Preconcentration and XRF-determination of heavy metals in hair from Sudanese populations

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis was applied for the analysis of hair. The hair samples were digested in a mixture of nitric and perchloric acid and the heavy metals were precipitated with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. The accuracy, precision and recovery of the method for the elements Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were evaluated through the analysis of a standard hair sample. The procedure was applied to the analysis of hair from an occupationally exposed group of Sudanese workers and a control group. The hair of the exposed group showed a range of 80–550 ppm Fe, 6–12 ppm Cu, 57–190 ppm Zn and 70–3700 ppm Pb, while that of the control group had a range of 60–310 ppm Fe, 7–22 ppm Cu, 89–170 ppm Zn and 3–17 ppm Pb.     

Determination of trace elements in hair of some local population in Iran by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Scalp hair samples from 100 individual residents in Isfahan, Iran were analyzed for Al, Br, Ca, Cu, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, V, and Zn by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results of this investigation show that the ranges of the concentration of trace elements in hair are somewhat wide, for example Mg has the range of 20 to 209 ppm for 100 subjects. The results are compared with the data reported in the literatures. A substantive correspondence between the present data and literature values from different countries, have been observed but they did not show any regular dependence. The level of iodine is significantly different from other countries and is strongly linked to local environmental factors. The correlation coefficient for Al–V, Mn–Al, Ca–Mg, and V–Mg pairs was 0.823, 0.821, 0.830 and 0.746, respectively.     

Mercury content of hair from normal and poisoned persons

Several hundred samples of human head hair were analyzed to establish the range and variation of mercury concentration in “normal” people and in persons ingesting organic mercury compounds. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used. The 77 keV line of¹⁹⁷Hg was counted on a Ge(Li) detector. The pattern of concentration variation along hair was shown to be a more reliable criterion for hair individualization than average concentration values. The hair mercury contents of “normal” people in uncontaminated areas were 0.1–4 and 1–12 ppm, respectively. People who had ingested a mercury compound but showed no symptoms had hair mercury concentrations of from a few ppm to 300 ppm. Mild symptoms appeared with a 120–600 ppm hair mercury level, moderate with 200–800 ppm, and severe with 400–1600 ppm. There was no correlation with sex or age, except that infants showed more severe symptoms than expected, and people over 55 had mild or no symptoms with hair mercury levels of 1000 ppm and higher.     

Determination of mercury in head hair of Brazilian populational groups by neutron activation analysis

In the present work, determination of mercury in the head hair of populational groups living near a heavily industrialized region in São Paulo and of Indians living in the Xingu park in the Amazonic region, was carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. A control group of people with no suspicion of contamination by mercury was also studied. The range of mercury concentrations found up to now were: for the control group from 0.26 to 02.5 ppm; for the Indians from 6.9 to 34 ppm, and for the industrialized region inhabitants: from 0.30 to 3.0 ppm.     

Lead in Hair of Children Exposed to Gross Environmental Pollution

Abstract

In the context of a cross-sectional study, concentrations of lead in hair (PbH) were determined by atomic absorption analysis among 263 children aged 1 to 9 years, living less than 900m from a lead smelter in Santo Amaro City, Bahia, Brazil. PbH levels ranged from 20 to 4933 ppm; the median was 349 and the geometric mean was 313 ppm. The mean PbH level was increased among individuals with the following characteristics: female; younger age; shorter distance between residence and smelter; longer residence time in the area; racial group Dark; curly hair; being a child of a lead worker; high lead content in peridomiciliar area. The mean PbH level did not vary markedly according to the child's nutritional status, iron status and the habit of pica. The marked variations in pbH levels point out the feasibility of its use as an epidemiological index in situations of heavy environment pollution.     

