Beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children.

Power plant dust is believed to be the main source of the increased presence of the element beryllium in the environment which has been detected in the atmospheric air, surface waters, groundwater, soil, food, and cigarette smoke. In humans, beryllium absorption occurs mainly via the respiratory system. The pharyngeal tonsils are located on the roof of the nasopharynx and are in direct contact with dust particles in inhaled air. As a result, the concentration levels of beryllium in the pharyngeal tonsils are likely to be a good indicator of concentration levels in the air. The presented study had two primary aims: to investigate the beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children living in southern Poland, and the appropriate reference range for this element in children's pharyngeal tonsils. Pharyngeal tonsils were extracted from a total of 379 children (age 2-17 years, mean 6.2 ± 2.7 years) living in southern Poland. Tonsil samples were mineralized in a closed cycle in a pressure mineralizer PDS 6, using 65% spectrally pure nitric acid. Beryllium concentration was determined using the ICP-AES method with a Perkin Elmer Optima 5300DVTM. The software Statistica v. 9 was used for the statistical analysis. It was found that girls had a significantly greater beryllium concentration in their pharyngeal tonsils than boys. Beryllium concentration varies greatly, mostly according to the place of residence. Based on the study results, the reference value for beryllium in pharyngeal tonsils of children is recommended to be determined at 0.02-0.04 µg/g.

Influence of the type of tree habitat on the character of co-occurrence of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr and Co in the soil of the Tatra Mountain National Park.

The objective of the research was to determine the effect of habitat type of selected species of trees on the nature of co-occurrence of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co. The presence of speciation forms of these metals was investigated, with reference to the species composition of tree stands in selected areas of the Tatra Mountain National Park (Chocholowska Valley, Strazyska Valley, Koscieliska Valley, as well as Mala Laka Valley).Contents of selected metals in samples were determined by the flame ASA method, with an accuracy of 0.1 µg/g. In habitats dominated by maples, the Pb content in the Chocholowska Valley, unlike Koscieliska Valley covered with beeches, the Pb content in the form directly bioavailable, was twice as high. This was clearly proved in the case of Strazyska Valley where the soil in beech tree habitats contained larger quantities of exchangeable forms of Pb, than that in the Chocholowska Valley. The soil of the valleys, including the Mala Laka Valley, showed peculiar characteristic averaging of the contents of selected speciation forms of metals in the soil. Content corresponding to 10 percentile and geometrical average may be regarded as benchmarks in future studies of the Tatra Mountain National Park, or other protected areas.

Lead and calcium content in the human hip joint.

Concentration of lead in bone, unlike in soft tissues, increases during the lifetime and reflects severity of exposure to this element. The main aim of the study was to determine concentrations of lead and calcium and to find possible relationship between calcium and lead in the tissues of the hip joints obtained from inhabitants of the Upper Silesian Industrial Area. We also attempted to identify factors that might affect this relationship. The samples were harvested intraoperatively during total hip replacement procedures; in most cases, the indication for the surgery was hip osteoarthritis. Concentrations of lead and calcium were measured with a Pye Unicam SP-9 acetylene-oxygen flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The highest mean concentration of lead was found in the cancellous bone from the femoral head, followed by articular cartilage, cortical bone and the intertrochanteric cancellous bone (0.75 µg/g). The smallest concentration was found in the joint capsule (0.19 µg/g). The highest mean concentration of calcium was found in cancellous bone from the femoral head, followed by cancellous bone from the intertrochanteric area, cortical bone, articular cartilage and joint capsule. The concentration of lead showed no correlation with sex. The bone concentration of calcium decreased with age. In the analysed hips, this finding was true in the cortical bone, as well as in the cancellous bone of the intertrochanteric area. Statistically significant correlation between calcium and lead was found only in the hip articular cartilage.

The occurrence of nickel and other elements in tissues of the hip joint.

