Assessment of Trace Element Concentrations in the Blood of Pediatric Leukemia Patients

Several international studies have reported qualitative alterations in the concentrations of specific trace elements among individuals diagnosed with leukemia. However, further investigations are required to validate these associations and better understand the observed elemental variations. In Karbala province, there is a lack of research addressing the distribution of trace elements in pediatric leukemia cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of selected trace elements (Cd, Pb, Co, Al, Cu) in the blood of children with leukemia in Karbala, and to determine whether these levels differ from the normal reference ranges reported by WHO and NIH guidelines, as well as between urban and rural populations. This study measured the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu) in blood samples collected from 20 children with leukemia at Al-Hussein Medical City Hospital. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), using both Flame and Graphite Furnace techniques, was used to quantify the levels. The observed concentrations were copper (46.192 to 274.866 ppb), lead (0.767 to 8.675 ppb), cobalt (0.331 to 3.170 ppb), cadmium (0.466 to 1.752 ppb), and aluminum (15.011 to 24.787 ppb). The results indicated that the concentrations of these trace elements were generally lower than the internationally recognized normal ranges. In addition, a geographic variation was observed: children residing in the urban center exhibited lower trace element concentrations compared with those living in rural areas.