Determination of antimony in nail and hair by thermal neutron activation analysis

The concentration of antimony in nail and hair was determined by thermal neutron activation analysis. Samples were collected from the workers of an antimony refinery, inhabitants near the refinery, and residents in control area. They were irradiated by Kyoto University 5 000 kW Reactor for 1 h, and cooled for 30 to 100 days. After cooling, the concentration of Sb in nail and hair was estimated by measuring the intensity of gamma-ray from 124Sb of the samples, then the samples were washed by 0.1% aqueous solution of nonionic surface active agent in an ultrasonic cleaner. The gamma-ray spectrometry was done again (after washing). The concentration of Sb in nail before washing was 730 ppm for the workers, 2.46 ppm for habitants near the refinery, and 0.19 ppm for the control; after washing, it became 230 ppm for the workers, 0.63 ppm for habitants, and 0.09 ppm for the control. The concentration of Sb in hair before and after washing was 222 ppm and 196 ppm for the workers, and 0.21 ppm and 0.15 ppm for the control, respectively.     

Der Mangangehalt des Haares,ein Kriterium für die Bewertung des Expositions Risikos der Elektroschweißer

Manganese has been determined in the hair of welders and not exposed subjects by means of INNA. Geometric mean for non welders was (1.4×2.1) ppm and for welders (7.0×2.3) ppm. Manganese values correlated well with daily welding time, working place conditions and welding procedure. Correlations were weak for years of exposure and age. While for some clinical data relations to manganese concentrations could be shown by analysis of mean values, there were no significant coefficients of correlation between manganese content in the hair and lung function data.      

Solubility of ozone in some flourocarbon solvents

The solubilities of ozone 0-6 Wt% in air or oxygen, in 14 Fluorocarbon solvents have been determined at ambient temperature. Solubilities ranged from 50 to 700 ppm (wt) for a gas phase 0₃ concentration of 6 Wt%. Compounds with 0₃ solubilities <130 ppm (wt), exhibited approximate Henry's Law behavior, whereas those compounds with O₃ solubilities >200 ppm (wt) showed apprarent marked Henry's Law deviations.     

Dynamic interaction between the growing Ca–P minerals and bacterial cellulose nanofibers during early biomineralization process

Bone is a composite of organic phase (collagen nanofibers) and Ca–P minerals (hydroxylapatite) and an important biological structure in the field of biomineralization, but the interaction between organic matrixes and inorganic minerals is still too ambiguous. In order to investigate the interaction between the growing Ca–P minerals and organic nanofibers during early biomineralization process, bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers were used as templates to mimic collagen nanofibers for Ca–P minerals deposition via biomineralization for periods from as short as 4–72 h. Our findings pointed out that the resultant Ca–P minerals formed on BC nanofibers were platelet-like calcium-deficient HAp which was analogous to those in natural bone tissue. Strikingly, we found that the growth of Ca–P minerals had influence on the structure and properties of BC nano-templates during biomineralization process.     

Tracking human travel using stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses of hair and urine

The stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of organic samples are increasingly being used to investigate patterns of animal migration. Relatively few studies have applied these techniques to modern humans, despite a variety of potential forensic applications. We analyzed drinking water and food at two geographic locations, East Greenbush, New York (USA) and Fairbanks, Alaska (USA), with different delta(18)O and deltaD values for precipitation and tap water. Foods varied widely in measured delta(18)O and deltaD values, but not systematically by purchase location. We measured delta(18)O and deltaD values of scalp hair from five residents at each location. We used a mixing model to establish the proportion of oxygen and hydrogen in head hair derived from drinking water ( approximately 27% and approximately 36%, respectively). Finally, we analyzed the delta(18)O and deltaD values of facial hair and urine from a subject who traveled from Fairbanks to East Greenbush, on to the UK and back to Fairbanks. Urine delta(18)O and deltaD values responded immediately and strongly to travel-related change in drinking water, and were well described by a single-pool turnover model. Beard hair delta(18)O values tracked changes in urine delta(18)O closely, and oscillated between the values for the resident populations in both locations. In contrast, beard hair deltaD values did not track changes in urine deltaD as well, and retained a signature of the traveler's permanent residence. Our findings show that the delta(18)O and deltaD values of urine and facial hair (specifically delta(18)O) can provide a record of the geographical movements of humans.     