Nickel is applied in the production of surgical instruments and compounds of nickel affect the osseous tissue. The objective of this study was to determine the contents of nickel and 11 elements in tissues of a hip joint obtained from inhabitants of the Upper-Silesian Industrial Area. The samples were collected intra-operatively during Total Hip Replacement procedures, in most cases the indication for the surgery was hip osteoarthritis. Concentrations of nickel and 11 trace elements were measured with a Pye Unicam SP-9 acetylene-oxygen flame atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Additional analyses were conducted to identify the correlations occurring between these elements. The average content of trace elements in the hip joint was as follows (mg kg(-1)): Cd 0.66, Cr 7.58, Cu 8.43, Mn 0.79, Pb 3.75, Ni 4.82, Fe 252.13, Zn 75.65, Mg 1306.19, K 3938.67, Na 7484.52, Ca 49485.44. The study demonstrated that the content of nickel and the other elements was diversified, depending on the element of the hip joint, gender and the type of affection the endoprosthesis-plasty was performed for.

[Influence of age in content of trace elements in pharyngeal tonsils from exposure and unexposure children]. / Rola wieku w ksztaltowaniu sie obecnosci pierwiastków fizjologicznych w migdalakch gardlowych dzieci w aspekcie biernego palenia.

This project is aimed to estimate the effect of passive smoke on the levels of selected trace elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na) in pharyngeal tonsils of children in several group of age (2-5 years, 6-9 years, 10-15 years). This trace elements were determined using ICP-AES method. It was concluded that the exposure to the cigarette smoke in pharyngeal tonsils is a factor producing the changes in the levels of essential elements: geometric mean of Ca was the highest in pharyngeal tonsils of children in 10-15 years old unexposure to ETS (410 microg/g). The least level of Ca - 281 microg/g was observed in this samples in the same group of age, but in children exposure by ETS. High levels of K was observed in pharyngeal tonsils of children exposure to passive smoking in all of group of age to comparison to unexposure by ETS. The greatest content - 27479 microg/g was in pharyngeal tonsils in exposure to ETS in 6-9 years old was observed, but the least - 16478 microg/g in 10-15 years old. Change of content of Mg was from 764 to 784 microg/g in samples from children exposure by ETS to comparison 720-744 microg/g in children unexposure by ETS. High level of Na was observed in pharyngeal tonsils from children exposure to ETS in all of group of age to comparison to unexposure. This study showed that the kind of interaction dependent on age and exposed by ETS. The changes of given elements were different for children passive smoking and no passive smoking in several group of age.

[Trace elements concentration in pharyngeal tonsils from exposed and unexposed to ETS children in refer to sex and places of living]. / Wplyw biernego palenia na zawartosc pierwiastków fizjologicznych w migdalkach gardlowych w nawiazaniu do plci i miejsca zamieszkania.

The aim of this study was investigation influence sex and place living (industrial region or village) to concentration of: Ca, K, Mg and Na in pharyngeal tonsils (n = 84) from children exposed and unexposed to tobacco smoke and analysis kind of interactions between trace elements. Determination of these elements contents were performed by ICP-AES. It was found higher concentrations of Ca and Na in pharyngeal tonsils from boys (389 microg//g) and girls (356 microg/g) unexposed to tobacco smoke to comparison to expose to ETS boys (304 microg/g) and girls (298 microg/g). Higher concentrations of Ca and Na was found in this samples from children unexposed on ETS, living in industrial area to comparison to unexposed to ETS children living in village region. Higher concentration of K and Mg was found in exposed to ETS girls and boys in comparison to unexposed to ETS children, and higher level of these metals were found in exposed to tobacco smoke children living in industrial region and village.

[The influence of tobacco smoking on the occurrence of copper in hydroxiapatites of gallstones]. / Wplyw nalogu palenia tytoniu na wystepowanie miedzi w hydroksyapatytach kamieni zólciowych.

The studies were carried out on the changes in copper content in concretions of gallstones which were taken from 146 women (49 smoking and 97 no smoking) and 24 men (11 smoking and 13 no smoking), respectively. The elemental composition of gallstones was determined with ICP-AES method (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). Studies on copper occurrence in concretions of gallstones showed the presence of its higher concentrations in case of smoking women (9.59 microg/g) and men (8.99 microg/g) in comparison with no smoking women (7.02 microg/g) and men (7.66 microg/ g). It was shown differences in pattern of changes of copper concentration in gallstones in case of smoking and no smoking women and men.

[Chromium in hydroxiapatites of gallstones from active and passive smoking and non smoking women]. / Chrom w hydroksyapatytach kamieni zólciowych u kobiet palacych aktywnie i biernie oraz niepalacych tyton.

