Analysis of Occurrence of Elements in Tissues of the Knee Joint

The mineral structure of bones is never static, it is a living structure, reacting and adapting to load and having the ability to remodel. Skeletal cells work continuously to maintain the remodelling process therefore they are in a constant state of dynamic balance both in the sense of composition and structure, and they react to external mechanical forces. The remodelling processes that occur in the bone tissue allow for a proper functioning of this tissue, as well as for inclusion of additional elements, toxic ones included, in the remodelled bone, and they affect the metabolic processes occurring therein. This may result in disturbances in the osteoarticular system, manifested by changes in the bone tissue and within other organs. The influence of tobacco smoking on the content of strontium, lead, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and magnesium has not been confirmed. Non-smokers showed a high iron content in knee joint tissues compared to smokers. There were no statistically significant differences in the content of cadmium, nickel, copper and zinc in women and men in the studied knee joint components. With age, an increase in the content of chromium in knee joint tissues was observed, while gender, place of residence and occupational exposure had no effect

Analysis of Mercury Content in Various Types of Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

Due to the content of active ingredients, teas can be used prophylactically, but most of all they are consumed for taste reasons. As with food or water, these products can be contaminated with heavy metals, including mercury. Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element, it causes many side effects in the human body depending on the form of Hg, which can include respiratory failure, kidney damage, neurological disorders. At the cellular level, Hg and its compounds lead to a disturbance of metabolism and cell death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the mercury concentration of tea (Camellia sinensis) and Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis). Eighty-six samples were collected and analyzed, including the following kinds: black, green, white, Pu-erh, and Yerba Mate. The samples came from Poland. The Hg concentration was determined with an AMA 254 atomic absorption spectrometer. The study showed that the Hg content in each tea sample averaged 2.47 μg/kg. The Hg concentration in the tested types of tea differed significantly statistically (p = 0.000). It was the largest in Yerba Mate, followed by green, Pu-erh, and white tea, and was the smallest in black tea. Statistically significant differences in the Hg content (p = 0.004) were also dependent on the form of the product; in leaf tea samples, the concentration of Hg (2.54 µg/kg) was higher than in tea bags (1.16 µg/kg). The Hg concentration determined in the tested samples does not exceed the permitted EU standard. Consuming these teas poses no health risk in terms of the amount of Hg

The Mercury Concentration in Spice Plants

Spice plants are popularly used as ingredients in food products. Promoting healthy eating, paying attention to the quality of products, means that organic and self-produced ingredients, whose origin and growing conditions are known, are gaining popularity. The study determined the concentration of mercury (Hg) in popular leafy spice plants: peppermint (Mentha piperita), common basil (Ocimum basilicum), lovage (Levisticum officinale) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Self-grown spices and ready-made commercial products were selected for the study. The Hg content in the test samples was determined by the AAS method (AMA 254, Altec, Praha, Czech Republic). The range of Hg content in the tested spice samples ranged from 1.20 to 17.35 µg/kg, on average 6.95 µgHg/kg. The highest concentration of Hg was recorded in the peppermint, 9.39 µg/kg. In plants grown independently, the concentration of Hg was statistically significantly higher than in commercial products purchased in a store. There were no differences in the concentration of Hg in organic and non-organic spices. Commercial spices defined by producers as organic products did not differ statistically significantly in the level of Hg content from non-organic products

Analysis of the Mercury Content in Fish for Human Consumption in Poland

Mercury (Hg) is a metal with toxic effects on the environment, including living organisms. Organic Hg derivatives readily penetrate biological membranes and pose a particular health risk. Food of aquatic origin is the main source of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). In Poland, the consumption of fishery and aquaculture products has been gradually increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the content of Hg in fish intended for human consumption and purchased in Poland. The total Hg content of the edible parts of different species of marine and freshwater fish was analysed. The range of Hg content in all fish was 0.004–0.827 mg/kg, with an arithmetic mean of 0.084 mg/kg. The concentration of Hg in marine fish (0.100 mg/kg) was higher than in freshwater fish (0.063 mg/kg). The highest concentration of Hg was found in tuna. The Estimated Hazard Quotient (EHQ) calculated for the tuna samples analysed was >1. This may represent a potential health risk for consumers. The consumption of the other fish analysed was considered safe on the basis of the EHQ. The Hg content of the analysed fish samples did not exceed the current limits for food

