Determination of thirty-two elements in human autopsy tissue

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Trace element concentrations in human tissues are crucial for understanding physiological processes and environmental exposure.
• Variations in elemental composition can occur due to age, sex, diet, and geographical location.
• Limited data exists on sex-specific elemental profiles in human organs within the Czech Republic population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the concentrations of multiple trace elements in human liver, kidney, and bone tissues.
• To investigate potential sex-based differences in the distribution of these elements.
• To establish baseline elemental data for a North Bohemian population.

Main Methods:

• Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for elemental analysis.
• Samples were obtained from 70 deceased individuals (54 males, 16 females) aged 18-76.
• Statistical analyses included geometric means, medians, range calculations, distribution, and correlation analyses.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in element concentrations between males and females were identified in liver, kidney, and bone tissues.
• Males exhibited higher median concentrations of Al, As, Cd, and Rb in the liver compared to females.
• Females showed higher concentrations of Hg and lower concentrations of Zn in the kidney compared to males.

Conclusions:

• Sex is a significant factor influencing trace element accumulation in human organs.
• The findings provide valuable reference data for toxicological and health assessments in the studied population.
• Further research is warranted to explore the physiological and environmental implications of these sex-specific elemental differences.