Evaluation of arsenic, cobalt, copper and manganese in biological Samples of Steel mill workers by electrothermal atomic absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The determination of trace and toxic elements in biological samples (blood, urine and scalp hair samples) of human beings is an important clinical test. The aim of our present study was to determine the concentration of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn), in biological samples of male production workers (PW) and quality control workers (QW) of steel mill, with aged 25-55 years, to assess the possible influence of environmental exposure. For comparison purpose, the same biological samples of unexposed healthy males of same age group were collected as control subjects. The determination of all elements in biological samples was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The accuracy of the As, Cu, Co and Mn measurements was tested by simultaneously analyzing certified reference materials (CRMs) and for comparative purposes conventional wet acid digestion method was used on the same CRMs. No significant differences were observed between the analytical results and the certified values, using both methods (paired t-test at P > 0.05). The results indicate that concentrations of As, Cu, Co and Mn in all three biological samples of the exposed workers (QW and PW) were significantly higher than those of the controls. The possible correlation of these elements with the etiology of different physiological disorders is discussed. The results were also demonstrated the need of attention for improvements in workplace, ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.

Cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel concentrations in blood of women in non-polluted areas in Japan, as determined by inductively coupled plasma-sector field-mass spectrometry

“…The Cr level, 0.55 lg/l, would probably be comparable to other values except for two extremely high values of 74.9 lg/l by Afridi et al (2006) and 29 lg/l by Sathwara et al (2007). The Mn level, 13.2 lg/l, may be somewhat higher than others except for 48.0 lg/l reported by Afridi et al (2009), and the level of Ni, 1.83 lg/l, may probably be comparable to values reported by others (Table 7). Nevertheless, possible contamination with these metals from phlebotomy devices should also be considered as expressed above.…”

“…In the present study, five metals [ i.e., cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb)] of industrial, environmental or clinical importance (e.g., Bader et al 1999;Herber 1999;Ikeda et al 2000a, b;Apostoli et al 2002;Polizzi et al 2002;Muttamara and Leong 2004;Kim et al 2005;Al-Saleh et al 2006;Afridi et al 2006Afridi et al , 2009Ekong et al 2006;Heitland and Köster 2006;Vitayavirasuk et al 2006;Coelho et al 2007;McKelvey et al 2007;Antoniou et al 2008;Bazzi et al 2008;Farzin et al 2008;Gao et al 2008;Jusko et al 2008;Kummrow et al 2008;Bulat et al 2009) were selected, and the levels in the blood of populations in areas with no known anthropogenic environmental metal pollution in Japan were determined by inductively coupled plasmasector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SF-MS), as a sensitive tool for metal analysis at low levels (Schramel et al 1997;Zhang et al 1997;White 1999). For this purpose, women were selected to minimize the effects of smoking.…”

Assessment of environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals in Taranto and other provinces of Southern Italy by means of scalp hair analysis

“…It was also used as an indicator for methyl mercury exposure associated with serious external Hg exposure in people like mercury miners or gold miners/burners (Li et al 2008). HSHA is a good biomarker for occupational exposure to mercury vapor (Li et al 2011) and a useful tool for the monitoring of occupational exposure to heavy metals in steel mill workers (Afridi et al 2006(Afridi et al , 2009(Afridi et al , 2015.…”

Using Permeable Reactive Barriers to Remediate Heavy Metal-Contaminated Groundwater through a Laboratory Column Experiment

“…Many researchers have found that though some of the metals play as essential micronutrients for living beings, most heavy metals at higher concentrations give extremely harmful effects to humans, animals and plants because of their high toxicity and biological accumulation in the body (Soylak et al, 1999;Arain et al, 2008;Kazi et al, 2009;Afridi et al, 2009;Bermudez et al, 2011). Moreover, heavy metals may cause diseases to humans such as lung damage, renal damage, Wilson's disease (neurological or psychiatric symptoms of liver disease, compounded with heavy metal deposits), insomnia, dermatitis, nausea, chronic asthma, headache, dizziness, rapid respiration, coughing and cancer, etc.…”