Spectrometric analysis of nitrogen in steel with D.C. arc in the vacuum ultraviolet

Summary A spectrometric determination of nitrogen in steel was performed with d.c. arc excitation in the vacuum ultraviolet region. Two nitrogen spectral lines, 1,742 Å and 1,745 Å, were utilized for the determination of nitrogen using C I 1,930 Å as internal standard in the wave-length region of 1,200–2,000 Å. In argon atmosphere (700 mm Hg, 28 A arc current) and in helium atmosphere (700 mm Hg, 30 A arc current) nitrogen could be determined below 50 ppm after a pre-arcing time of 100 sec. Better reproducibility could be obtained with the line 1,745 Å rather than with 1,742 Å.

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Zusammenfassung Zur Bestimmung von Stickstoff in Stählen wird eine UV-vakuumspektrometrische Methode mit Gleichstrom-Bogenentladung empfohlen. Zur Anwendung kommen die Stickstofflinien 1742 Å und 1745 Å mit der inneren Standardlinie C I 1930 Å. Unter Argon- (700 mm Hg; 28 A Bogenstrom) oder unter Heliumatmosphäre (700 mm Hg; 30 A Bogenstrom) konnten Stickstoffmengen unter 50 ppm nach einer Vorentladungszeit von 100 sec bestimmt werden. Die Linie 1745 Å ergab eine bessere Reproduzierbarkeit als 1742 Å.

     

Comparison of Targeted and Untargeted Approaches in Breath Analysis for the Discrimination of Lung Cancer from Benign Pulmonary Diseases and Healthy Persons

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of targeted and untargeted breath analysis in the discrimination of lung cancer (Ca+) patients from healthy people (HC) and patients with benign pulmonary diseases (Ca−). Exhaled breath samples from 49 Ca+ patients, 36 Ca− patients and 52 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by an SPME–GC–MS method. Untargeted treatment of the acquired data was performed with the use of the web-based platform XCMS Online combined with manual reprocessing of raw chromatographic data. Machine learning methods were applied to estimate the efficiency of breath analysis in the classification of the participants. Results: Untargeted analysis revealed 29 informative VOCs, from which 17 were identified by mass spectra and retention time/retention index evaluation. The untargeted analysis yielded slightly better results in discriminating Ca+ patients from HC (accuracy: 91.0%, AUC: 0.96 and accuracy 89.1%, AUC: 0.97 for untargeted and targeted analysis, respectively) but significantly improved the efficiency of discrimination between Ca+ and Ca− patients, increasing the accuracy of the classification from 52.9 to 75.3% and the AUC from 0.55 to 0.82. Conclusions: The untargeted breath analysis through the inclusion and utilization of newly identified compounds that were not considered in targeted analysis allowed the discrimination of the Ca+ from Ca− patients, which was not achieved by the targeted approach.     

Determination of copper(II) based on its catalytic effect on thiosemicarbazide-H(2)O(2)-CTMAB chemiluminescence reaction

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) reaction, thiosemicarbazide (TSC)–H₂O₂, for the determination of copper at nanogram per milliliter level in batch type is described. The method is based on the catalytic effect of copper(II) on the oxidation of TSC with hydrogen peroxide to produce light emission. The emitted light was observed by using a conventional fluorescence detector. In the optimum conditions, calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.1–1.3 ppm. The limit of detection was 10 ppb. The relative standard deviation for five determinations of 0.5 ppm copper(II) was 1.93%. The proposed method permitted the selective and sensitive determination of Cu(II) in human hair and wheat flour with sufficient precision. The possible mechanism for the new chemiluminescence reaction was also discussed.     

A rapid,simple method for the determination of total mercury in fish and hair by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

Fuming nitric acid and acidified potassium permanganate are used to pre-digest fish or hair samples in Pyrex culture tubes. Cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry is used to detect the elemental mercury which is generated by reduction in a syringe. The absolute detection limit of the method is 0.66 ng Hg, and at levels of 0.14 and 0.60 parts per million (ppm) the standard deviations are ± 0.009 and ±0.008 ppm, respectively. One person can handle batches of 50–100 samples per day including standards and blanks.     

