The relationship between occupational exposure and different skin diseases including scalp psoriasis and
Pityriasis amiantacea
has been studied. The information about imbalance of essential trace ...elements in psoriatic patients is still scarce. In the present follow-up study, the scalp hair and blood samples of patients (labors of cement factory) have different skin disorders (plaque’s psoriasis and
Pityriasis amiantacea
) and were analyzed for zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) before and after treatment with mineral supplements. For comparative purposes, both biological samples of referents who do not have any skin disease (office workers and labors of cement industry) were also analyzed for Zn and Se using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The result indicates a significant decrease in the concentrations of Se and Zn in both biological samples of patients with scalp psoriasis and
P. amiantacea
as compared with referents/controls, whereas the referent labor has not any skin disease with 15–25% lower values of both essential trace elements as compared to office worker, possibly due to poor diet.
Psoriasis, a skin inflammatory disease, originates from dysregulated interactions of the immune system and environmental factors. In the present study, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in ...biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of smoker and nonsmoker males who have mild and severe psoriasis. The patients were evaluated according to criteria based on the standard clinical diagnosis and classified into mild and severe psoriasis groups using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Both elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after matrix oxidation. In smoker psoriatic patients, the level of Cd in biological samples was significantly increased. The Zn was significantly decreased in smoker mild and severe psoriatic patients as related to nonsmokers’ referents and patients. The resulted data indicated that the levels of Zn in smoker referents were about 5.0% lower than nonsmoker’s referents. While the concentrations of Zn in blood samples of nonsmoker’s mild and severe psoriatic patients have 17.8 to 33.3% lower than nonsmoker’s referents. The results indicate that the level of Cd in blood samples of referent smokers has ≥ 25% than nonsmokers, whereas the psoriatic patients at different stages have two- to threefold higher Cd in both biological samples.
A new adsorbent poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-2-(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionate triester (PH-DTT-MPT) was first time loaded in a micropipette tip for speciation of chromium in different ...water samples. Total chromium (Cr), trivalent chromium (Cr
III
), and hexavalent chromium (Cr
VI
) in different natural water samples were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Known concentration of Cr
III
and Cr
VI
was passed through a biodegradable polymer for investigation of the behavior of the newly used adsorbent. The newly used copolymer absorbed the Cr
III
on surface of the PH-DTT-MPT at pH 7.0, while Cr
VI
was not adsorbed in desired pH value. After passing the real and standard solutions through the micropipette, then 2.0 mol L
−1
HCl was used for elution of Cr
III
from the biodegradable polymer. Total Cr was calculated after reducing Cr
VI
into Cr
III
by specific concentration of hydroxy ammonium chloride (HONH
2
·HCl). The concentration of Cr
VI
in different natural water samples was estimated after back calculation of Cr
III
from total chromium. Effect of analytical parameters like adsorbent, pH, eluent, sample volume, flow rates, and interfering ions was also studied. The LOD, LOQ, RSD, and EF of the developed method were calculated as 6.1 ng L
−1
, 20 ng L
−1
, 1.17%, and 90, respectively. Validation of developed method was checked by certified reference materials and spiking addition method. The developed method was successfully applied for determination of total Cr, Cr
III
, and Cr
VI
in various natural water ecosystems.
Interaction between toxic and essential elements is of particular interest, because the deficiency of essential element can dramatically increase the absorption rate of toxic metals inside the body. ...This study was conducted to evaluate the possible correlation of lead (Pb) with calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood and scalp hair) of malnourished children (MNC). For comparative purposes, age-matched, well-nourished children (WNC) were selected. The concentrations of understudy elements were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after microwave acid digestion. The accuracy of the methodology, as well as its its validity and efficiency, was checked through certified reference material of whole blood and scalp hair. The result indicates that the MNC have a twofold higher level of Pb, while the levels of essential elements (Ca, Fe, and Zn) were onefold to twofold lower as compared to the WNC (
p
< 0.05). Significant negative correlations of Pb with Ca, Fe, and Zn were found in the studied malnourished population at
p
< 0.05. Further research studies are required to elucidate the role of these metals and the mechanism of interaction inside the body.
The present research assessed the chemical fractionation of Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn), detected in saline soil samples of Hyderabad Pakistan. The partitioning of Co, Cu, and Zn in soil ...samples was carried by single‐step extraction using microwave irradiation energy. The validity of the methods was confirmed using the same operating conditions applied and checked as in BCR sequential extraction fractionation using certified reference material BCR‐701 and the standard method of addition (recoveries 96%–102%). Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to test extractable Co, Cu, and Zn contents obtained by the comparative method. Using compromised microwave conditions steps 1–3 of the sequential extraction (excluding hydrogen peroxide digestion in step 3) could be accomplished with an ultrasonic bath between 15 and 30 min, whereas 60–120 s were needed for microwave single‐extraction (MSE). The total concentrations of Co, Cu, and Zn extractable metals produced by three separate extractions ranged from 1.02–3.30, 5.02–9.95, and 3.97–8.01 μg/g respectively. Consequently, the use of single‐step extraction with the aid of microwave and ultrasound energy to reduce the time required for single‐step extraction based on the BCR sequential extraction method. However, with the aid of developed single‐step extraction methods, the obtained results were comparable to those values obtained from BCR sequential extraction method. For further study, the MSE can be frequently used to know the metal‐bound intensity with a different chemical fraction on environmental solid samples.
