Trace element metals Zinc

Aqueous parenteral preparations can contain trace amounts of heavy metal ions in concentrations sufficient to catalyze oxidative reactions. Aqueous parenterals are produced with the use of Water for injection, which complies with the limit test for heavy metals (European Pharmacopoeia, 2002). This is, however, no guarantee for exclusion of metal ions. Heavy metal contamination brought into the formulation by excipients is also a problem, especially for sugars, phosphate, and citrate (Nema et al., 2002). Heavy metals may also be extracted from the container by the preparation (European Pharmacopoeia, 2002 see Section 14.3). Moreover, trace elements like zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium constitute important components in several parenteral nutrition formulas (Trissel, 2001). 

Zinc, like most metals, is found in all natural waters and soils as well as the atmosphere and is an important trace element in plant and animal life (see Mineral nutrients). Rocks of various kinds contain 20—200 ppm zinc and normal soils 10—30 ppm (average ca 50 ppm) in uncontaminated areas. The average zinc content of coal is 33 ppm. Seawater contains 1—27 )-lg/L (median ca 8 p.g/L), and uncontaminated freshwater usually <10 / g/L. 

Zinc smelters use x-ray fluorescence spectrometry to analyze for zinc and many other metals in concentrates, calcines, residues, and trace elements precipitated from solution, such as arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium, and tin. X-ray analysis is also used for quaUtative and semiquantitative analysis. Electrolytic smelters rely heavily on AAS and polarography for solutions, residues, and environmental samples. 

The reddish metal was already known in prehistoric times. It occasionally occurs as a native metal, but mostly in conspicuous green ores, from which it is extracted relatively easily. It is convenient to work, but not very hard. Not very optimal as a tool ("Otzi the Iceman" had a copper axe with him). Only through the addition of tin is the more useful bronze obtained. Its zinc alloy is the versatile and widely used brass. Copper is one of the coinage metals. Water pipes are commonly made of copper. Its very good thermal and electrical conductivity is commonly exploited (cable ), as well as its durability (roofs, gutters), as the verdigris (basic copper carbonate) protects the metal. Cu phthalocyanines are the most beautiful blue pigments. Seems to be essential to all life as a trace element. In some molluscs, Cu replaces Fe in the heme complex. A 70-kg human contains 72 mg. 

Eight trace elements of greatest environmental concern are chosen, which are arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). These eight trace elements will be discussed in this chapter in the order of their production and level of environmental concern, as presented above. Of these, copper and lead are known to be the earliest metals utilized by humans. Lead was used by humankind at least 5000 years ago (Settle and Patterson, 1980 Adriano, 1986). The production of these eight elements has increased considerably since the dawn of the industrial age in the 1850s (Table 9.1). 

Devineau, J. and C. Amiard Triquet 1985. Patterns of bioaccumulation of an essential trace element (zinc) and a pollutant metal (cadmium) in larvae of the prawn Palaemon serratus. Mar. Biol. 86 139-143. Dib, A., J.P Clavel, and J.P. Carreau. 1989. Effects of gamma-linolenic acid supplementation on lipid composition of liver microsomal membranes. I. Pregnant rats fed a zinc-deficient diet and those fed a balanced one. Jour. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 6 95-102. 

We can see that the soluble and exchange forms of these metals are present in small amounts accounting merely for a few percent of the total metal content in soil. The content of organometal species is relatively high in the upper profile rich in humic species, whereas it drops sharply in the mineral horizons. Copper is extensively involved in the biogeochemical cycle in the Forest ecosystems and this is less profound for cobalt. It is noteworthy that a large part of metals (in particular, of copper) become bound to iron hydroxides. This is typical for various trace elements, including arsenic, zinc and other elements with variable valence. 

Many aquatic organisms exhibit an ability to concentrate a variety of trace elements and this ability has been identified as a function of the tendency of the elements to be complexed by ligands (159). The alkaline earth metals are poorly com-plexed in relation to the transition metals, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and manganese. The actinides should be regarded as members of an intermediate group. It has been suggested by Martin (160) that at least five mechanisms may regulate the uptake of metals by marine biota. These are... 

Two types of metal-rich hydrogenous deposits are formed on the seafloor iron-manganese oxides and polymetallic sulfides. The iron-manganese oxides have been deposited as nodules, sediments, and crusts. They are enriched in various trace elements, such as manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, and zinc, making them a significant repository for some of these metals. Most of the metals in the polymetallic sulfides are of hydrothermal origin. These sulfides have been deposited as metalliferous sediments aroimd hydrothermal systems and as rocks that infill cracks within former... 

