Metals
In our laboratory we measure several trace elements and heavy metals in
biological samples such as: blood, plasma, serum, urine, and hair. Among
these there are: iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium, lead, manganese,
nickel, mercury, arsenic, aluminium, cadmium, vanadium, tin, thallium.
Trace element are chemical elements needed in low quantities for growth,
development and physiology of the organism. Trace elements is also
referred as a micronutrient or essential element.
The essential elements play several roles in proteins, forming an
integral part of one or more enzymes that are involved in a metabolic or
biochemical process. However, insufficient or excessive presence in
blood, or plasma, of certain trace elements, as well as iron, copper or
zinc can cause
dysfunction or pathology.
Iron
is the
most well-known element of the human body. Carries oxygen in the
blood associated with hemoglobin molecule; it
is stored in body tissues to supply body needs. However, deficiency may
occur from inadequate dietary intake or blood loss which results in
anaemia and loss of well-being. Deficiency in infants and young children
increases susceptibility to infection and impairment of growth.
Zinc
is a constituent of over 300 enzymes involved in numerous body
functions, including enzymes involved in gene expression. Deficiency
impairs cell growth and repair of tissue injury. Meat, liver, eggs and
seafood are good dietary sources of zinc, whereas zinc in vegetable
sources, particularly in cereal grains, is less bioavailable than from
meat sources.
Copper
is also essential for numerous enzymes and is a constituent of hair and
of elastic tissue contained in skin, bone and other body organs. There
are a number of important copper-containing proteins and enzymes, some
of which are essential for the proper utilization of iron. Dietary
deficiency is rare, but does occur in certain acquired or hereditary
disorders that impair intestinal absorption. Wilson disease is a genetic
disorders in witch copper builds up in the body, mainly in the liver in
the brain cornea and kidneys.
Heavy metals have no known benefit for human physiology, but rather are
consider dangerous. Lead, mercury, and cadmium are prime examples of
such "toxic metals". Their toxicity depends on their transport and
intercellular bioavailability. This availability is regulated by
high-affinity binding to certain cytosolic proteins; such ligands
usually have numerous SH binding sites that can mediate intracellular
metal bioavailability and toxicity. Metallotionine is a low molecular
weight metal-binding protein important in regulating the intracellular
bioavailability of these metals.
Lead
is a neurotoxic metal, that was added as antiknock agent in fuels and
therefore was widely spread into the environment by vehicular traffic.
It was also used to prepare paintings and pigments, and used as metals
for tubes of hydraulic plants. For its wide use in the past it may still
be present as a contaminant in the living environments.
Cadmium
is a carcinogen that may contaminate food and is present in cigarette
smoke.
Mercury
is a neurotoxic chemical that may be present in food, especially fish,
thermometers, pharmaceutical preparations, such as vaccines, and dental
amalgams.
Measurement of trace elements and heavy metals in blood, plasma, serum,
urine and hair can be performed to understand pathological status,
nutritional status, and absorption of toxic chemicals from environmental
sources such as solid waste incinerator emissions (Ranzi et al., 2013)
and urban air pollution (Bollati et al., 2014).
