trace elements and highlighted the importance of controlling vehicles emissions in the future.

Study of trace elements in coal and mining wastes and its significance in China

In the world energy about 26% of all was derived from coal combustion. Nearly 80% of the electricity produced in China is generated from coal. Coal will play the most important role in the coming 50 years as the past century in China. However one consequentially of the mining and combustion of coal is the mobilization of trace elements, especially trace metals, which have environmental and human health significance. Information on concentrations and distributions of potentially toxic elements in coal, and information on the modes of occurrence of these elements and the relations of the minerals in coal can help to predict the behavior of the potentially toxic trace metals during cleaning, combustion, weathering, and leaching.

Contamination assessment,source apportionment and associated health risks of PTEs in agricultural soil under five land-use patterns in Sanya,China

To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.

Co-Contamination of Arsenic and Other Trace Elements (Hg, Pb, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, and Cd) in the Rafsanjan Plain Alluvial Aquifer SE of Iran and Arsenic Risk Assessment

Assessing the concentration of trace elements in aquifers is increasingly subjected to study in Iran due to the lack of groundwater resources. This study was undertaken with the objective of determining trace elements in the alluvial aquifer located in the southern part of the Rafsanjan plain, Kerman province, Iran. The total of 73 groundwater samples from individual water wells were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results showed that the levels of As, Hg, Pb, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, and Cd elements were above the World Health Organization standards for drinking-water in some parts of the plain. Thus, statistical data analyses and spatial distribution interpretation were performed to identify the main sources of the pollution. A health risk assessment model derived from US environmental protection agency was applied to calculate the cumulative exposure to As as well as toxic and carcinogenic risks caused by drinking contaminated raw groundwater. Results show that residents of some part of region may suffer from significant adverse toxic health impacts and are exposed to drinking water with As concentrations.

Groundwater pollution and human health risk based on Monte Carlo simulation in a typical mining area in Northern Anhui Province,China

The main objective of this study was to evaluate eight kinds of trace element pollutants in groundwater from a typical coal mine area,and carry out a corresponding health risk assessment for the local populace.To do this,34 shallow groundwater(SG)samples and 18 mid-layer groundwater(MG)samples were collected from the Sulin mining area.To minimize the uncertainties in the health risk assessment,this paper relied on Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity analysis.The results revealed that Sr and Mn contents exceeded their corresponding WHO(Guidelines for drinking water quality,4th edn.Geneva,2011)guidelines and Chinese groundwater standards(GB/T14848-2017),while the other analyzed trace elements remain below those threshold values.The calculated hazard quotient and hazard index values for adults from ingestion exposure to SG and MG were well below the threshold limit of 1.Probabilistic simulations further show that the total cancer risk value above the limit of 1×10^(-6) is 0%for SG and 29.39%for MG.Sensitivity analysis identified the Sr and Cr contents as the most relevant element variables affecting the probabilistic non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk values in the model,respectively.

Health Safety of the Fish from the Luapula River in Democratic Republic of Congo

The Luapula River has received mining discharges from Lubumbashi and Kipushi Gecamines for several decades and from the CHEMAF company since 2005. It also received mining waste from SODIMICO. The Luapula River has Lake Banguelo as its source in Zambia and flows into Lake Moero, which is located on the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of this study is to assess the health safety of the fish from the Luapula River. Fish samples were collected in August 2015 at the site of the locality of Kasenga located downstream of the mining activities (n = 14) and presumed to be polluted. On the other hand, reference fish samples were taken upstream of any mining activity of the Panda, Kasungwe and Congo Rivers at the sections located near their sources and presumed not to be polluted by mining wastes. (n = 11). Ten Metal Trace Elements (MTE) were assayed at the laboratory of the Congolese Control Office (OCC) of Lubumbashi and at the laboratory of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. To assess and evaluate the health safety of fish from the Luapula River, the concentrations of fish samples from the Luapula River were compared with the concentrations of the reference fish samples from the Panda Kasungwe and Congo rivers by the Wilcoxon test. The concentrations of fish samples from the Congo River were also compared with the maximum acceptable metal trace element concentrations established by the FAO, WHO, EU (European Union) and other regulatory bodies. as reported by Akoto et al. The results of this study showed that the fish from the Luapula River is contaminated in Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb, and are not fit for human consumption. The results obtained will be brought to attention of the decision-makers of the Province of Haut-Katanga, so that measures can be taken to ban metallurgical factories to drump their mining wastes into waterways.