Oznaczanie zawartości rtęci w witaminowych i mineralnych suplementach diety

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplements are increasingly more frequently used to increase the daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals. These preparations are classified as a special category of foods and are subject to food law, not pharmaceutical regulations. As a result, the requirements for dietary supplements are much less restrictive than to medi-cations. The aim of study was to determine the level of mercury in multivitamin and multimineral preparations and to analyze the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included 22 dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals available on the Polish market. Mercury was analyzed with an AAS using AMA 254. RESULTS: The concentrations of Hg were 0.22–5.85 μg/kg (the average content was 2.40 μg/kg). The highest average mercury content was 4.51 μg/kg, whereas the lowest one was 0.31 μg/kg. The results were also analyzed in individual groups depending on the main component and indication for use as well as pharmaceutical formulation. Furthermore, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the dose of mercury taken with a single medicine was estimated for time of a day, a week, a month, 3 months and also a year. The findings were compared to the limits defined in the regula-tions of the European Union and PTWI set by the JECFA to assess the health risk. The results presented in this study proved that the amount of mercury in the tested dietary supplements is much lower than the value of valid regulations. CONCLUSIONS:As long as they are used with the recommendation of manufacturer, the analyzed supplements do not pose a threat to human health.WSTĘP: Suplementy diety to produkty coraz częściej wybierane jako łatwy sposób na uzupełnienie niedoborów witamin i minerałów w codziennej diecie. Są to środki spożywcze podlegające prawu żywnościowemu a nie farmaceutycz-nemu, co przekłada się na znacznie mniejsze wymagania niż w przypadku leków. Również prosta i niekosztowna procedura ich rejestracji sprawia, że każdego roku zwiększa się liczba dostępnych preparatów. Celem pracy było oznaczenie zawartości rtęci w witaminowo-mineralnych suplementach diety oraz analiza uzyskanych wyników. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Do badania wybrano 22 suplementy diety dostępne na polskim rynku, zawierające w swoim składzie witaminy i minerały. W zebranych próbkach oznaczono zawartość rtęci przy użyciu spektrometru absorpcji atomowej AMA 254. WYNIKI: Zawartość rtęci mieściła się w zakresie 0,22–5,85μg/kg. Najwięcej rtęci – 4,51μg/kg – występowało w preparacie uzupełniającym poziom cynku i miedzi. Najmniejsza zawartość wynosiła 0,31μg/kg w preparacie witaminowo-mineralnym. Uzyskane wyniki analizowano w poszczególnych grupach suplementów diety w zależności od składnika głównego i wskazań do stosowania oraz od postaci farmaceutycznej. Obliczono także dzienne pobranie rtęci przy maksymalnych zalecanych dawkach w ciągu dnia, miesiąca, 3 miesięcy oraz roku. Uzyskane oznaczenia porównano z obowiązującym w krajach Unii Europejskiej maksymalnym dopuszczalnym poziomem zawartości rtęci w suplementach diety oraz tymczasowym tygodniowym pobraniem PTWI, ustalonym przez JECFA. WNIOSKI:Przeprowadzona analiza wykazała, że poziom zawartości rtęci w badanych suplementach diety witaminowo-mineralnych nie został przekroczony. Stosowanie tych preparatów w ilości zalecanej przez producenta nie stwarza ryzyka dla zdrowia