Efficiency and mechanism of phosphorous antioxidants in Phillips type polyethylene

The stabilising efficiency of three phosphorous secondary antioxidants of different chemical structures (phosphonite, phosphite and phosphine) was compared in a Phillips type polyethylene. The polymer was processed by six consecutive extrusions in the presence of 700 ppm primary antioxidant and 700 ppm phosphorous compound. The consumption of the secondary antioxidant was followed quantitatively by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The properties of the polymer were characterised by FTIR spectroscopy, colour and rheological measurements, as well as by the determination of its residual thermo-oxidative stability. The results of the experiments proved that the chemical reactions occurring in the first extrusion of the polymer are different from those taking place in the further processing operations. The rate of antioxidant consumption and the chemical reactions of the polymer are strongly affected by the type of the phosphorous secondary antioxidant. The analysis of the results indicated that the three stabilisers must act according to different mechanisms. The investigated phosphine showed the best melt stabilising efficiency, while phosphonite was found to protect the polymer most effectively from discoloration.     

Enzymatic-like mediated olefins epoxidation by molecular oxygen under mild conditions

Highly efficient epoxidation of olefins by molecular oxygen with catalytic amount of manganese meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (Mn(TPP)) at the ppm level were reported. The catalyst conferred high activity and selectivity for the olefins epoxidation under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The turnover number (TON) of the catalyst could reach up to 700 million, which is comparable to enzyme catalysis.     

Arsenic content of hair and bones in the case of the suspected poisoning of R. Brun,first mayor of the city of Zurich

On the occasion of the 1970 opening of the grave of R. Brun, which is suspected to have been poisoned in 1360, samples of hair, bones and soil were taken and analysed for arsenic by neutron activation. Whereas the arsenic content of the hair was normal (0.2 to 0.3 ppm), the bones gave results of approximately 2 ppm, which is far above the value expected for healthy people (approximately 0.1 ppm). However, bones from the same grave (but not belonging to the suspected victim showed similar high values. These high values are thought to be due to an arsenic uptake from the soil and the evidence for an arsenic poisoning is under these circumstances rejected.     

An Improved Synthesis of 1, 4-Dithiaspiro [4.5] Decan-8-One (Cyclohexane-1, 4-Dione Monothioacetal)

Abstract

Recent experiments have shown that monobasic chromophoric crown ethers have very selective extraction behavior making them useful as analytical organic reagents.^(1–6) The chromogenic crown ethers are synthesized by reacting a chromophore like picryl chloride to an aminobenzo crown ether. One such compound 2″4″-dinitro-6-trifluoromethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5 (1) exhibits linear response to K⁺ from 700-5ppm in the presence of 3000ppm Na⁺.     

4－（2－氨基噻唑）－间苯二酚为柱前衍化剂液相色谱／电化学检测Fe、Co、Ni

４－（２－氨基噻唑）－间苯二酚为柱前衍化剂液相色谱／电化学检测Ｆｅ、Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ格日勒，李惠梅，李南强，汪尔康（中国科学院长春应用化学研究所电分析化学开放实验室，北京大学化学系，长春，１３００２２）关键词液相色谱，Ｆｅ，Ｃｏ，Ｎｉ，４－（２－氨基噻唑）...     

PIXE法分析共聚物中痕量氯

四氟乙烯和全氟4-甲基-3,6-二氧杂-△~7辛基磺酰氟在溶剂氟里昂-113(F-113)中进行自由基引发聚合反应时,共聚物(T-O)是否有链转移,可以通过测定所得共聚物中的含氯量来得以证实。我们首次应用质子X萤光分析法(PIXE)进行分析。结果表明,共聚物中含氯量小于1ppm,F-113溶剂并未发生链转移。同时,我们测定了已证明有F-113参与链转移反应的F_(40)试样,含氯量高达700ppm。