N. Shaheen

Investigation of trace metals in the blood plasma and scalp hair of gastrointestinal cancer patients in comparison with controls

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer which is predominantly associated with the environmental factors. The carcinogenic processes are linked with the imbalances of trace metals in body fluid and tissues. METHODS Trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) are estimated in blood plasma and scalp hair of the cancer patients and controls employing nitric acid-perchloric acid based wet-digestion followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. RESULTS The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni were found to be significantly higher in the plasma of patients compared with the controls, however, appreciably higher concentrations of Fe and Zn were observed in the plasma of controls. The average scalp hair concentrations of Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu and Cd were notably higher in the patients than controls. The correlation study revealed significantly different mutual variations of the trace metals in the plasma and scalp hair of the patients and controls. The apportionment of trace metals in the plasma and scalp hair of the patients and controls was also considerably different. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that the carcinogenic processes are significantly affecting the trace metal burden and mutual variations in the cancerous patients compared with the controls.

Comparative statistical analysis of chrome and vegetable tanning effluents and their effects on related soil.

Two tanning units of Pakistan, namely, Kasur and Mian Channun were investigated with respect to the tanning processes (chrome and vegetable, respectively) and the effects of the tanning agents on the quality of soil in vicinity of tanneries were evaluated. The effluent and soil samples from 16 tanneries each of Kasur and Mian Channun were collected. The levels of selected metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cr, Mn, Co, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer under optimum analytical conditions. The data thus obtained were subjected to univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Most of the metals exhibited considerably higher concentrations in the effluents and soils of Kasur compared with those of Mian Channun. It was observed that the soil of Kasur was highly contaminated by Na, K, Ca and Mg emanating from various processes of leather manufacture. Furthermore, the levels of Cr were also present at much enhanced levels than its background concentration due to the adoption of chrome tanning. The levels of Cr determined in soil samples collected from the vicinity of Mian Channun tanneries were almost comparable to the background levels. The soil of this city was found to have contaminated only by the metals originating from pre-tanning processes. The apportionment of selected metals in the effluent and soil samples was determined by a multivariate cluster analysis, which revealed significant differences in chrome and vegetable tanning processes.

Assessment of the trace elements level in urban atmospheric particulate matter and source apportionment in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the distribution, correlation, source apportionment and enrichment of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sb and Zn) in the urban atmospheric particulate matter. The total suspended particulate matter samples were extracted in nitric acid and hydrochloric acid mixture, followed by the quantification of the trace elements on flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The estimated elemental data were then evaluated for their mutual variations in the urban particles. Average 24-h concentrations of Fe and Zn were dominant in the atmospheric particles followed by Cu, Pb, Co, Cr, and Sb, while lowest concentrations were observed for Mn and Cd. The present TSP and elemental levels were also compared with those reported from other areas around the world. The correlation study showed strong relationships between TSP-Fe, Mn-Fe, TSP-Mn, Pb-Mn, Cd- Pb, and Co-Zn. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed automobile emissions, industrial activities, combustion processes and mineral dust as the major pollution sources in the atmospheric particles. Among the trace elements, Sb, Cd, Zn and Pb showed very high enrichment by the anthropogenic activities, while Co and Cu were also significantly enriched in the particulate samples. Most of the trace elements exhibited random distribution with diverse correlations in the atmospheric particles. Comparison of the present elemental levels with those reported from other areas around the world showed relatively elevated concentrations of the elements in the atmospheric particulates. Different anthropogenic activities were found to be mainly responsible for the trace element pollution duly supported by the enrichment factors.

Multivariate analysis of the selected metals in the hair of cerebral palsy patients versus controls

Seventeen metals were measured in scalp hair samples from cerebral palsy patients (CPPs) and controls. Samples were collected from 95 CPPs and 93 controls. The nitric acid-perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was used for quantification of the selected metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Ag, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Li, and Mg were significantly higher and those of Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Sb were lower in the hair of CPPs compared with controls. A strong positive correlation was found between Ca and Mg in the hair of controls but not in that of CPPs. Antimony was found significantly negative in terms of its correlation with Co and Cu in CPPs group but not in the controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data extracted seven factors for CPPs and six factors for controls. Cluster analysis (CA) was also used to support the PCA results. The study evidenced some specific source of Mg and Sb in the hair of CPPs.

Annual TSP and Trace Metal Distribution in the Urban Atmosphere of Islamabad in Comparison with Mega-Cities of the World

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to assess the current concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP) and trace metals in the urban atmosphere of Islamabad, Pakistan, where local industries, transportation, and urbanization are adversely affecting air quality. Air sampling was done using a high-volume sampler and the metals were estimated in TSP by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. An annual mean TSP of 151.9 μ g/m3 was determined for the period May 2003–April 2004, which exceeded the World Health Organizations (WHOs) primary and secondary standards of air quality. The TSP metal concentrations were compared with those reported in literature for other regions of the world and with air quality standards laid down by regulatory agencies. The levels of Na, Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cr, Co, and Cd for the present study were higher than most of the levels reported for other typical industrial and urban areas of the world. The airborne Ni concentrations were higher than the WHO and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys standards. Cluster and Principal Component Analyses of the data were used to identify the sources of the metals and establish their mutual correlations in the local atmosphere.

