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Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 13403

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Dr. Ujang Tinggi

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Guest Editor

Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
Interests: bioavailability; heavy metals; trace elements; elemental analysis; toxicity; metabolism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advancing global industrialization has led to a rapid rise in demand and the use of mineral elements, including trace and rare earth elements and their nanoparticles in the food industry, agriculture, and other electronic and medical processing technologies. This use of mineral elements has resulted in increased exposure in humans, and impact on the environment from chemical contaminants. Health concerns from high trace element exposure in a human population ranging from various neurological dysfunctions to impaired body growth and deformity are well documented. The toxic effects of trace elements not only exert their toxicity at certain concentrations but also in their chemical species (oxidation states) and in critical metal mixtures. Trace element deficiencies such as anemia (iron) and goiter (iodine) in some populations are also a concern. As emerging diseases associated with chronic exposure and deficiency of trace elements have become more apparent, interest has increased in investigating the role of gene expressions in metal-binding proteins as a means to identify biomarkers for early detection of diseases and to understand the pathological mechanisms. However, further understanding is needed of the mechanistic actions on cause and effect in relation to metabolism and regulation of trace elements on specific target cells and tissues. This research area is still a significant challenge.

This Special Issue on “Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health” will cover areas on advanced trace element research, and I would like to invite you to submit papers and reviews with the latest findings that provide insights into trace element complex assembly and concentration in biological systems. Papers on observational and experimental studies are welcome. All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The deadline for submission is 30th April 2020.

Dr. Ujang Tinggi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Research

15 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trace Element Analysis in Whole Blood and Plasma for Reference Levels in a Selected Queensland Population, Australia

by Tatiana Komarova, Daniel McKeating, Anthony V. Perkins and Ujang Tinggi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2652; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052652 - 6 Mar 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3470

Abstract

The levels of trace elements in whole blood and plasma have been widely used for assessing nutritional status and monitoring exposure and can vary widely in populations from different geographical regions. In this study, whole blood samples (n = 120) and plasma samples (n = 120) were obtained from healthy donors attending the Red Cross Blood Bank (Queensland Red Cross Blood Service), which provided information for age and sex. There were 71 males (age range: 19–73 years) and 49 females (age range: 18–72 years) for whole blood samples, and 59 males (age range: 19–81 years) and 61 females (age range: 19–73 years) for plasma samples. The main aim of the study was to provide information on blood reference levels of 21 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, I, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, U, V, Zn) in Queensland. The study also aimed to assess differences in trace element blood levels between males and females and the effect of age. The trace element levels in blood samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the standard reference materials of Seronorm (Trace Elements Whole Blood) and UTAK (Trace Elements Serum) were used for quality control and assurance. The study found wide variations of trace element levels in whole blood and plasma, and generally the levels were comparable to other countries. No detectable levels were found for Bi, Cr, U and V in whole blood, but V levels were found in plasma samples. There were significant differences between males and females for whole blood Cu (p < 0.001), I (p = 0.009), Tl (p = 0.016) and Zn (p = 0.016). Significant differences were also found for plasma Cu (p < 0.001) and Se (p = 0.003) between males and females. There were trends of increased levels of blood Pb, Se and Zn with age. The study has provided further information on a wide range of trace elements in blood as reference levels for Queensland and Australia which are currently lacking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health)

14 pages, 640 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineral and Trace Element Analysis of Australian/Queensland Apis mellifera Honey

by Natasha L. Hungerford, Ujang Tinggi, Benjamin L. L. Tan, Madeleine Farrell and Mary T. Fletcher

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176304 - 29 Aug 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3540

Abstract

Honey is an extensively utilized sweetener containing sugars and water, together with small quantities of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and proteins. Naturally produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) from floral nectar, honey is increasingly sold as a health food product due to its nutritious features. Certain honeys are retailed as premium, trendy products. Honeybees are regarded as environmental monitors, but few reports examine the impact of environment on Australian honey trace elements and minerals. In higher density urban and industrial environments, heavy metals can be common, while minerals and trace elements can have ubiquitous presence in both agricultural and urban areas. Honey hives are traditionally placed in rural and forested areas, but increasingly the trend is to keep hives in more urban areas. This study aimed to determine the levels of 26 minerals and trace elements and assess elemental differences between honeys from various regional Queensland and Australian sources. Honey samples (n = 212) were acquired from markets, shops and supermarkets in Queensland while urban honeys were purchased online. The honey samples were classified into four groups according to their regional sources: urban, rural, peri-urban and blend honey. Elemental analyses of honey were performed using ICP-MS and ICP-OES after microwave and hot block digestion. Considerable variations of essential trace elements (Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn) and mineral levels (Ca, K, Mg, Na and P) were found in honeys surveyed. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between urban and rural honey samples for B, Na, P, Mn, K, Ca and Cu. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were also found between blend and urban honey samples for K, Cu, P, Mn, Sr, Ni, B and Na. Peri-urban versus urban honeys showed significant differences in P, K and Mn. For rural and peri-urban honeys, the only significant difference (p < 0.05) was for Na. Toxic heavy metals were detected at relatively low levels in honey products. The study revealed that the Queensland/Australian honey studied is a good source of K and Zn and would constitute a good nutritional source of these elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health)

