Artur Kowalski

Levels and potential health risks of mercury in prescription, non-prescription medicines and dietary supplements in Poland.

Determination of mercury is important in the case of pharmaceuticals for which the European Union regulations have not defined the maximum permissible concentration of this metal. The aim of the study was to determine the levels of mercury in the following groups of drugs (n = 119): analgesics, diuretics, cardiacs, antihypertensives, anti-influenza, antibiotics, anti-allergics, tranquilizers, antibacterials and in dietary supplements (n = 33) available on the Polish market. Mercury was analyzed using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry CV-AFS. Its content in the samples varied in the range of 0.9-476.1 ng g(-1). Higher mercury concentrations were reported for prescription drugs (Rx): 0.9-476.1 ng g(-1) (median: 7.4 ng g(-1)), lower--for non-prescription medicines (OTC): 1.2-45.8 ng g(-1) (median: 6.0 ng g(-1)). In the analyzed dietary supplements the concentrations were: 0.9-16.7 ng g(-1) (median: 5.9 ng g(-1)). On the basis of the information contained in the leaflet accompanying the medicine, a daily dose of mercury taken into the body with an analyzed medicament was estimated and the health risk posed by using such medicines was assessed. The study indicates that it is justified to carry out measurements of mercury in pharmaceuticals due to its high, potentially harmful.

Seasonality of Water Chemistry, Carbonate Production, and Biometric Features of Two Species of Chara in a Shallow Clear Water Lake

The objective of this study was to analyze the temporal variability of biometric features and the carbonate production of two charophytes: Chara polyacantha A. Braun and Chara rudis A. Braun against the background of the physical-chemical properties of water. The investigation was carried out in a small, mid-forest Lake Jasne (western Poland). It is a polymictic, mesotrophic, hardwater ecosystem dominated by charophyte vegetation. Each month, 10 individuals of each species were characterized in terms of morphometric features, fresh and dry weight, and the percentage of calcium carbonate. Additionally, physical-chemical parameters of the water were studied. The results of physical-chemical analyses indicated similar habitat conditions for both species. Despite smaller dry weight C. polyacantha was characterized by greater morphological variability and higher rates of growth and percentage share of calcium carbonate in dry mass than C. rudis. The percentage of calcium carbonates in dry mass did not differ significantly between the species and exceeded 60%, reaching the maximum (76% in C. polyacantha) in July and August. For both species, distinct correlations between the structure of biomass and morphological features were found. The obtained results show the great importance of charophyte vegetation in carbon cycling and functioning of lake ecosystems.

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.

Mercury fractionation in sediments of the Lower Vistula River [Poland]

Mercury fractionation in sediments of the Lower Vistula River (Poland) The Vistula is the second largest river in the Baltic Sea catchment area and provides one of the main inputs to the Baltic. The river and its tributaries flow through some of the major industrialized and urbanised regions of Poland, making it one of the most highly human-impacted rivers in Europe. Although the river status is monitored routinely, little is known about mercury forms in the sediments. This study examines mercury fractionation in the sediments of the lower part of the Vistula River. The results show that the cities along this stretch of river have a relatively low impact on both the mercury forms found in the sediment and its bioavailability in the floodplain soils. The mean concentration of total mercury in the sediments was 65 ± 14 ng g-1 dry mass (range 54-92), calculated as the sum of mercury concentrations in the individual fractions. The most abundantly represented of these fractions were mercury bound to sulphides (68 ± 11%, range 55-82%) and humic matter (19 ± 10%, range 10-35%), with lower fractions of water-soluble mercury (6.9 ± 2.9%, range 5.1-13%) and organomercury compounds (6.4 ± 5.3%, range 0.6-13%). The least abundant fraction observed was acid-soluble mercury (0.3 ± 0.2%, range 0.1-0.6%). Similar concentrations and fractionation were observed in floodplain soils from Kiezmark, collected 1, 10 and 50 meters from the riverbed.

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.