An Analytical Procedure for the Determination of Cadmium in Human Placentae

Abstract

Cadmium was determined in human placental tissue by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Several sampling, homogenizing and decomposition procedures were tested with regard to their suitability for flameless AAS. Main criteria involved recovery, representativity contamination, accuracy and precision. Analysis of biological reference materials yielded results in agreement with reported certified values or grand means. A sampling strategy was developed based on expected placental distribution patterns of the metal. The sampling method used appeared to be satisfactorily representative of the organ as a whole. During 1978 and 1979 placentae were collected from mothers living in the Amsterdam area in the Netherlands. Mean placental cadmium levels of smokers (66 +/- 33 ng/g dry weight) appeared to be slightly elevated compared to those of non-smokers (51 +/- 20 ng/g).

Cadmium reduces 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity and expression in human placental trophoblast cells

“…In human placental tissues, the amount of cadmium was 12-535 and 6 -270 ng/g in women from high [occupationally exposed or living in areas highly polluted by battery, smelters, or refineries (2,5,18)] and low (18,19,22,23,41) environmental exposures, respectively. Furthermore, mothers who smoked during pregnancy had significantly increased cadmium levels, approximately doubled that for nonsmoking mothers (9,19,37,75). Thus the concentrations of cadmium found in human placenta in the general population (including both smokers and nonsmokers) are within those (0.25-1 M ϭ 45-180 ng/ml) that reduce placental 11␤-HSD2 activity and expression in the present study, supporting a role for the decreased placental 11␤-HSD2 in cadmium-induced FGR in the human.…”

A study of the distribution of aluminium in human placental tissues based on alkaline solubilization with determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

“…The placenta body was homogenized, due to its large size34 and known heterogeneous distribution of some trace metals,35-41 with a Stomacher 400 homogenizer (Seward, Worthing, UK). All three tissue components were freeze-dried (VirTis, Gardiner, NY; LABCONCO Corporation, Kansas City, MO, USA) using a slow, five-segment drying program that did not exceed room temperature.…”

“…Placenta samples were washed with double-deionized (DI) water, and divided into placenta body, placenta membrane, and umbilical cord with a tantalum knife. The placenta body was homogenized, due to its large size 34 and known heterogeneous distribution of some trace metals, [35][36][37][38][39][40][41] with a Stomacher 400 homogenizer (Seward, Worthing, UK). All three tissue components were freeze-dried (VirTis, Gardiner, NY; LABCONCO Corporation, Kansas City, MO, USA) using a slow, five-segment drying program that did not exceed room temperature.…”