Trace elements Flashcards
What elements are trace elements?
Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Zinc
What are two common methods of trace element analysis?
Atomic absorption
Atomic emission
How does atomic absorption measure trace elements?
Quantitates elements through absorption of optical radiation by free atoms in a gas phase
-Spectra of atoms is specific to absorbing elements
How does atomic emission measure trace elements?
Liquid sample w/ element is converted into an aerosol and delivered to a source where it receives energy and emits radiation
-Radiation is measured and is correlated to concentration of analyte ( basis of quantitation )
Which trace elements are non-essential?
Arsenic
Mercury
Lead
Cadmium
Which trace elements are essential?
Iron Zinc Copper Manganese Chromium Selenium
Where does arsenic commonly occur?
natural substance in soil w. many industrial uses
- Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, used in metal production, timber and agricultural use
- Ag use release most arsenic
What are the three forms of arsenic?
- Inorganic ( high toxicity ) – found in rock, soil, groundwater
- Methylated ( mild toxicity ) – Metabolite of inorganic arsenic – in foods
- Organic ( non-toxic ) – Fish, seaweed, shellfish
What are the symptoms of arsenic poisoning?
GI symptoms – nausea, pain, emesis
Bone marrow – pancytopenia, basophillic stippling
Cardiovascular, CNS, Renan and Hepatic problems
What are normal, chronic, and acute values of arsenic in the body?
<23 ug/L
Chronic – 100-500 ug/L
Critical acute – 600-9300 ug/L
What population has higher levels of cadmium?
Smokers have 2X the Cd as non-smokers
Absorption higher in females – related to Fe stores
Who stole mitch’s generator?
fat old white guy drinking buddy
How does cadmium poisoning manifest?
- Acute exposure affects lungs and lead to respiratory -distress
- Renal dysfunction
- Also affects liver, bone, Immune and nervous systems
how is cadmium primarily absorbed?
food
How is cadmium measured?
Measured in random/24 hr urine, blood
What are normal levels of cadmium in urine and blood?
Random urine - <2.6 ug/L
24 hr - <3.3 ug/24 hr
Blood - <5.0 ug/L
What does mercury react with in the body and bind?
reacts with sulfylhydryl groups and binds cysteine in proteins
Which forms of mercury are toxic and non toxic?
- Liquid environmental mercury – non-toxic, but is toxic in vapor form
- Inorganic mercury is non-toxic
- Organic mercury is toxic – highly selective for lipid –rich neurons
What are the signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning?
Inhaled vapor – Affects nervous, digestive and immune systems
Inorganic exposure – Skin, eyes, Gi symptoms, kidneys
What are normal values of mercury in urine and blood?
-Urine, random - <35 ug/g crea
-Urine, 24 hrs – 0-15 ug/day
-Blood – 0-60 ug/L
-High seafood - >50 ug
Toxic - >150 ug in urine
What is the most common heavy metal in the environment?
lead
What samples are commonly taken for lead poisoning testing?
Venous whole blood most commonly used – hair and nails also used
What are the signs and symptoms of lead poisoning?
- CNS symptoms – clumsy/abnormal gait, HA, Seizures
- Neuropathy
- Anemia – 94% is transferred to RBC in blood and is bound to hgb
Where is lead primarily exposed to the body?
Exposure primarily via GI and respiratory tracts
