Anetta Zioła-Frankowska

New method for speciation analysis of aluminium fluoride complexes by HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique.

Speciation analysis of aluminium in the presented system of HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique lasts 4min. Using the bifunctional column in model analysis and using the calculation methods for modelling using the Mineql program enabled the authors to presume that particular forms will be subjected to elution in the following order: (1) AlF(2)(+) and AlF(4)(-), (2) AlF(2+) and AlF(3)(0) and (3) Al(3+). Based on the obtained results for model solutions, the presented method enables the determination of aluminium fluoride complexes and Al(3+) speciation form. The study compares the tendency of occurrence variability of aluminium fluoride complexes and Al(3+) form, determined based on the results obtained using the HPLC-FAAS hyphenated technique with the trend defined based on the Mineql program calculation method. The method was successfully applied to soil samples.

Development of a new analytical method for online simultaneous qualitative determination of aluminium (free aluminium ion, aluminium-fluoride complexes) by HPLC-FAAS.

The paper presents a novel method for simultaneous online examination of inorganic forms of aluminium: AlF(2)(+), AlF(2+,) and Al(3+) by means of the high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with a detection by the atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomization (HPLC-FAAS) without post-column reaction. The application of optimization procedure conditions of chromatographic separation of inorganic forms of aluminium was achieved by the analytical column IonPac CS5A (Dionex) with guard column IonPac CG5A (Dionex) and an aqueous ammonium chloride mobile phase, at pH about 3 with gradient elution. The separation of Al forms with nominal charge of 1+, 2+, 3+ required a run time of less than 8 min during a single analysis. The proposed method has been successfully used for the examination of aluminium forms formation AlF(n)((3-n)+) in environmental samples.

Speciation analysis of aluminium and aluminium fluoride complexes by HPIC-UVVIS.

The study presents a new analytical method for speciation analysis in fractionation of aluminium fluoride complexes and free Al(3+) in soil samples. Aluminium speciation was studied in model solutions and soil extract samples by means of high performance ion chromatography (HPIC) with UV-VIS detection using post-column reaction with tiron for the separation and detection of aluminium fluoride complex and Al(3+) forms during one analysis. The paper presents particular stages of the chromatographic process optimization involving selecting the appropriate eluent strength, type of elution or concentration and quantity of derivatization reagent. HPIC was performed on a bifunctional analytical column Dionex IonPac CS5A. The use of gradient elution and the eluents A: 1M NH(4)Cl and B: water acidified to pH of eluent phase, enabled full separation of fluoride aluminium forms as AlF(2)(+), AlF(3)(0), AlF(4)(-) (first signal), AlF(2+) (second signal) and form Al(3+) in a single analytical procedure. The proposed new method HPIC-UVVIS was applied successfully in the quantitative and qualitative analysis of soil samples.

Factors affecting the aluminium content of human femoral head and neck

Tissues for the study were obtained intraoperatively during hip replacement procedures from 96 patients. In all the cases, the indication for this treatment was primary or secondary degenerative changes in the hip joint. The subject of the study was the head and neck of the femur, resected in situ. Aluminium concentrations measured in femoral head and neck samples from patients aged between 25 and 91 were varied. Statistical methods were applied to determine the variations in relation to the parameters from the background survey. Significant differences in the aluminium content of femoral head samples were observed between patients under and over 60 years of age. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the aluminium accumulates in bones over a lifetime. The study showed that the content of aluminium in the head and neck of the femur depends on the factors such as: type of medicines taken, contact with chemicals at work, differences in body anatomy and sex. The study on the levels of aluminium in bones and the factors affecting its concentration is a valuable source of information for further research on the role of aluminium in bone diseases. Based on the investigations, it was found that the GF-AAS technique is the best analytical tool for routine analysis of aluminium in complex matrix samples. The use of femoral heads in the investigations was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Medical Sciences in Poznań (Poland).

The Content of the 14 Metals in Cancellous and Cortical Bone of the Hip Joint Affected by Osteoarthritis.

The aim of the study was to determine the content of particular elements Ca, Mg, P, Na, K, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, Cr, Ni, Ba, Sr, and Pb in the proximal femur bone tissue (cancellous and cortical bone) of 96 patients undergoing total hip replacement for osteoarthritis using ICP-AES and FAAS analytical techniques. The interdependencies among these elements and their correlations depended on factors including age, gender, place of residence, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, exposure to environmental pollution, physical activity, and type of degenerative change which were examined by statistical and chemometric methods. The factors that exerted the greatest influence on the elements in the femoral head and neck were tobacco smoking (higher Cr and Ni content in smokers), alcohol consumption (higher concentrations of Ni, Cu in people who consume alcohol), and gender (higher Cu, Zn, and Ni concentrations in men). The factors influencing Pb accumulation in bone tissue were tobacco, alcohol, gender, and age. In primary and secondary osteoarthritis of the hip, the content and interactions of elements are different (mainly those of Fe and Pb). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of elements in the femoral head and neck that could be attributed to residence or physical activity.

Comparison of trace element concentration in bone and intervertebral disc tissue by atomic absorption spectrometry techniques.

