No abstract

Objective Teeth can serve as records of environmental exposure to heavy metals during their formation. We applied a new technology -synchrotron radiation microbeams (SRXRF) -for analysis of heavy metals in human permanent teeth in modern and historical samples. Methods Each tooth was cut in half. A longitudinal section 200 lm in thickness was subjected to the determination of the heavy metal content by SRXRF or conventional analytical methods (ICP-MS analysis or reduction-aeration atomic absorption spectrometry). The relative concentrations of Pb, Hg, Cu and Zn measured by SRXRF were translated in concentrations (in g of heavy metal/g of enamel) using calibration curves by the two analytical methods. Results Concentrations in teeth in the modern females (n = 5) were 1.2 ± 0.5 lg/g (n = 5) for Pb; 1.7 ± 0.2 ng/g for Hg; 0.9 ± 1.1 lg/g for Cu; 150 ± 24.6 lg/g for Zn. The levels of Pb were highest in the teeth samples obtained from the humans of the Edo era (1603-1868 AD) (0.5-4.0 lg/g, n = 4). No trend was observed in this study in the Hg content in teeth during 3,000 years. The concentrations of Cu were highest in teeth of two medieval craftsmen (57.0 and 220 lg/g). The levels of Zn were higher in modern subjects (P \ 0.05) than those in the Jomon (*1000 BC) to Edo periods [113.2 ± 27.4 (lg/g,

No abstract

No abstract

Quantitative analysis of biomedical samples using synchrotron radiation microbeams AIP Conf. Proc. 576, 720 (2001); 10.1063/1.1395409Use of the high-energy X-ray microprobe at the advanced photon source to investigate the interactions between metals and bacteria AIP Conf.Abstract. The environment surrounding human has changed through civilization and industrialization, and through these developments, problems including the pollution from heavy metals such as lead and mercury have arisen. In this study, we analyzed major and trace elements in modern and prehistoric teeth by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis using synchrotron radiation micro beam, in order to assess the changes of the environment through the civilization and the industrialization and their affects to the human. It is suggested that teeth accumulate elements in the mineral phase, hydroxiapatite, during their formation, and because there are no significant turnovers, teeth are concerned to be indicators of the environment of the donor. We first analyzed the elements on the surface of tooth from modern individual and tooth from human remains of Jomon period to assess the heavy metal concentration and effect of the diagenesis. The adhering ground elements on the prehistoric teeth showed high amount of Ti, Fe, Mn and other metallic elements. + Corresponding author: Ari Ide-Ektessabi,