9 research outputs found
Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing Detection of Mercury and Lead Ions Based on Conducting Polymer Composite
A new sensing area for a sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was fabricated to detect trace amounts of mercury and lead ions. The gold surface used for SPR measurements were modified with polypyrrole-chitosan (PPy-CHI) conducting polymer composite. The polymer layer was deposited on the gold surface by electrodeposition. This optical sensor was used for monitoring toxic metal ions with and without sensitivity enhancement by chitosan in water samples. The higher amounts of resonance angle unit (ΔRU) were obtained for PPy-CHI film due to a specific binding of chitosan with Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions. The Pb2+ ion bind to the polymer films most strongly, and the sensor was more sensitive to Pb2+ compared to Hg2+. The concentrations of ions in the parts per million range produced the changes in the SPR angle minimum in the region of 0.03 to 0.07. Data analysis was done by Matlab software using Fresnel formula for multilayer system
Poisoning of workers working in small lead-based units
Background: No data are available with the labor departments among the
workers of small-scale lead-based units with regard to lead poisoning.
One hundred and ninety-five workers were investigated for lead exposure
and three were found exceeding the limit of 80 mg/dL, which required a
treatment for lead poisoning. Aim: To assess the exposure and health
risk in workers working in small lead-based units. Setting and
Design: Random sampling is selected from the cross-sectional medical
study. Methods and Materials: Medical examination cum
biochemical/hematological investigations along with blood lead
estimation were carried out in these workers. Statistical Analysis:
Epi-Info and SPSS 16.0 were used for statistical analysis. Results
and Conclusion: Workers′ blood lead levels were brought down from
114.4, 110.0 and 120.6 mg/dL with treatment of D-penicillamine to 40
mg/dL. It may be concluded that lead poisoning is a preventable public
health problem that particularly affects the industrial workers in
small lead-based units