Determination of Trace Elements in Human Tissues. II. Chromium in the Pancreas and in Raw and Commercial Sugar

Abstract

Human pancreases obtained at autopsy have been analyzed for chromium using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both the original sample and the lipid-free sample of 21 pancreases have been digested by means of low temperature plasma ashing. Chromium levels are reported for the following categories of subjects: arteriosclerotic heart disease (5); carcinoma (5); diabetes mellitus (4); cirrhosis of the liver (3); other diseases (4).

Trace chromium determination by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following enrichment by extraction

“…Good results for chromium in serum (3,4), in wheat (5), and in pancreas and sugar products (2) have been obtained by GFAA without preliminary chemical separation. However, recent interlaboratory comparisons of chromium analyses showed quite poor agreement (6,7).…”