氨基酸微量元素螯合物对草鱼肝脏和肠道健康的影响

为研究饲料中氨基酸微量元素螯合物(铁、锰、铜、锌)对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)肝脏和肠道健康的影响。共设置6组等氮(30%)、等脂(4.7%)实验饲料,对照组(CON)为不添加铁、锰、铜、锌4种微量元素的基础饲料,在对照组配方基础上添加无机铁(50 mg/kg)、铜(2 mg/kg)、锰(10 mg/kg)、锌(40 mg/kg)制成IT100组,用氨基酸微量元素螯合物以25%(OT25组)、50%(OT50组)、75%(OT75组)和100%(OT100组)的比例替代IT100组中无机微量元素,投喂初始体质量(40.05±0.05) g的草鱼8周。研究显示,与对照组相比,饲料中添加无机微量元素和氨基酸微量元素螯合物显著提高了草鱼肝脏的谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)、微量还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,降低了丙二醛含量(P<0.05)。OT100组显著提高了过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,且OT75组和OT100组GPx活性和GSH含量显著高于IT100组(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,各组草鱼的肝细胞形态和肝血窦丰度趋于正常。与对照组相比,除OT25组外,其余各组的肠道绒毛高度和杯状细胞数量显著提高,且OT75和OT100组显著高于IT100组。无机微量元素和氨基酸微量元素螯合物降低了草鱼肠道细胞因子白介素-6(il-6)和白介素-1β(il-1β)基因表达量,提高了肠道紧密连接蛋白闭锁小带蛋白-2(zo-2)和claudin12基因表达量。OT75组显著提高了zo-1和occludin基因表达量,且OT75组il-1β基因表达量显著低于IT100组。综上所述,无机微量元素和氨基酸微量元素螯合物均可显著改善草鱼肠道和肝脏健康,75%氨基酸微量元素螯合物的作用效果显著优于无机微量元素。

贵州半边街锗锌矿床锗的富集特征及其地质意义

锗(Ge)属于战略性关键矿产资源,是众多高新技术领域的重要原材料。Ge主要以共/伴生形式产出于Zn、Pb和Cu等热液贱金属矿床和煤矿床中,目前全球Ge资源主要来源于铅锌矿的副产品。近期取得较大找矿突破的半边街锌矿床(7.70Mt矿石,Zn平均品位5.1%)伴生有超大型规模的金属Ge(>900t@110×10^(-6)),然而Ge超常富集的机制不清。本次研究利用LA-ICPMS对闪锌矿进行了微区原位微量元素组成和Mapping分析,以揭示Ge等元素的富集特征、赋存状态和替代方式,探讨Ge的富集机制。分析结果表明,半边街矿床闪锌矿中高含量(平均值>100×10^(-6))微量元素有Fe、Pb、Ge和Cd等,较高含量(平均值100×10^(-6)~10×10^(-6))的有Mn、Ga、Sn和Tl,以及较低含量(平均值<10×10^(-6))的有Ag、Cu、In和Sb。相比于各类型铅锌矿床,半边街闪锌矿Ge超常富集(274×10^(-6)~1938×10^(-6),平均为1055×10^(-6),达到1000倍富集)。该矿床中Ge以类质同象或纳米颗粒形式赋存于闪锌矿中。微量元素摩尔量相关性图揭示Ge替代Zn的方式以Ge^(4+)+Pb^(2+)3Zn^(2+)为主,其次为nGe^(4+)+Mn 2+(2n+1)Zn^(2+)和nGe^(4+)+2Tl^(3+)(2n+3)Zn^(2+)。综合分析认为,半边街矿床Ge可能来源于相对富Ge的前寒纪基底;富有机质的盆地流体在Ge的搬运中发挥重要作用;Ge、Cd等稀散元素的共生分异制约了Ge的最终超常富集。因此,半边街矿床中Ge的超常富集是“源、运、聚”复杂过程多要素耦合作用的结果。