Oznaczanie zawartości rtęci w witaminowych i mineralnych suplementach diety

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplements are increasingly more frequently used to increase the daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals. These preparations are classified as a special category of foods and are subject to food law, not pharmaceutical regulations. As a result, the requirements for dietary supplements are much less restrictive than to medi-cations. The aim of study was to determine the level of mercury in multivitamin and multimineral preparations and to analyze the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included 22 dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals available on the Polish market. Mercury was analyzed with an AAS using AMA 254. RESULTS: The concentrations of Hg were 0.22–5.85 μg/kg (the average content was 2.40 μg/kg). The highest average mercury content was 4.51 μg/kg, whereas the lowest one was 0.31 μg/kg. The results were also analyzed in individual groups depending on the main component and indication for use as well as pharmaceutical formulation. Furthermore, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the dose of mercury taken with a single medicine was estimated for time of a day, a week, a month, 3 months and also a year. The findings were compared to the limits defined in the regula-tions of the European Union and PTWI set by the JECFA to assess the health risk. The results presented in this study proved that the amount of mercury in the tested dietary supplements is much lower than the value of valid regulations. CONCLUSIONS:As long as they are used with the recommendation of manufacturer, the analyzed supplements do not pose a threat to human health.WSTĘP: Suplementy diety to produkty coraz częściej wybierane jako łatwy sposób na uzupełnienie niedoborów witamin i minerałów w codziennej diecie. Są to środki spożywcze podlegające prawu żywnościowemu a nie farmaceutycznemu, co przekłada się na znacznie mniejsze wymagania niż w przypadku leków. Również prosta i niekosztowna procedura ich rejestracji sprawia, że każdego roku zwiększa się liczba dostępnych preparatów. Celem pracy było oznaczenie zawartości rtęci w witaminowo-mineralnych suplementach diety oraz analiza uzyskanych wyników. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Do badania wybrano 22 suplementy diety dostępne na polskim rynku, zawierające w swoim składzie witaminy i minerały. W zebranych próbkach oznaczono zawartość rtęci przy użyciu spektrometru absorpcji atomowej AMA 254. WYNIKI: Zawartość rtęci mieściła się w zakresie 0,22–5,85μg/kg. Najwięcej rtęci – 4,51μg/kg – występowało w preparacie uzupełniającym poziom cynku i miedzi. Najmniejsza zawartość wynosiła 0,31μg/kg w preparacie witaminowo-mineralnym. Uzyskane wyniki analizowano w poszczególnych grupach suplementów diety w zależności od składnika głównego i wskazań do stosowania oraz od postaci farmaceutycznej. Obliczono także dzienne pobranie rtęci przy maksymalnych zalecanych dawkach w ciągu dnia, miesiąca, 3 miesięcy oraz roku. Uzyskane oznaczenia porównano z obowiązującym w krajach Unii Europejskiej maksymalnym dopuszczalnym poziomem zawartości rtęci w suplementach diety oraz tymczasowym tygodniowym pobraniem PTWI, ustalonym przez JECFA. WNIOSKI:Przeprowadzona analiza wykazała, że poziom zawartości rtęci w badanych suplementach diety witaminowo-mineralnych nie został przekroczony. Stosowanie tych preparatów w ilości zalecanej przez producenta nie stwarza ryzyka dla zdrowia

Mercury Exposure from the Consumption of Dietary Supplements Containing Vegetable, Cod Liver, and Shark Liver Oils

Vegetable and fish oils constitute a significant part of all dietary supplements. Due to increasing environmental pollution, the raw materials used for their production may be contaminated with toxic substances, including metals. The aim of the present study was to determine the mercury (Hg) content in vegetable oils, shark liver oils, and cod liver oils. The tests conducted were to help determine the level of mercury contamination of the tested preparations and the related potential threat to human health. The amount of Hg in the tested dietary supplements was compared, and the amount of the metal consumed at various times of use was determined. A total of 36 preparations of dietary supplements available on the Polish market were used for the study. The method of atomic absorption spectrometry using the amalgamation technique was used for the determinations (AMA 254, Altec, Czech Republic). Among the sample of all of the tested preparations, the Hg concentration ranged from 0.023 to 0.427 µg/kg, with an average of 0.165 µg/kg. Differences in Hg content in the various tested preparations (shark liver oil, cod liver oil, and vegetable oils) were statistically significant. The average concentration of Hg in the vegetable oils (0.218 µg/kg) was more than twice that of the cod liver oils (0.106 µg/kg) and shark liver oils (0.065 µg/kg). In none of the tested preparations did the amount of Hg exceed the acceptable standard for dietary supplements (0.10 mg/kg). The analysis showed that the Hg content in vegetable oils, shark liver oils, and fish oils from the Polish market is at a low level, guaranteeing the safety of their use, and as such, they do not pose a threat to health

