Heavy Metal Concentrations in Biofluid Samples and their Correlation to Metabolic Syndrome

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Jacob Michael Montgomery (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: The goal of this project was to determine if toxic metals such as Cr , Mn , As , Ni , Cd , and Pb are stored in the adipose tissue of farm animals , in particular swine. To detect these trace elements , a method of extraction and detection using ICP-MS was developed on the kidney samples obtained from local slaughterhouses , as no method currently existed for analyzing a panel of toxic metals in porcine tissue. Sample preparation was extremely time consuming , as each kidney was homogenized , and samples from each kidney were digested using a combination of nitric acid , hydrogen peroxide , and heat. The study samples were also compared to a kidney sample taken from a pig raised in a controlled lab environment. While less than 30 ppb of As was observed in the samples , an average of 116 ppb of Pb was observed. This value is 13.7 times higher than the Pb concentration found in control tissue samples. Additionally , while an average of only 24.1 ppb of As was found in the samples , the control tissue had an average of 8.66 ppb. Levels exceeding 5000ppb of Mn were observed; however , this was attributed to the excretion of Mo in urine by the kidney , a significant interference of Mn. Through this study , a validated method was determined , which can then be adapted to test additional types of tissue samples , including swine liver , subcutaneous fat , and fleed fat samples that have already been obtained. By testing different organs , this study will determine the locations with the highest concentrations of toxic metals. This data could then be applied to human studies , to determine if humans are accumulating these toxic metals in a similar manner. The indigestion of toxic metals in human issue has been associated with oxidative stress , part of the pathogenesis of diabetes. With 12% of NC residents currently afflicted with Type II diabetes , this data is vital for lowering the risk of diabetes in rural farming communities.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2018

Keywords

Diabetes, Heavy metals, ICP-MS

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