Heavy Metals in Acrylic Color Paints Intended for the School Children Use: A Potential Threat to the Children of Early Age

Heavy metals are the harmful elements, regarded as carcinogens. Nevertheless, owing to their physical and chemical properties, they are still used in the production of several commercial products. Utilization of such products increases the chance for the exposure of heavy metals, some of them are categorized as probable human carcinogens (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure of heavy metals to school children at early age can result severe life time health issues and high chance of emerging cancer. Thus, we have performed study relating to the presence of heavy metals in acrylic color paints commonly used by the school children. Acrylic paints of different colors were assayed for seven potential heavy metals manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) using microwave digestion and iCAPQ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) system. The optimized method including paints digestion reagents nitric acid (HNO₃, 65%, 5 mL) and hydrofluoric acid (HF, 40%, 2 mL) have offered excellent method performance with recovery values ranged between 99.33% and 105.67%. The elements were identified in all of the analyzed samples with concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 372.59 µg/g. Cd constitutes the lower percentage (0.05%), whereas Zn constitutes high ratio contribution which was tremendously high (68.33%). Besides, the paints contamination was also color specific, with considerably total heavy metal concentrations found in brunt umber (526.57 µg/g) while scarlet color (12.62 µg/g) contained lower amounts. The outcomes of our investigation highlight the necessity for guidelines addressing the heavy metals in acrylic color paints intended for the school children usage.     

Identification and quantification of the antipsychotics risperidone,aripiprazole, pipamperone and their major metabolites in plasma using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

The antipsychotics risperidone, aripiprazole and pipamperone are frequently prescribed for the treatment in children with autism. The aim of this study was to validate an ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the quantification of these antipsychotics in plasma. An ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry assay was developed for the determination of the drugs and metabolites. Gradient elution was performed on a reversed‐phase column with a mobile phase consisting of ammonium acetate, formic acid in methanol or in Milli‐Q ultrapure water at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The method was validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The analytes were found to be stable enough after reconstitution and injection of only 5 μL improved the accuracy and precision in combination with the internal standard. Calibration curves of all five analytes were linear. All analytes were stable for at least 72 h in the autosampler and the high quality control of 9‐OH‐risperidone was stable for 48 h. The method allows quantification of all analytes. The advantage of this method is the combination of a minimal injection volume, a short run‐time, an easy sample preparation method and the ability to quantify all analytes in one run. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deuterium dilution technique for body composition assessment: resolving methodological issues in children with moderate acute malnutrition

Childhood malnutrition is highly prevalent and associated with high mortality risk. In observational and interventional studies among malnourished children, body composition is increasingly recognised as a key outcome. The deuterium dilution technique has generated high-quality data on body composition in studies of infants and young children in several settings, but its feasibility and accuracy in children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition requires further study. Prior to a large nutritional intervention trial among children with moderate acute malnutrition, we conducted pilot work to develop and adapt the deuterium dilution technique. We refined procedures for administration of isotope doses and collection of saliva. Furthermore, we established that equilibration time in local context is 3?h. These findings and the resulting standard operating procedures are important to improve data quality when using the deuterium dilution technique in malnutrition studies in field conditions, and may encourage a wider use of isotope techniques.     

光化学柱后衍生–高效液相色谱法测定婴幼儿营养米粉中的黄曲霉毒素B1

建立婴幼儿营养米粉中黄曲霉毒素B1的高效液相色谱荧光检测器测定方法。样品以甲醇–水(体积比70∶30)溶液匀质提取,过黄曲霉毒素B1免疫层析亲和柱净化,经CNW Athena C18色谱柱分离和光化学柱后衍生反应器衍生后,用带有荧光检测器的高效液相色谱仪测定。采用峰面积外标法定量黄曲霉毒素B1含量。黄曲霉毒素B1在0～10μg/L的浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.999 8,检出限为0.25μg/kg。在3个添加水平下加标回收率为97.7%～106.9%,测定结果的相对标准偏差为1.7%(n=6)。该方法的灵敏度、准确度、精密度均符合黄曲霉毒素B1的检测技术要求,适用于婴幼儿营养米粉中黄曲霉毒素B1的日常检测。     

缺锌对儿童健康的影响

综述了缺锌对儿童健康的影响,包括:缺锌与儿童生长发育、免疫力、儿童智力、厌食等的关系.     

南城县学龄儿童发锌水平的研究

采用原子吸收光谱法测定了南城县城关小学540名6－14岁学龄儿童头发中锌的水平。将所得数据在计算机上进行统计分析。结果表明，本资料属非正态性资料，样本中位数为108．3×10-6，其中男性为103.85×10－6，女性为111．5×10－6。男女间有显著差别。年龄与发锌值之间呈正相关。     

气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱稳定同位素稀释法测定被动吸烟儿童尿液中的可丁宁

建立了被动吸烟儿童尿液中可丁宁的气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱（GC-MS/MS）稳定同位素稀释测定方法。尿液经过三氯甲烷提取、净化,采用气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱多反应监测（MRM）模式测定,以可丁宁-d₃稳定同位素为内标,定量测定和确证被动吸烟儿童尿液中的可丁宁;在0.1~10 μg/L可丁宁质量浓度范围内方法的线性关系良好,相关系数r>0.998;空白尿液中添加可丁宁0.1、1.0和10 μg/L,回收率为79.2%~112.8%,相对标准偏差在2.1%~5.8%之间;方法定量限达到0.1 μg/L。该方法准确、灵敏、快速,适用于家庭被动吸烟儿童尿液中可丁宁的测定。     

广州员村地区0～6岁109例儿童发铅含量的调查分析

通过对广州员村１０９名０～６岁儿童发铅含量测定，结果发现各年龄组儿童发铅超标严重，男、女间及各年龄组间无明显差异。结论：重视铅污染对儿童健康的危害，加强对铅污染的普查及防治。     

湖南省湘潭市1038例儿童血铅调查

于 2 0 0 0年 3月～ 2 0 0 1年 6月在湖南省湘潭市对 1 0 38例 1～ 8岁儿童进行了血铅抽样调查。结果显示 2 85例儿童血铅 >1 0 0 μg/L ,占调查人数的 2 7 7%。男女童之间血铅水平无显著差异P >0 0 5。高血铅年龄分布在 2岁组、 6岁年龄组 ,与其他年龄组比较有显著差异P <0 0 5。工业区儿童血铅水平高于市中心区P <0 0 1 ,农村郊区儿童血铅水平最低。本调查为湖南湘潭地区环境治理提供了科学依据。     

367名幼儿智力发育与血中五种元素相关性分析

为探讨血铜、锌、钙、镁、铁5种元素对儿童智力的影响及其相关性,采用首都儿科研究所编制的0—6岁儿童神经心理发育量表,对367名2—4岁儿童进行现场智力测试并对抚养人进行问卷调查;采集其指尖末梢血,运用原子吸收光谱仪检测了儿童血铜、锌、钙、镁、铁5种元素含量。结果表明,调查对象血铜、锌、钙、镁、铁5种元素低下,检出率分别为25．1％、76．6％、5．7％、1．4％、37．1％,城乡儿童全血铜、锌、钙存在明显差异（P〈0．05）;儿童智力低下检出率为2．4％,儿童智能发育与其年龄、母亲文化水平、是否接受学前教育、血锌、铁呈正相关,与血钙、铜呈负相关。提示该地区2—4岁儿童血铜、锌、铁低下检出率较高,智能发育总体较为合理,但受血铜、锌、铁等多种因素影响,提高父母文化素质,加强儿童早期教育及营养有助于促进儿童智能发育。