Udział dróg migracji wybranych metali w intoksykacji kości osób zamieszkujących region Górnego Śląska

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the paper was to analyze the content of cadmium, manganese, chromium, lead, zinc and copper in the bone tissue of people living in cities in the Upper Silesia Industrial District (Bytom, Katowice, Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, Świętochłowice). It also specifies the relationship between the content of selected metals in the environment and in bone tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample material was collected at the Municipal Hospital in Siemianowice Ślaskie. The study group amounted to 53 heads of femur, including 43 from women and 10 from men. The studied tissues were taken intraoperatively during hip replacement procedures (endoprosthetics). The content of cadmium, manganese, chromium, lead, zinc and copper was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a Pye Unicam SP-9 apparatus. RESULTS: The average content of elements in the femoral heads in an increasing series is as follows: Cd 0.16 < Ni 0.85 < Mn 0.87 < Cu 3.77 < Cr 5.37 < Zn 82.42 (µg/g). CONCLUSIONS: The metal intoxication of bones sourced in suspended particulates and dust emitted from soil into the air mainly concerned the residents of Katowice. Referring this information to the obtained results, the highest contents of cadmium, copper, and chromium in the bone tissue of the inhabitants of this city can be confirmed.WSTĘP: Celem pracy była analiza zawartości kadmu, manganu, chromu, ołowiu, cynku i miedzi w tkance kostnej osób zamieszkujących miasta na terenie Górnego Śląska (Bytom, Katowice, Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, Świętochłowice). Określono również ponadto zależność między zawartością wybranych metali w środowisku i w tkance kostnej. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Materiał pobierano w Szpitalu Miejskim w Siemianowicach Śląskich. W grupie badanej poddano analizie 53 głowy kości udowej, w tym 43 od kobiet i 10 od mężczyzn. Próbki tkanki kostnej zostały pobrane w trakcie endoprotezoplastyki stawu biodrowego. Badane tkanki pozyskiwane były śródoperacyjnie w trakcie zabiegów endoprotezoplastyki stawu biodrowego. Zawartość kadmu, manganu, chromu, ołowiu, cynku i miedzi oznaczano za pomocą metody atomowej spektrofotometrii absorpcyjnej za pomocą aparatu Pye Unicam SP-9. WYNIKI: Średnia zawartość pierwiastków w tkankach głowy kości udowej przedstawiała się następująco: Cd 0,16 < Ni 0,85 < Mn 0,87 < Cu 3,77 < Cr 5,37 < Zn 82,42 (µg/g). WNIOSKI: Intoksykacja kości metalami z pyłu zawieszonego oraz pyłu wyemitowanego z gleby do powietrza dotyczy głównie mieszkańców Katowic. Porównując te informacje z uzyskanymi wynikami potwierdza się największą zawartość takich metali, jak kadm, miedź, chrom, w tkance kostnej mieszkańców tego miasta

The Assessment of Toxic Metals in Plants Used in Cosmetics and Cosmetology

Heavy metals polluting the natural environment are absorbed by plants. The use of herbs as components of cosmetics may pose a health risk for humans. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cd and Hg in selected species of herbs (horsetail Equisetum arvense, nettle Urtica dioica, St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum, wormwood Artemisia absinthium, yarrow Achillea millefolium, cottonwood Solidago virgaurea) self-collected from the natural environment in two different locations, and purchased in stores on the territory of Poland. The concentration of the metals studied was: 4.67–23.8 mg/kg Pb, 0.01–1.51 mg/kg Cd, 0.005–0.028 mg/kg Hg. Different concentrations of metals, depending on species and origin of plants, were found. The mean concentration of all studied metals was the lowest in St. John’s wort, and the highest in nettle. In herbs purchased in Polish stores, the concentration of Pb was higher than in plants self-collected in the natural environment