Human teeth elemental profiles measured by synchrotron x‐ray fluorescence: dietary habits and environmental influence

Abstract

This paper reports on the measurements of elemental profiles in teeth collected from two different populations, both living in isolated Portuguese islands of the Azores: S. Miguel and Terceira. Both populations are good producers of cattle, in spite of the proximity of the sea. The purpose of this work was to establish the influence of basic diet, based on meat, fish and dairy products, on teeth elemental content. Moreover, for a few elements, the differences between concentrations in corresponding regions of teeth was correlated with the proximity of the sea for the subjects of one of the islands. An x-ray fluorescence set-up with microprobe capabilities, installed at the LURE synchrotron (France), was used for elemental determination. The resolution of the synchrotron microprobe was 100 µm and the energy of the incident photons was 18 keV. Concentration profiles of Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and Pb in different parts of a tooth are discussed and correlated for both populations. The teeth collected for both populations show a similar behaviour with respect to the elemental distribution. Mn and Cu occur at low concentrations and they are almost constant in all the studied parts of teeth. The content of Sr is higher in the external enamel while the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Br and Pb increase in the inner part of the teeth. However, the contents of Br and Pb are different in the two populations. Higher levels of both elements were found in Terceira subjects. Moreover, the Sr concentration levels indicate that the diet of the studied individuals is richer in meat than in fish.

Bioelements and mineral matter in human livers from the highly industrialized region of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin (Poland)

“…For example, bioapatite (hydroxyapatite Ca 5 [PO 4 ]OH) is the main mineral building vertebrate bones and teeth (Skinner et al 1972). Bioapatite, like geoapatite, contains SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , FeO, MnO, MgO, CaO, SrO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , SO 3 , CO 2 , F, and Cl (Rink and Swarcz 1995;Carvalho et al 2001;Brown et al 2002).…”

X-ray microprobe synchroton radiation X-ray fluorescence application on human teeth of renal insufficiency patients

“…Micro-elemental concentration distribution in human enamel teeth was determined by FAAS and ETA-AAS [9]. Human teeth were also studied by synchrotron microprobe for environmental influence and dietary habits [10,11].…”

Comparison of Bone Tissue Elements Between Normal and Osteoarthritic Pelvic Bones in Dogs

“…Given the prevalence of bone and joint problems in many species, both domestic and nondomestic, XRF has the potential to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of a myriad of conditions. Element Abbreviation (Atomic Number) Mg magnesium (12), Si silicon (14), P phosphorous (15), Ca calcium (20), Mn manganese (25), Fe iron (26), Zn zinc (30), Ag silver (47), Cd cadmium (48), Sn tin (50), Sb antimony (51), Bi bismuth (83), LE light element; hydrogen (1)-sodium (11).…”

“…So, to increase our knowledge of the pathophysiology of OA, we investigated the percentage of elements in canine pelvic bones with differing degrees of OA using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. Xray fluorescence is used for routine, relatively nondestructive chemical analyses of rocks, minerals, sediments, and fluids and can provide important information on the elemental components of various biological sample types such as bone [9,10], teeth [9,11], and antler [12].…”