Blood lead in children and associations with trace elements and sociodemographic factors.

BACKGROUND: No safe blood lead concentration in children has been identified. Lead can affect nearly every system in the body and is especially harmful to the developing central nervous system of children. The aim of this study is to analyze blood lead in a population of children and its association with sociodemographic variables, biochemical parameters, copper, iron, selenium and zinc. METHODS: We recruited 155 children (86 boys and 69 girls) with a mean age of 7.3 (SD:4.1). Blood lead and serum selenium concentrations were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum iron levels were determined by colorimetric assay. A risk exposure questionnaire for lead was administered to the participants. RESULTS: The median blood lead level was 1.1 (IQR 0.7-1.6) µg/dL. Regarding risk exposure factors, the youngest children (<2 years) who played outdoors presented a median blood lead concentration of 1.1 µg/dL IQR: 0.48-1.48, compared to the median of 0.3 µg/dL IQR:0.2-0.48 in the children who stated they played at home (p = 0.024). Significant differences were also found when taking into account those parents who smoked (median 1.3 IQR 0.8-1.9 µg/dL vs 0.9 IQR 0.5-1.4 µg/dL of non-smokers, p = 0.002). Children who drank tap water had higher blood lead levels (median 1.2 IQR 0.7-1.6 µg/dL) than those who drank bottled water (median 0.7 IQR 0.2-1.3 µg/dL p = 0.014). In addition, children whose mothers had not finished school had higher blood lead levels (median 1.7 IQR 1.2-2.3 µg/dL) than those whose mothers had finished school (median 1.2 IQR 0.7-1.7 µg/dL) and those whose mothers had gone to university (median 0.9 IQR 0.5-1.4 µg/dL) p = 0.034. In the multivariate lineal regression analysis we continue to observe the association between mother's higher level of education and lower blood levels (p = 0.04) and the interaction between age and outdoor play (p = 0.0145). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the decline in blood lead concentrations, associated risk factors continue to exist in vulnerable populations such as children.

Medición del contenido de selenio en especímenes biológicos: aplicación en el laboratorio clínico / Measurement of selenium content in biological specimens: medicine laboratory application

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Relationship between serum selenium, sociodemographic variables, other trace elements and lipid profile in an adult Spanish population.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown an inverse relationship between selenium status and cardiovascular health, although epidemiologic evidence yielded by the randomized trials did not find a beneficial effect of selenium administration. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between serum selenium levels and lipid profile adjusted by age, sex and other associated factors among a general adult population in Spain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 372 hospital employee volunteers (60 men and 312 women) with a mean age of 47 (SD: 10.9), whom were given a standardized questionnaire. Serum selenium concentration was measured by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean of serum selenium was 79.5µg/L (SD: 11.7) with no sex-dependent differences. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the associated factors with the mean levels of selenium were: age (ß=0.223; CI 95%: 0.101-0.345), p<0.001; widowhood (ß=-9.668; CI 95%: -17.234 to -2.102), p=0.012; calcium supplements (ß=3.949; CI 95%: 0.059-7.838), p=0.047; zinc (ß=0.126; CI 95%: 0.013-0.238), p=0.028 and glucose (ß=0.172; CI 95%: 0.062- 0.281), p=0.002; Participants with serum selenium≥79.5µg/L were 1.98 (OR=1.98; CI 95% 1.17-3.35; p=0.011) and 2.04 times (OR=2.04; CI 95% 1.06-3.97; p=0.034) more likely to have cholesterol ≥200mg/dL and LDL-c ≥100mg/dL respectively than those with serum selenium <79.5µg/L. CONCLUSIONS: Higher selenium was positively associated with increased total and LDL cholesterol but not with HDL-c and triglycerides. More studies are needed in order to confirm the lower serum selenium findings in widows.

Procedimiento de validación de un método para cuantificar mercurio en sangre por espectroscopía de absorción atómica con descomposición térmica y amalgamación / Validation procedure of a method for measuring mercury in blood by thermal decomposition, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectrometry

El mercurio es un tóxico ambiental que produce numerosos efectos adversos en la salud humana y en los ecosistemas naturales. La ingesta excesiva de metilmercurio procedente del pescado contaminado produce toxicidad neurológica, reproductiva y cardiovascular. El objetivo de este estudio es validar un método para la medida de mercurio en sangre mediante espectroscopía de absorción atómica con descomposición térmica y amalgamación. Los límites de detección y cuantificación fueron de 0,103 μg/L y 0,313 μg/L, respectivamente. La sensibilidad analítica encontrada fue de 12080 μAbs/ng Hg. La curva de calibración es lineal entre 0 y 100 μg/L. La pendiente obtenida con adiciones estándar de mercurio está incluida dentro del intervalo de confianza de la curva de calibración con patrones acuosos, por tanto no hay efecto matriz. Se comprobó la exactitud y precisión empleando material de referencia Seronorm® Trace Elements Whole Blood. La recuperación media obtenida fue de 97,36%. El método propuesto se considera sensible, robusto, exacto y preciso para biomonitorizar la concentración de mercurio en sangre como indicador de riesgo para la salud (AU)

