Toxic trace metallic elements such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and selenium are usually contained in coal in various forms and trace amounts. These metals will either stay in the ash or be vaporized during high temperature combustion. Portions of the vaporized metals may eventually be emitted from a combustion system in the form of metal f...

The distributions of particulate elements (Al, P, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb), dissolved trace metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd), and dissolved nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, and silicic acid) were investigated in the Gulf of the Farallones, a region of high productivity that is driven by the dynamic mixing of the San Francisco Bay plume, upwelled waters, and California coastal surface wa...

It is well-documented that organic compounds form strong complexes with most metals in aquatic systems, and that seawater is a complex medium which contains a large variety of organic and inorganic ligands, including colloidal matter. We suggest that most trace metals are complexed in seawater and that some inorganic metals complexes are either labile or not stable. In contrast, metal-organic c...

Trace elements play an important role in human health and disease. Trace elements participate in tissue, cellular and subcellular function. These include immunoregulation by both humoral and cellular mechanism, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, membrane potential regulation, and mitochondrial activity, among others (1, 2). Although these trace elements constitute a relatively small amount o...

The recent development of the chemical speciation of trace metals in seawater is described. The speciation studies reveal that metal ion complexation is one of the most important processes in seawater; especially, most bioactive trace metals, such as Fe(III) and Cu, exist as complexes with ligands in dissolved organic matter. The organic ligands in seawater are characterized with metal ions sel...

Following the introduction of atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) instrumentation about 30 years ago, many specific and sensitive methods for determining trace metal concentrations in biological materials were developed. Yesterday's rare and esoteric investigations are today's routine clinical analyses. Levels of essential and toxic metals can be determined with relative ease for diagnostic p...

The objectives of this study were to (i) assess trace metal concentrations in Hydrilla verticillata and sediment from an estuarine creek in Alabama (USA), where high metal levels in biota were previously reported, and (ii) investigate the relationship between metal concentrations in H. verticillata and the sediment compartment. Our results indicate that sediment and H. verticillata exhibit mode...

A variety of elements are present in honey at different concentrations. Although some of these heavy metals and trace elements are useful nutrition, at higher levels they could cause health problems. In order to achieve confidence about food safety, regular monitoring of food quality is necessary. In this study, heavy metals and trace element contents were determined by inductively coupled plas...

Trace heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, and mercury, are important environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. In addition to these metals, copper, manganese, iron, and zinc are also important trace micronutrients. The presence of trace heavy metals in the atmosphere, soil, and water can cause serious problems to all organisms,...

Bioaccessibility of trace metals originating from urban particulate matter was assessed in a worst case scenario to evaluate the uptake and thus the hazardous potential of these metals via gastric juice. Sampling was performed over a period of about two months at the Getreidemarkt in downtown Vienna. Concentrations of the assayed trace metals (Ti, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Tl ...