This is a green method for determination of mercury ion (Hg
2+
) in environmental samples. The method of exchangeable water based on liquid-liquid microextraction (EW-LLME) was first time introduced ...as a green analytical separation technique. Exchangeable water was made by the reaction of carbon dioxide with diethylenetriamine. The exchanging phenomena from low polarity to high polarity were confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectrometry. The complex formation between Hg
2+
and 1, 5-diphenylcarbazone was achieved under the optimized experimental conditions. The enrichment factor and limits of detection of the present method were obtained to be 45.2 and 0.5 ng L
−1
, respectively. The accuracy of the present method was confirmed with certified reference materials. The EW-LLME was successfully applied for determination of Hg
2+
in solid matrices of block-III and V of Thar coalfield.
In present study, the volatilization of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) by the burning of coal samples in the electric furnace was evaluated. The coal samples were obtained ...from different blocks of newly developed Thar coal field, Pakistan. The replicate coal samples were heated/burned in an electric furnace at laboratory scale for three temperature intervals (200, 400 and 900 °C). The ash obtained after each temperature intervals were analyzed for selected toxic elements. The resulted data indicated that the total contents of As, Cd, and Pb in coal samples of block X and XI were found in the range of 16.8–18.5, 4.21–4.72, and 14.2–18.8 mg/kg, respectively. Whereas, 67.8–79.7%, 34.3–36.8% and 9.89–10.8% of As, Cd, and Pb, respectively, were volatized out after combustion of coal samples at 900 °C. The total contents of Hg in selected coal samples of block X and XI were observed in the range of 0.985–1.46 and 0.992–1.41 mg/kg, respectively. The contents of Hg volatilized out via burning in a furnace at 200 °C and 400 °C, were observed in the range of 32.0–36.5% and >91.0% of its total contents, respectively, whereas at 900 °C, it was not detected in ash. The partitioning and mobility of studied toxic elements in residue termed as (laboratory made ash) obtained after burning at 900 °C, was carried out by three-step sequential extraction scheme. The resulted data of present study will give a better knowledge about the quality of coal and its burning product, which may help to take measure to reduce the adverse effects on the environment in future.
Display omitted
•Volatilization of toxic elements in laboratory made ash of coal samples at different temperature.•Burning of coal samples in an electric furnace at 900 °C, 67.0–79% of total arsenic was volatized out.•The coal samples heating in electric furnace at 400 °C, Hg volatilize out > 91.0% of its total contents.•Partitioning of toxic elements in residual ash of coal was carried out by sequential extraction scheme.•The 2.9, 6.4, 1.34% of total contents of As, Cd and Pb in ash of coal were water soluble/bioavailble
The simple and rapid pre-concentration techniques viz. cloud point extraction (CPE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were applied for the determination of As
3+ and total inorganic arsenic (iAs) in ...surface and ground water samples. The As
3+ was formed complex with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and extracted by surfactant-rich phases in the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114, after centrifugation the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with 0.1
mol
L
−1 HNO
3 in methanol. While total iAs in water samples was adsorbed on titanium dioxide (TiO
2); after centrifugation, the solid phase was prepared to be slurry for determination. The extracted As species were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The multivariate strategy was applied to estimate the optimum values of experimental factors for the recovery of As
3+ and total iAs by CPE and SPE. The standard addition method was used to validate the optimized methods. The obtained result showed sufficient recoveries for As
3+ and iAs (>98.0%). The concentration factor in both cases was found to be 40.
Petrochemical facilities, including oil well drilling, are discharging resources of extensive noxious waste into the environment. The workers in different sections might be exposed to vanadium (V) ...through different routes (groundwater and soil), which is linked with extensive physiological disorders, hypertension, respiratory disorders, anemia, skin, and gastrointestinal disorders. This study determined the contents of V in a biological sample (scalp hair) of workers of different categories (outdoor and office workers) in an oil drilling field in Sindh, Pakistan. The environmental samples, groundwater, bottled mineral water, and soil samples were also analyzed for V. For comparative purposes, the scalp hair of age-matched male subjects residing in domestic areas of Hyderabad city, Pakistan, was also analyzed. Generally, the concentrations of V in groundwater near the oil drilling field and drilled soil illustrated significant variations. The results show that the vanadium concentration in the scalp hair of non-exposed referents (controls) and office workers (exposed referents) was 62% and 45% lower than those observed for outdoor drilling and cleaning mud workers. It was observed that high exposure to V in outdoor workers might be linked with different physiological disorders such as anemia, eye problems, and bronchial disorders.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the translocation of arsenic (As) by different vegetables grown in agricultural soil irrigated for long period with tube well water as test vegetable samples and ...compared those vegetables of same species grown in agricultural soil irrigated with fresh canal water marked as control vegetable samples. Moreover, the total and ethylene-diamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) extractable contents of As in soil irrigated by tube well and canal water were determined and correlate with total concentrations of As in edible parts of vegetables. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between the total and EDTA extractable fractions of As in soil. High level of total and EDTA extractable As were found in tested vegetable samples as compared to controlled vegetable samples. This investigation highlights the increased danger of growing vegetables in the agricultural land continuously irrigated by As contaminated water.
► Investigation of total and inorganic As in canal and tube well water and their transfer to vegetable through irrigated soil. ► Evaluation of total and available contents of As in soil irrigated with tube well and fresh canal water. ► Accumulation by different vegetables. ► Validation of proposed method using certified reference material and spiking with arsenic standards.