Mercury is an environmental toxicant that causes numerous adverse effects in human health and natural ecosystems. The excessive methyl-mercury intake due to consumption of contaminated fish leads to neurological, reproductive and cardiovascular toxicity. The aim of this study is to validate a method for measuring mercury in blood samples by thermal decomposition, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection and quantification limits were 0.103 y 0.313 μg/L, respectively. The analytical sensitivity was 12080 μAbs/ng Hg. The calibration curve is linear between 0 and 100 μg/L. The slope of the standard addition curve is within the confidence interval of the calibration curve using aqueous standards, meaning that there is no matrix effect. The precision and accuracy were tested using Seronorm® Trace Elements Whole Blood reference material. The mean recovery was 97.36%. The proposed method shows to be sensitive, robust, accurate, and precise for biomonitoring the concentration of mercury in blood samples as an indicator of health risk (AU)

Procedimiento de validación de un método para cuantificar cobalto en suero por espectroscopia de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica / Validation of a method to quantify cobalt in serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

El interés en la medida de cromo es debido al problema existente con las prótesis metal-metal. Estas liberan cromo a la circulación sanguínea y a los tejidos produciendo efectos perjudiciales para la salud. El objetivo de este estudio es validar un método para la medida de cromo en suero mediante espectroscopía de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica y corrección de fondo por efecto Zeeman longitudinal. Los límites de detección y cuantificación fueron de 0,074 y 0,247 μg/L, respectivamente. La masa característica encontrada fue de 7,1 pg/0,0044 unidades de absorbancia. La curva de calibración es lineal entre 0 y 10 μg/L. La pendiente obtenida con adiciones estándar de cromo está incluida dentro del intervalo de confianza de la curva de calibración con patrones acuosos, por tanto no hay efecto matriz. Se comprobó la exactitud y precisión empleando material de referencia Seronorm Trace Elements Serum. La recuperación media obtenida fue de 99,32%. El método propuesto resultó sensible, robusto, exacto y preciso para el análisis de cromo en suero como indicador de riesgo para la salud (AU)

The interest of measuring chromium in serum is due to the problem with metal-on-metal bearings. They release this metal into tissues and the blood circulation producing harmful effects on health. The aim of this study is to validate a method for chromium determination in serum samples by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry technique with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction. The features of the method were proved. The detection and quantification limits were 0.074 y 0.247 μg/L, respectively. The characteristic mass was 7.1 pg/0.0044 absorbance units. The calibration curve is linear between 0 and 10 μg/L. The slope of the standard addition curve is included within the confidence interval of the calibration curve using aqueous standards, so that, there is not matrix effect. The precision and accuracy were tested using reference material Seronorm Trace Elements Serum. The mean recovery was 99.32%. The proposed method proves to be sensitive, robust, accurate and precise for biomonitoring the concentration of chromium in serum samples as an indicator of health risk (AU)

Procedimiento de validación de un método para cuantificar cromo en suero por espectroscopía de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica / Procedure for validating an electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry method for quantifying chromium in serum

El interés en la medida de cromo es debido al problema existente con las prótesis metal-metal. Estas liberan cromo a la circulación sanguínea y a los tejidos produciendo efectos perjudiciales para la salud. El objetivo de este estudio es validar un método para la medida de cromo en suero mediante espectroscopía de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica y corrección de fondo por efecto Zeeman longitudinal. Los límites de detección y cuantificación fueron de 0,074 y 0,247 μg/L, respectivamente. La masa característica encontrada fue de 7,1 pg/0,0044 unidades de absorbancia. La curva de calibración es lineal entre 0 y 10 μg/L. La pendiente obtenida con adiciones estándar de cromo está incluida dentro del intervalo de confianza de la curva de calibración con patrones acuosos, por tanto no hay efecto matriz. Se comprobó la exactitud y precisión empleando material de referencia Seronorm Trace Elements Serum. La recuperación media obtenida fue de 99,32%. El método propuesto resultó sensible, robusto, exacto y preciso para el análisis de cromo en suero como indicador de riesgo para la salud (AU)

The interest of measuring chromium in serum is due to the problem with metal-on-metal bearings. They release this metal into tissues and the blood circulation producing harmful effects on health. The aim of this study is to validate a method for chromium determination in serum samples by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry technique with longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction. The features of the method were proved. The detection and quantification limits were 0.074 y 0.247 μg/L, respectively. The characteristic mass was 7.1 pg/0.0044 absorbance units. The calibration curve is linear between 0 and 10 μg/L. The slope of the standard addition curve is included within the confidence interval of the calibration curve using aqueous standards, so that, there is not matrix effect. The precision and accuracy were tested using reference material Seronorm Trace Elements Serum. The mean recovery was 99.32%. The proposed method proves to be sensitive, robust, accurate and precise for biomonitoring the concentration of chromium in serum samples as an indicator of health risk (AU)