Scalp hair metal analysis in the assessment of the occupational exposure of arc welders

Eleven metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb) were estimated in hair samples of metal arc welders and a control group with the same socioeconomic background. Nitric acid–perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was adopted for the estimation of endogenous metal contents by ICP-AE technique. The study exhibited the following increasing order of the metal concentrations: Cd < Co < Cr < Mn < Ni < Cu < Pb < Fe < Zn < Mg < Ca, with average concentrations of 0.54, 0.90, 2.0, 3.0, 3.3, 11.0, 12, 20, 170, 240 and 1050 µg g−1, dry weight, respectively. On average, the levels of Mn, Ni, Pb and Fe were found to be 1.5–2.4 times higher in the hair of welders compared with controls. Besides age and exposure which were strongly correlated, Cu–Mg, Mn–Mg, Ca–Co and Cd–Zn also showed significantly positive correlations. The identification of metal sources, done by cluster and principal component analyses, revealed four factors: age and exposure; Cu, Mg, Mn and Fe; Ca and Co; Cd, Zn, Ni and Pb. High levels of Fe were found to have a depleting impact on Co levels. The arc welders were feared to accumulate heavy metals in their bodies due to long-term endogenous exposure.

Status of Selected Heavy Metal Distribution in Scalp Hair of Traffic Control Personnel Exposed to Vehicular Emissions

ABSTRACT Scalp hair samples of traffic control personnel (n = 71, ages between 25 to 45 years) were analyzed for 11 selected metals by using an Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Atomic Emission (ICP-AE) technique using nitric acid–perchloric acid based wet digestion method. The observed order of mean concentrations (μ g/g, dry weight) of the metals, in washed hair samples, was: Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cr > Cd > Co, with corresponding metal levels at 1042.2, 182.4, 169.7, 13.6, 12.4, 11.1, 2.7, 1.9, 1.9, 0.8, and 0.7 μ g/g, respectively. Most of the unwashed samples exhibited 10–15% higher metal levels compared with those in washed samples. A positive metal-to-metal correlation (p < 0.01) was observed for the metal pairs: Ca-Mg (r = 0.737), Pb-Cr (r = 0.441), and Cu-Zn (0.385). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) extracted 6 factors as metals origin using varimax normalized rotation commutatively representing more than 76% of the total variance. Cluster Analysis (CA) showed five strong clusters of selected metals in the hair of the subjects: Age-Exposure, Ca-Mg, Cd-Fe-Mn, Pb-Cr, and Cu-Zn. The results of the current study were compared with those for two other occupationally exposed groups, metal arc welders and autodrivers, using published literature values. The traffic controllers in our study generally, with the exception of Cu, exhibited lower levels of metals in hair samples than did autodrivers and arc welders.

Pre‐ and post‐expiry metal levels in canned dry milk

Levels of 12 metals (Ca, K, Na, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) were estimated in 19 different imported brands of unexpired and expired canned dry milk available from local markets. The HNO3/HClO4‐based wet digestion method was used for the analysis of the samples by the FAAS technique under optimum analytical conditions. Of the macronutrients, Ca showed highest at 1,144 μg/g in the dry milk from Holland. In the case of micronutrients, Fe showed the maximum level at 119.15 μg/kg in the milk from UK. Cr dominated at 23.19 μg/kg compared with other heavy toxic trace elements. The following order of decreasing concentration was observed for both unexpired and expired milk: Ca > Na > K > Mg > Fe > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. All the trace elements were found to have 100 per cent incidence of occurrence. The expired milk samples showed enhanced levels of Fe, Zn, Cr and Pb by a factor of 1.2‐1.6 on average. The results of the metal contents were compared with those for fresh cow milk. The data were stat...

Screening of Trace Metals in the Plasma of Breast Cancer Patients in Comparison with a Healthy Population

ABSTRACT The plasmas of breast cancer patients and healthy donors were analyzed for selected trace metals by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In the plasma of breast cancer patients, mean concentrations of macronutrients/essential metals, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn were 3584, 197.0, 30.80, 6.740, 5.266, and 6.170 ppm, respectively, while the mean metal levels in the plasma of healthy donors were 3908, 151.0, 72.40, 17.70, 6.613, and 2.461 ppm, respectively. Average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, and Zn were noted to be significantly higher in the plasma of breast cancer patients compared with healthy donors. Very strong mutual correlations (r > 0.70) in the plasma of breast cancer patients were observed between Cd–Pb, Cr–Li, Li–K, Li–Cd, K–Cr, Li–Pb, Cr–Co, Cu–Ni, Co–K, Cd–K, and K–Pb, whereas, Al–Cr, Ca–Zn, Cd–Sb, Cd–Zn, Ca–Mg, Fe–Zn, and Na–Mn exhibited strong relationships (r > 0.60) in the plasma of healthy donors. The cluster analysis revealed considerably different apportionment of trace metals in the two groups of donors. The average metal concentrations of different age groups of the two donor categories were also evaluated, which showed the build-up of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Li, Pb, Sb, and Zn in the plasma of breast cancer patients. The role of some trace metals in carcinogenesis is also discussed. The study indicated appreciably different patterns of metal distribution and correlation in the plasma of breast cancer patients in comparison with the healthy population.

Estimation of iodine in fortified salts by an improved electrometric method

Purpose – This paper seeks to apply an improved electrometric method using polarized electrodes to quantify iodine in 241 salt samples pertaining to 15 different brands procured from the local market.Design/methodology/approach – Comparative evaluation of the method is made with the iodometric titration and the colorimetric methods.Findings – The results obtained reveal that the electrometric method excels in attaining higher level of accuracy, precision and lower detection limit, backed by ease of operation.Practical implications – The method warrants reproducible results both for replicate synthetic and market samples, with a lower detection limit of about 0.1ppm within an acceptable limit of error.Originality/value – The study shows significant difference between the estimated and labelled iodine values in various brands of iodized salts. Most of the salt samples analysed contain iodine levels far exceeding the WHO permitted limit. The method has the potential of application for in‐situ iodine measurem...