Spark source (SSMS) and thermal emission (TEMS) mass spectrometry are used to determine ppb to ppm quantities of elements in energy sources such as coal, fuel oil, and gasoline. Toxic metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, and zinc— may be determined by SSMS with an estimated precision of 5%, and metals which ionize thermally may be determined by TEMS with an estimated precision of 1% using the isotope dilution technique. An environmental study of the trace element balance from a coal-fired steam plant was done by SSMS using isotope dilution to determine the toxic metals and a general scan technique for 15 other elements using chemically determined iron as an internal standard. In addition, isotope dilution procedures for the analysis of lead in gasoline and uranium in coal and fly ash by TEMS are presented. 

On the basis of chemical profile, Wood (38) predicted that arsenic, selenium, and tellurium will be methylated in the environment, and lead, cadmium, and zinc will not. Elemental concentration in the aquatic food chain has been reported for As (39), Hg (40), Cd (41), Pb (42), and Cu (43). The biological half-life of methylmercury in fish, for example, is one to two years (44). Pillay et al. (40) implicated heavy coal burning in the mercurial contamination of plankton and fish populations of Lake Erie. Other metals, notably cadmium, have been shown to be incorporated into the grazing grasses surrounding a coal burning source (27). Trace element contamination, therefore, can enter the food chain at various points. Disposal of solid wastes in the form of ash and slag is yet another environmental consideration (45). 

Several elements, particularly zinc and copper, could play a role as trace nutrients for phytoplankton. They are known to be important for growth of terrestrial plants, but neither the requirement for these nutrients nor the elemental distributions in seawater are well known. The biological availability of both zinc and copper is controlled by their complexation with organic material. Analytical methods that have the distinction of being able to discriminate chemical forms of the metal are needed. These measurements reflect the chemical reactivity and biological availability or toxicity of the metal more accurately. 

The metal ions of major biological significance are indicated in Figure 1, which shows part of the Periodic Table. Some information on the distribution and concentration levels of these metals in living systems is shown in Table 1. The transition metals and zinc are usually regarded as trace elements, as they are present in very small amounts. Of the transition elements, iron is the most abundant metal, and probably the most well studied. Iron is essential for all living systems with the exception of certain members of the lactic acid bacteria, which grow in environments notoriously low in iron, such as milk. Lactic acid bacteria are devoid of cytochromes, peroxidases... 

An enzyme cofactor can be either an inorganic ion (usually a metal cation) or a small organic molecule called a coenzyme. In fact, the requirement of many enzymes for metal-ion cofactors is the main reason behind our dietary need for trace minerals. Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, and selenium are all essential trace elements that function as enzyme cofactors. A large number of different organic molecules also serve as coenzymes. Often, although not always, the coenzyme is a vitamin. Thiamine (vitamin Bj), for example, is a coenzyme required in the metabolism of carbohydrates. 

Some elements are essential to the composition or function of the body. Since the body is mostly water, hydrogen and oxygen are obviously essential elements. Carbon (C) is a component of all life molecules, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Nitrogen (N) is in all proteins. The other essential nonmetals are phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), selenium (Se), fluorine (F), and iodine (I). The latter two are among the essential trace elements that are required in only small quantities, particularly as constituents of enzymes or as cofactors (nonprotein species essential for enzyme function). The metals present in macro amounts in the body are sodium (Na), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca). Essential trace elements are chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and perhaps more elements that have not yet been established as essential. 

Molybdenum salts used as catalysts include cobalt molybdate for hydrogen treatment of petroleum stocks for desulfurization, and phospho-molybdates to promote oxidation. Compounds used for dyes are sodium, potassium, and ammonium molybdates. With basic dyes, phosphomolyb-dic acid is employed. The pigment known as molybdenum orange is a mixed crystal of lead chromate and lead molybdate. Sodium molybdate, or molybdic oxide, is added to fertilizers as a beneficial trace element. Zinc and calcium molybdate serve as inhibitory pigments in protective coatings arid paint for metals subjected to a corrosive atmosphere. Compounds used to produce better adherence of enamels are molybdenum trioxide and ammonium, sodium, calcium, barium, and lead molybdates. 

---