Biol Trace Elem Res (2014) 160:116–122 DOI 10.1007/s12011-014-0030-8
Concentration Profiles of Metals in Breast Milk, Drinking Water, and Soil: Relationship Between Matrices Osmar O. Cardoso & Fabiana C. Julião & Renato I. S. Alves & Antonio R. Baena & Isabel G. Díez & Meire N. Suzuki & Beatriz S. Celere & Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo & Susana I. Segura-Muñoz
Received: 22 April 2014 / Accepted: 26 May 2014 / Published online: 3 June 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
Abstract The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn were determined in breast milk of women living in Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The potential relationships between metal levels in samples of breast milk, drinking water, and soils collected in the study area were also established. Metal levels in breast milk, except Cr, were lower in comparison to WHO reference concentrations. Zinc was the predominant element in breast milk and drinking water samples, with a median level of 46.2 and 82.2 μg·L−1, respectively. Soils presented a different pattern of metal concentrations with respect to those found in breast milk and drinking water, Chromium showed the highest median levels (148 mg·kg−1), while a certain predominance of Zn and Cu was also observed (47.0 and 43.0 mg·kg−1, respectively). Similar profiles were observed when comparing metal concentrations in drinking water and breast milk (chi-square χ2 =14.36; p2 mm) from the soil particles. Prior to analyses, they were thoroughly homogenized. Total concentrations were determined after 4-acid (HF–HClO4–HNO3–HCl) digestion by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), whereas Hg and Cr determinations were conducted by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Quality control included the use of several certified reference materials, duplicates, and laboratory blanks to check accuracy and precision. The reproducibility was found to be smaller than 10 % for all trace elements. Quantification limits were the following: 0.3 mg·kg−1 for Cd; 1 mg·kg−1 for Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, and Zn; 2 mg·kg−1 for Cr; 3 mg·kg−1 for Pb and Sn. Regarding the concentration profile, the contribution percentage of each metal was calculated by comparing the median level of that metal with the sum of median concentrations of the nine elements, for each one of the three analyzed monitors (human milk, water, and soil). Afterwards, the median percentage of each metal was represented for each matrix, and the profiles in human milk, drinking water, and soil were plotted together. The profiles of those matrices were compared among them. Statistical analysis was carried out by executing the statistical program GraphPad Prism (Version 5.00 for Windows, GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). The level of statistical significance was set at p values lower than 0.05 (p
Concentration Profiles of Metals in Breast Milk, Drinking Water, and Soil: Relationship Between Matrices Osmar O. Cardoso & Fabiana C. Julião & Renato I. S. Alves & Antonio R. Baena & Isabel G. Díez & Meire N. Suzuki & Beatriz S. Celere & Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo & Susana I. Segura-Muñoz
Received: 22 April 2014 / Accepted: 26 May 2014 / Published online: 3 June 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014
Abstract The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn were determined in breast milk of women living in Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The potential relationships between metal levels in samples of breast milk, drinking water, and soils collected in the study area were also established. Metal levels in breast milk, except Cr, were lower in comparison to WHO reference concentrations. Zinc was the predominant element in breast milk and drinking water samples, with a median level of 46.2 and 82.2 μg·L−1, respectively. Soils presented a different pattern of metal concentrations with respect to those found in breast milk and drinking water, Chromium showed the highest median levels (148 mg·kg−1), while a certain predominance of Zn and Cu was also observed (47.0 and 43.0 mg·kg−1, respectively). Similar profiles were observed when comparing metal concentrations in drinking water and breast milk (chi-square χ2 =14.36; p2 mm) from the soil particles. Prior to analyses, they were thoroughly homogenized. Total concentrations were determined after 4-acid (HF–HClO4–HNO3–HCl) digestion by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), whereas Hg and Cr determinations were conducted by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Quality control included the use of several certified reference materials, duplicates, and laboratory blanks to check accuracy and precision. The reproducibility was found to be smaller than 10 % for all trace elements. Quantification limits were the following: 0.3 mg·kg−1 for Cd; 1 mg·kg−1 for Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, and Zn; 2 mg·kg−1 for Cr; 3 mg·kg−1 for Pb and Sn. Regarding the concentration profile, the contribution percentage of each metal was calculated by comparing the median level of that metal with the sum of median concentrations of the nine elements, for each one of the three analyzed monitors (human milk, water, and soil). Afterwards, the median percentage of each metal was represented for each matrix, and the profiles in human milk, drinking water, and soil were plotted together. The profiles of those matrices were compared among them. Statistical analysis was carried out by executing the statistical program GraphPad Prism (Version 5.00 for Windows, GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). The level of statistical significance was set at p values lower than 0.05 (p