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12 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Vitamin D Receptor, Metallothionein 1A, and 2A Gene Polymorphisms on Toxicity of the Peripheral Nervous System in Chronically Lead-Exposed Workers

by Hsin-Liang Liu, Hung-Yi Chuang, Chien-Ning Hsu, Su-Shin Lee, Chen-Cheng Yang and Kuan-Ting Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2909; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082909 - 23 Apr 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

Chronic exposure to lead is neurotoxic to the human peripheral sensory system. Variant vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes and polymorphisms of metallothioneins (MTs) are associated with different outcomes following lead toxicity. However, no evidence of a relationship between lead neurotoxicity and polymorphisms has previously been presented. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the polymorphisms of VDR, MT1A, and MT2A genes and lead toxicity following chronic occupational lead exposure. We measured vibration perception thresholds (VPT) and current perception thresholds (CPT) in 181 workers annually for five years. The outcome variables were correlated to the subject’s index of long-term lead exposure. Polymorphisms of VDR, MT1A, and MT2A were defined. The potential confounders, including age, sex, height, smoking, alcohol consumption, and working life span, were also collected and analyzed using linear regression. The regression coefficients of some gene polymorphisms were at least 20 times larger than regression coefficients of time-weighted index of cumulative blood lead (TWICL) measures. All regression coefficients of TWICL increased slightly. MT1A rs11640851 (AA/CC) was associated with a statistically significant difference in all neurological outcomes except hand and foot VPT. MT1A rs8052394 was associated with statistically significant differences in hand and foot CPT 2000 Hz. In MT2A rs10636, those with the C allele showed a greater effect on hand CPT than those with the G allele. Among the VDR gene polymorphisms, the Apa rs7975232 (CC/AA) single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with the greatest difference in hand CPT. MT2A rs28366003 appeared to have a neural protective effect, whereas Apa (rs7975232) of VDR and MT2A rs10636 increased the neurotoxicity as measured by CPT in the hands. MT1A rs8052394 had a protective effect on large myelinated nerves. MT1A rs11640851 was associated with susceptibility to neurotoxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health)

26 pages, 6246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Health Risk Assessment and Potentially Harmful Element Contents in the Cereals Cultivated on Agricultural Soils

by Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(5), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051674 - 4 Mar 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3234

Abstract

Potentially harmful element (PHE) contents were investigated in six species of cereals in southern Poland, with human health risk implications assessed afterwards. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): As below the limit of detection (<LOD)–0.013, Cd <LOD–0.291, Co <LOD–0.012, Cu 0.002–11.0, Hg <LOD–0.080, Ni <LOD–8.40, Pb <LOD–12.0, Sb <LOD–0.430, Tl <LOD–0.160, and Zn 5.47–67.7. The Pb and Cd contents exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values for wheat, oat, rye, and barley in the Śląskie region. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BA) for the total PHE content in the soil indicated that cereals had no potential of PHE accumulation. Regarding the statistical daily consumption of cereals, the PHE intake rates, expressed as a percentage of permissible maximum total daily intake (% PMTDI), were the following: As 0.0003, Cd 0.193, Co 0.0003, Cu 0.075, Hg 0.424, Ni 3.94, Pb 3.16, Sb 0.23, Tl 0.27, and Zn 0.44. The total non-carcinogenic risk values (HQ) exceeded the target risk value of 1 for wheat (HQ = 13.3) and rye (HQ = 3.44). For other cereals, the total non-carcinogenic risk values decreased in the following order: barley (HQ = 0.47) > oat (HQ = 0.38) > maize (HQ = 0.02). The total non-carcinogenic risk value of the statistical daily consumption of cereals was acceptable low (HQ = 0.58). The acceptable cancer risk (CR) level of 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ investigated only for As was not exceeded under any of the intake scenarios. Concerning the mean As content in cereals consumed daily in statistical amounts the CR value was equal to 5.1 × 10⁻⁸. The health risk value according to the Pb content in cereals using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was equal to 1.27, indicating an acceptable low risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trace Element Exposure and Metabolism in Human Health)

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