白癜风患者与健康体检者全血微量元素比较

目的分析比较健康体检者与白癜风患者全血微量元素的差异,从而探究微量元素对于白癜风发病的影响。方法选取2022年8月至2023年6月河南科技大学第二附属医院皮肤科收治的29例白癜风患者作为白癜风组;选取同期的健康人群53例作为健康组。利用Agilent 7850电感耦合等离子体质谱仪检测全血中十种微量元素(钙、镁、铁、铜、锌、铅、硒、钼、锰、铬)的含量,统计两组微量元素差异情况。结果健康组铜元素浓度高于白癜风组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组的其余微量元素(钙、镁、铁、锌、铅、硒、钼、锰、铬)比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论白癜风患者相比健康体检者全血中铜元素含量降低,证明铜元素与白癜风的发病机制具有重要关系;而钙、镁、铁、锌、铅、硒、钼、锰、铬9种微量元素与白癜风的发病没有相关联系,本研究为国内微量元素与白癜风发病机制联系的研究提供了重要的数据支撑,扩展了相关检验数据统计分析量,为白癜风的临床治疗提供了重要依据。

重庆市主城区居民饮用水9种微量元素含量特征及其健康风险评价

为明确重庆市主城区饮用水中微量元素含量及其对居民健康的潜在影响,采集主城区居民末梢饮用水80件、水源地水样3件,室内测定水样中As、Ba、Cr、Cu、Mo、Ni、Sb、Se、Zn含量,并采用USEPA推荐的健康风险评价模型,评估饮用水中微量元素的健康风险水平。结果表明:①重庆市主城区居民末梢饮用水中9种微量元素均值(算术均值,下同)均未超过国家《生活饮用水卫生标准》。②儿童和成人的总健康风险均值分别为8.72×10^(-5)a^(-1)和3.56×10^(-5)a^(-1),在USEPA推荐的最大可接受标准(10-6~10^(-4)a^(-1))内,但儿童总健康风险高于成人。③居民末梢饮用水健康风险主要表现为Cr和As的致癌风险,儿童和成人致癌风险均呈现R Cr(8.54×10^(-5)a^(-1)和3.48×10^(-5)a^(-1))>R As(1.62×10^(-6)a^(-1)和6.74×10^(-7)a^(-1)),但均低于USEPA推荐的最大可接受标准(10^(-4)a^(-1))。因此饮用水中Cr和As是重庆市主城区居民饮用水产生健康风险的主要物质,需进一步加强这2种元素的监测和管理。

锗对植物影响的研究进展

锗是良好的半导体材料,且具有清除自由基、抗衰老抗氧化等生物活性,在电子工业和医学领域应用广泛。目前在植物上的研究主要集中在提高植物品质,促进植物生长及对植物毒害等方面。本文综述了锗及其化合物的理化性质、起源与分布特征,分析了锗在影响植物生长方面的生理生化机制。锗具有清除自由基的电子结构,能改变土壤中酶活性和微生物,改变植物对营养元素的吸收和利用、影响植物光合作用、改变植物的抗氧化系统等。适宜剂量的锗能促进种子萌发,有效控制藻类生长,提高作物的品质。锗积累过多,影响生理代谢,抑制植物生长,产生毒害。锗在种子萌发、植物生长方面的研究与应用,为探索锗在调节植物生长、生理生态等方面的作用提供理论基础,为植物吸收利用锗,减少锗污染方面提供理论参考。

内蒙古白音华煤田煤中微量元素分布特征

为研究煤中微量元素含量及分布特征,在白音华煤田开展了煤中微量元素测试分析。对白音华煤田4个矿区、3个层位所采集的50多件样品的微量元素进行测试分析,重点研究了各矿区煤炭中煤的显微组分特征、煤中F,Cl,As等有害微量元素分布特征、Sb,Ag,Ge,Be,Co等24种微量元素的富集程度分析,并对煤中锗的赋存状态及成煤环境进行了分析。结果表明:白音华煤田煤中As的含量较高,属超高砷煤;白音华煤田二矿煤中Co,Cr,Ge,Ca,Li,V,La,Ce,Nd,Th,U等微量元素富集明显,其中Ge,Ga含量均发现多处已达工业品味;白音华煤田煤中锗被有机质束缚,锗元素在还原性环境下易于富集;由白音煤田煤中硼的示踪物源及指示沉积环境可推定,成煤环境为淡水—半咸水沉积环境。

微量元素医学精要Ⅰ.微量元素的生理作用和体内平衡

本文综述了微量元素的各种生理作用及其在体内的平衡与健康的关系 ,主要内容包括 :微量元素的主要生理作用 ;体内元素平衡及其与健康的关系 ;必需微量元素的生理作用及其与健康的关系 ;锌缺乏症 ;碘缺乏症 ;铁缺乏症 ;儿童铅中毒 ;铝中毒。