The studies were carried out on the changes in chromium content in concretions of gallstones taken from 93 women (24 active smoking, 18 passive smoking, 51 non smoking women), respectively. Chromium content was determined with ICP-AES method (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy). Studies on chromium occurrence in concretions of gallstones showed the presence of its higher concentrations in passive smoking women (3.15 microgCr/g) in comparison with active smoking (1.20 microgCr/g) and non smoking women (0.89 microgCr/g). Separate patterns of changes in chromium in active, passive and no smoking women gallstones were demonstrated.

[The occurance lead and cadmium in hip joint in aspect of exposure on tobacco smoke]. / Wystepowanie olowiu i kadmu w stawie biodrowym w aspekcie narazenia na dym tytoniowy.

The objective of this study was qualification of content cadmium and lead in selected elements of the hip joint in aspect of tobacco smoking. The material for the research were 5 elements of hip joint (articular cartilage, trabecular bone and cortical bone femur head, fragment articular capsule and fragment trabecular bone from region intertrochanteric femoral bone), obtained intraoperatively during endoprothesoplastic surgeries. The samples come from habitants of Upper Silesian Region. Determination of trace elements contents were performed by ASA method (Pye Unicam SP-9) in acetylene-oxygen flame. Higher contents of lead were observed for smoking people, however in case of cadmium the differences of this element were not statistical essential between smokers and non-smokers.

[Lead content in blood of children living near zinc smelter plant exposure on environmental tobacco smoking (ETS)]. / Wystepowanie olowiu w krwi dzieci zamieszkalych w zasiegu oddzialywania Huty Cynku "Miasteczko Slaskie" narazonych na bierne palenie tytoniu.

In this paper the results of concentration of lead in the blood of children living near and background the plant smelter are presented. 510 girls and 567 boys from schools located at Tarnowskie Góry and Miasteczko Slaskie took part in the study. Concentration of lead content in the blood of children was determined by the ASA method with the apparatus Pye Unicam SP-9. Smoking of parents increased the level of lead in the blood. Higher concentration of lead was show in blood girls (8.09 microg/100 ml) and boys (9.78 microg/100 ml) exposure to tobacco smoke in comparison to girls (6.19 microg/100 ml) and boys (6.81 microg/100 ml) living in no smoking conditions.

[Analysis of participation of mercury in gallstones from smoking and non smoking people]. / Analiza udzialu rteci w skladzie mineralnym kamieni zólciowych osób palacych i niepalacych tyton.

Mercury concentration in gallstones of 146 women (49 smoking, 97 non-smoking) and 24 men (11 smoking, 13 non-smoking) was determined employing Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The possibility of mercury accumulation in concretions in the gallbladder was confirmed by the study. The changes of given elements were different in comparison for smoking and non smoking women and men. The research of mercury occurrence in gallstones shows the presence of higher concentration at smoking both women (0.16 microgHg/g) and men (0.22 microgHg/g) in comparison to non smoking women (0.12 microgHg/g) and men (0.06 microgHg/g).

[Analysis of possible interaction between lead and calcium in gallstones from active and passive smoking and no smoking women]. / Analiza potencjalnych reakcji antagonizmu miedzy olowiem i wapniem w kamieniach zólciowych kobiet palacych aktywnie i biernie oraz niepalacych tyton.

The problem of interaction between lead and calcium in gallstones from active and passive smoking and no smoking women living in southern Poland is presented in the work. The subject of the research were gallstones, gained intraoperatively from 93 women (24 active smoking, 18 passive smoking, 51 no smoking women). The content of lead and calcium was determined using atomic emission spectroscopy with inductive couple plasma (ICP-AES). The place of living, smoking and age play an important role in changing the lead and calcium content of gallstones.

[Arsenic in hydroxyapatites in gallstones from actively and passively smoking and non-smoking women]. / Arsen w hydroksyapatytach kamieni zólciowych u kobiet palacych aktywnie i biernie oraz niepalacych tyton.

The investigation on the arsenic changes carried out in gallstones from 93 women (24 active smoking, 18 passive smoking, 51 no smoking women). The elemental composition of gallstones was determined by ICP-AES method. For smoking women in comparison to men the changes of given elements were different. Negative role of smoking in particular concerned accumulation of Mg, Si, P, As.