Study of the concentration of trace elements fe, zn, cu, se and their correlation in maternal serum, cord serum and colostrums.

A study of iron, zinc, copper and selenium concentration levels was carried out in three compartments namely, maternal serum (MS), colostrums and cord blood serum (CS) of healthy Indian mothers (n = 42) who delivered healthy normal neonates without any congenital anomalies at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre hospital, Mumbai. Fe, Zn, Cu in maternal serum, cord blood and colostrums were estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometry while Se was determined by graphite furnace absorption spectrometry. It was seen that there was a significant difference in the level of trace elements in the three compartments. The average levels of Fe in the three compartments were 1,132 ± 519, 2,312 ± 789 and 1,183 ± 602 µg/L while Zn was 514 ± 149, 819 ± 224 and 7,148 ± 2,316 µg/L respectively. Mean Cu values were 1,614 ± 295, 301 ± 77 and 392 ± 174 µg/L respectively while Se values were 70 ± 15, 36 ± 10 and 23 ± 8 µg/L respectively. The results indicated a positive correlation of Fe and Zn concentrations in MS versus CS which were (r = 0.386), (r = 0.572) respectively and Fe levels in MS and colostrums (r = 0.235). A few inter element correlations were found within compartments. Zn and Se showed a negative correlation in both MS (r = -0.489) and colostrums (r = -0.258) while a positive inter correlation of Fe and Zn was seen in MS (r = 0.44) and in CS (r = 0.54). This study gave us an overview of the serum and colostrum values of mother and neonates in Indian population, data of which are scarce.

Trace elements (copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum) as markers in oral sub mucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral cancer is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide and is prevalent in most areas where tobacco related practices are observed. Essential elements play a role in many biochemical reactions as a micro-source and there is growing evidence that their concentrations are altered on the onset and progress of malignant disease. In this study the levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo) in serum of patients with oral sub mucous fibrosis (OSMF) (n = 30) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (n = 30); were determined and the alterations of these critical parameters were analyzed in comparison with controls (n = 30) to identify predictors amongst these parameters for disease occurrence and progression. The serum Cu and Zn were established using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Serum estimation of Se and Mo was done by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Data analysis revealed a marked, progressive and significant increase in Cu levels in precancer (OSMF) and cancer (OSCC) groups as compared to the normal group. The level of Zn in serum was slightly elevated in OSMF and OSCC though not statistically significant. Cu/Zn ratio was slightly but not significantly elevated. Serum levels of Se and Mo were significantly decreased in the precancer and cancer groups as compared to the normals.

Cloud point extraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry of Se (IV)--3,3'-diaminobenzidine for the estimation of trace amounts of Se (IV) and Se (VI) in environmental water samples and total selenium in animal blood and fish tissue samples.

This paper presents a method based on the cloud point extraction for the separation and preconcentration of Se (IV) and Se (VI) in environmental water samples as well as total selenium in animal blood and tissue samples. 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine (DAB) is a selective and sensitive reagent and is known to form an intense yellow compound piazselenol with selenium (IV). When a system consisting of sample, DAB and surfactant Triton X-114 is warmed above the cloud point of the surfactant, it was seen that the DAB-Se (IV) complex gets extracted into the surfactant rich phase while the Se (VI) remains in the aqueous phase. Se (VI) in the sample was reduced to Se (IV) by microwave heating of solution in 4 mol L(-1) HCl and total Se was estimated by carrying out the CPE. The quantification of selenium was carried out using ETAAS. The analytical parameters for the quantitative cloud point extraction of the Se-DAB complex were investigated and optimized. The proposed procedure was validated by applying it to the determination of the content of Se in Certified Reference Material BND 701-02. (NPL, India). The detection limit of selenium in environmental water samples was 0.0025 microg L(-1) with an enrichment factor of 100. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for ten replicate measurements of 5 microg L(-1) was 3.6%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of selenium (IV), (VI) in environmental water samples and determination of total selenium in human blood, SRM-IAEA-A-13 animal blood and SRM-IAEA-407 fish tissue.

Characterization of As (V), As (III) by selective reduction/adsorption on palladium nanoparticles in environmental water samples.

Hydrazine (HZ) and sodium borohydride (BH) are commonly used reagents for the production of palladium nanoparticles (PdNP) in aqueous solution and also for the reduction of arsenic from higher oxidation state to lower oxidation state. A methodology based on the quantitative adsorption of reduced arsenic species on PdNP generated in situ by BH and HZ is described to characterize As (V) and As (III) in environmental water samples. It was observed that PdNP obtained by BH gave quantitative recovery of As (V) and (III) and the PdNP obtained by HZ could account for As (III). The reduced palladium particles are collected and dissolved in minimum amount of nitric acid. The quantification of arsenic was carried out using GFAAS. Optimization of the experimental conditions and instrumental parameters were investigated in detail. The proposed procedure was validated by applying it for the determination of the content of total As in Certified Reference Material BND 301-02 (NPL, India). The detection limit of arsenic in environmental water samples was 0.029 microg L(-1) with an enrichment factor of 50. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 10 replicate measurements of 5 microg mL(-1) was 4.2%. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of sub ppm to ppm levels of arsenic (V), (III) in environmental water samples.

Characterization of arsenic (V) and arsenic (III) in water samples using ammonium molybdate and estimation by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Arsenic (V) is known to form heteropolyacid with ammonium molybdate in acidic aqueous solutions, which can be quantitatively extracted into certain organic solvents. In the present work, 12-molybdoarsenic acid extracted in butan-1-ol is used for quantification of As (V). Total arsenic is estimated by converting arsenic (III) to arsenic (V) by digesting samples with concentrated nitric acid before extraction. Concentration of As (III) in the sample solutions could be calculated by the difference in total arsenic and arsenic (V). The characterization of arsenic was carried out by GFAAS using Pd as modifier. Optimization of the experimental conditions and instrumental parameters was investigated in detail. Recoveries of (90-110%) were obtained in the spiked samples. The detection limit was 0.2 microg l(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace amount of arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) in process water samples.