Author Institution: Department of Biology, University of AkronANTHONY, ROBERT E. AND KELLER, ROGER F. The Aluminum Concentration in Human Postmortem Lung Tissue from Smokers and Nonsmokers as Determined by Neurton Activation Analysis. Ohio J. Sci. 75: 56, 1975

Anthony, Robert Edward

Keller, Roger

The Ohio Journal of Science

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THE ALUMINUM CONCENTRATION IN HUMAN POSTMORTEMLUNG TISSUE FROM SMOKERS AND NONSMOKERS ASDETERMINED BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS1-ROBERT EDWARD ANTHONY3 AND ROGER F. KELLERDepartment of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio ^325ANTHONY, ROBERT E. AND KELLER, ROGERF. The Aluminum Concentration in Hu-man Postmortem Lung Tissue from Smok-ers and Nonsmokers as Determined byNeurton Activation Analysis. Ohio J. Sci.75: 56, 1975.The aluminum concentration of 40 humanpostmortem lung tissue samples was de-termined utilizing standard thermal neu-tron activation analysis techniques. Thealuminum content of human lung tissue wasshown to be unrelated to the smokinghabits of the individuals studied.Aluminum has been shown by Stitch(1957), Tipton et al. (1963) and Tiptonand Shafer (1964) to occur in varyingconcentrations in human lung tissue.However, due to its ubiquitous natureand the previously contradictory chemi-cal and spectrophotometric methods ofanalysis, specific information dealingwith normal aluminum levels in the hu-man lung has been limited (Mitchell,1950, Mitchell et at., 1962, andMcLaughlin et al. 1962).The smoking habits of the individualare but one of a myriad of variableswhich may affect the aluminum concen-tration in human lung tissue. Jenkins(1971) identified aluminum in tobacco(707 ppm), smoke (7.4 ppm), droppedash (3,240 ppm) and cigarette paper (131ppm). Since aluminum has been foundin all of the major cigarette components,one would imagine that smoking couldbe one source of aluminum exposure.The purpose of the present study is todetermine whether or not the smokinghabits of the individual significantlyaffect the amount of aluminum in humanManuscript received February 19, 1974(74-4).2Based on portions of a thesis submitted bythe senior author to the Graduate School,University of Akron, in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of Master ofScience.36310 Greenwood Pkwy, Suite 102, Northfield,Ohio 44067.postmortem lung tissue. Neutron acti-vation analysis was chosen as the methodof analysis because of its precision andaccuracy.MATERIALS AND METHODSPostmortem lung samples were obtained fromhospitals in the Akron, Ohio area. The sam-ples were surgically removed from non-diseasedportions of human lung tissue after autopsy andwere never handled directly by human hands.All samples were preserved in a 10% formalinsolution and were carefully protected fromsources of contamination.Information pertaining to the smoking habitsof the individuals was obtained from hospitalrecords. The information was used to groupthe samples into three categories: (I) Non-smokers, (II) Smokers (more than or equal toone pack per day), (III) Heavy smokers (morethan or equal to two packs per day).Each tissue sample was placed in a cleancrucible and dry ashed in an oven at 275° C for24 hours. The ashes were powdered with amortar and pestle, weighed on a Sartoriusbalance, and placed in a new polyethylenemini-vial.Neutron activation analysis of the humanlung samples was performed at The Oak RidgeResearch Reactor, Oak Ridge National Lab-oratories, (ORNL neutron flux 3.3 x 1013 neu-trons/cm2/sec) using the technique describedby Mantis and Norris (1973). All samples wereirradiated for ten seconds by way of the pneu-matic transfer system and then counted for 60sec at a distance of three centimeters from thecoaxial lithium-drifted germanium detector.The lag time was 50 sec. All data were cor-rected for background and dead time. Thefinal calculations were in terms of counts perminute, full width, half-maximum at To. Quan-titative analysis of all samples was performedusing the comparator technique of Mantis andNorris (1973).RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSmokers (Group II) were first com-pared with the nonsmokers (Group I).The mean for Group II was 977 micro-grams Al/g of dried lung tissue, andthe mean for Group I was 1005 micro-grams Al/g of dried lung tissue, (fig. 1).The difference between these two meanswas found not to be significant based onNo. 1 ALUMINUM IN HUMAN LUNG TISSUE 5720005000005001000-Nonsmokers(Group I) Smokers(Group II)Heavy Smokers(Group I I I)FIGURE 1. The aluminum concentration of hu-man postmortem lung tissue. GroupIII consists of the 10 heaviest smok-ers from Group I. Bars representthe mean ± standard deviation.a T-distribution test (d.f. = 38, t = .O242,p>.()5).In order to further evaluate the data,the heavy smokers (Group III) wereseparated from the rest of the smokers(Group II). Group III was then com-pare with Group I. The mean forGroup III was 1275 micrograms Al/g ofdried lung tissue, and the difference be-tween the two means (Group I andGroup III) was found to be insignificantbased on a T-distribution test (d.f. =28,t=.5555, p>.05). Previous studies byMantis and Norris (1973) have suggestedthat geographical location may be animportant factor in aluminum concen-trations in human lungs. This factormay have contributed to the seeminglyhigh standard deviations reported in thepresent study since it was not known howlong or in what other geographical loca-tion of the country the persons had livedbefore death.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to ex-press their appreciation to Mr. Juel Emery formaking the Oak Ridge Research Reactoravailable.LITERATURE CITEDJenkins, R. W. 1971. The Determination byNeutron Activation Analysis of Selected Ele-ments in Cigarettes. Analyt. Letters, 4:451-57.Mantis, J. K. and G. R. Norris. 1973. NeutronActivation Analysis of Aluminum in Post-mortem Human Lung Tissue. Ohio J. Sci. 73:73: 223-28.McLaughlin, A. I. G., G. Kazantis, E. King,Donald Teare, R. J. Porter and R. Owen.1962. Pulmonary Fibrosis and Encepha-lopathy Associated with the Inhalation ofAluminum Dust. Brit. J. Indus. Med. 19:253-63.Mitchell, J. 1950. Pulmonary Fibroisis in anAluminum Worker. Brit. J. Indus. Med. 16:123-125.Mitchell, J., G. Manning, M. Molyneux and F.E. Lane. 1962. Pulmonary Fibrosis inWorkers Exposed to Finely Divided Alu-minum. Brit. J. Indus. Med. 18: 10-23.Stitch, S. R. 1957. Trace Elements in HumanTissue. Biochcm. J. 67: 97.Tipton, I. H., M. J. Cook, R. L. Steiner, C. A.Boyce, H. M. Perry and H. A. Schroeder.1963. Trace Elements in Human TissuePart I. Methods. Health Phys. 9: 89.— and M. J. Cook. 1963. Trace Ele-ments in Human Tissue Part II. Adult Sub-jects from the United States. Health Phys.9: 103.and J. J. Shafer. 1964. StatisticalAnalysis of Lung Trace Element Levels.Arch. Environ. Health 8: 58-67.

The Aluminum Concentration in Human Postmortem Lung Tissue from Smokers and Nonsmokers as Determined by Neutron Activation Analysis

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The Aluminum Concentration in Human Postmortem Lung Tissue from Smokers and Nonsmokers as Determined by Neutron Activation Analysis

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