BackgroundTrace element (TE) analysis in human tissue has the dual purpose of assessing environmental pollution and metabolism. In literature, bone TE analysis is common, but studies in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue are lacking. The aim of the study was evaluation of the difference of TE concentration in intervertebral disc and bone in patients with degenerative changes. The comparison of the tissues differing in metabolism, blood perfusion, or separateness from adjoining tissues but playing similar biomechanical role and presenting some common morphological traits may shed new light on metabolism nuances, degenerative process, as well as accumulation potential of IVD in respect to bone.MethodsIn the study, we analyzed two types of samples: intervertebral disc (n =30, from 22 patients operated due to degenerative disc disease) and femoral bone (n =26, separately femoral head and neck, from 26 patients, acquired in total hip arthroplasty procedure in course of idiopathic osteoarthritis of the hip joint). In the samples we analyzed, with atomic absorption spectrometry, the concentrations of Pb, Ni, Mo, Cu, Mg, and Zn.ResultsThe element concentrations identified in bone are comparable to those presented in the literature. In the case of Pb, Ni, Mo, Mg, and Zn, the concentration in the bone was 2 to 25.8 times higher than that observed in the disc. Only the Cu concentration was higher in disc tissue than in bone. In disc tissue, fewer samples had TE concentrations below the detection threshold.We found significant differences in TE profiles in the compared tissues.ConclusionsThe results show that the disc could serve as a more stable compartment for evaluating TE concentration, especially for TEs that are environmentally related.

Analysis of trace element in intervertebral disc by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry techniques in degenerative disc disease in the Polish population

OBJECTIVE Although trace elements are regarded crucial and their content has been determined in number of tissue there are only few papers addressing this problem in intervertebral disc in humans. Most of the trace elements are important substrates of enzymes influencing metabolism and senescence process. Others are markers of environmental pollution. Therefore the aim of the research was to analyzed of the trace element content in the intervertebral disc, which may be a vital argument recognizing the background of degenerative changes to be the effect of the environment or metabolic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Material consist of 18 intervertebral disc from 15 patients, acquired in surgical procedure of due to the degenerative disease with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry content of Al, Cd, Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mo, Mg, Zn was evaluated. RESULTS Only 4 of the trace elements were detected in all samples. The correlation analysis showed significant positive age correlation with Al and negative in case of Co. Among elements significant positive correlation was observed between Al/Pb, Co/Mo, Al/Mg, Al/Zn Pb/Zn and Mg/Zn. Negative correlation was observed in Al/Co, Cd/Mg, Co/Mg, Mo/Mg, Co/Zn and Mo/Zn. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to our knowledge that profiles the elements in intervertebral disc in patients with degenerative changes. We have confirmed significant differences between the trace element contents in intervertebral disc and other tissue. It can be ground for further investigation.

Distribution of heavy metals in the Mała Wełna River system (western Poland)

Distribution of heavy metals in the Mała Wełna River system (western Poland) This paper reports the results of measurements of heavy metal concentrations in water, suspension, and bottom sediment samples collected at eight sites along the Mała Wełna River (western Poland). The samples were collected once a month from May to August 2006. The highest variations in the water of the Mała Wełna River were noted in the concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cu. The results indicate that the suspension plays an important role in the transportation of pollutants contaminating the water and later in the accumulation of pollutants in the bottom sediments. The concentration of heavy metals in the bottom sediments were determined individually in grain size fractions: >2, 2-1, 1-0.5, 0.5-0.25, 0.25-0.1, 0.1-0.063, <0.063 mm. Concentrations of them were the lowest in the 0.5-0.25 and 0.25-0.1 mm fractions, and were the highest in the 0.1-0.063 and <0.063 fractions.

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Analysis of Trace Elements in Degenerated Intervertebral Disc Tissue

Background Few studies have investigated trace elements (TE) in human intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue. Trace element presence can have diverse meanings: essential TE show the metabolic modalities of the tissue, while environmentally-related TE indicate pollution and tissue-specific absorption and accumulation. IVD is a highly specific compartment with impaired communication with adjacent bone. Analysis of TE in IVD provides new insights regarding tissue metabolism and IVD communication with other tissues. Material/Methods Thirty intervertebral discs were acquired from 22 patients during surgical treatment for degenerative disease. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to evaluate the concentrations of Al, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mo, Mg, and Zn. Results Al, Pb, Cu, Mg, and Zn were detected in all samples. Pb was significantly positively correlated with age, and Ni concentration was weakly correlated with population count in the patient’s place of residence. Only Cu was observed in higher concentrations in IVD compared to in other tissues. Significant positive correlations were observed between the following pairs: Mg/Zn, Mg/Al, Mg/Pb, Zn/Al, Zn/Pb, and Al/Pb. Negative correlations were observed between Mg/Cd, Zn/Cd, Mg/Mo, and Mo/Pb. Conclusions This study is one of few to profile the elements in intervertebral discs in patients with degenerative changes. We report significant differences between trace element concentrations in intervertebral discs compared to in other tissues. Knowledge of the TE accumulation pattern is vital for better understanding intervertebral disc nutrition and metabolism.

Variability of Mercury Concentrations in Soil and Leaves of Acer plantanoides and Tilia platyphyllos in Poznań City, Poland

The paper presents the results of research on mercury in the soil and leaves of maple (Acer plantanoides) and linden (Tilia platyphyllos) collected in the four districts of the city of Poznań (Poland), which differ in terms of anthropogenic pressure. The average concentration of mercury in soil was 132 μg kg−1. The highest concentration of mercury was determined in Tilia platyphyllos (233 μg kg−1), whereas in Acer plantanoides it amounted to 207 μg kg−1. Based on the study, it was found that the highest concentration of mercury in the investigated leaf species was observed in the samples collected in the districts of Grunwald, Jeżyce, and Old Town. The lowest concentration was observed in the samples collected in the district of New Town. The comparison of the obtained results of mercury concentration in soil and leaf samples was made in terms of anthropogenic pressure in the investigated areas and depending on the studied leaf species. Based on the statistical analysis, it was found that there is no statistically significant relationship between mercury concentration in both studied species of trees. There was, however, a relationship between the mercury concentration in leaves and soil.