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Cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel concentrations in blood of women in non-polluted areas in Japan, as determined by inductively coupled plasma-sector field-mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Background

Background levels of metals of toxicological or industrial importance have been reported for several populations in the world. The information on the levels of metals of industrial, occupational or clinical importance in blood of general Japanese populations is however still scarce.

Objectives

The objectives of the study were to establish background levels of Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb in blood of Japanese population using inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SF-MS), which was expected to be sensitive enough to measure low-level Pb in blood of general populations. For this purpose, women, rather than men, were studied to minimize the effect of smoking. An additional objective was to examine possible contamination from devices in phlebotomy process.

Methods

Blood samples were collected in 2000’s from 1,420 adult women in eight prefectures of no known anthropogenic environmental metal pollution in Japan, and the samples were subjected to ICP-SF-MS analyses after wet digestion with extra-pure nitric acid. Ultra pure water samples aspirated into blood sampling vacuum tubes were analyzed to detect possible metal contamination.

Results

Contamination of blood samples from phlebotomy device was detected for Cr and possibly for Mn and Ni, whereas it was below measurable levels with regard to Cd, Ni and Pb. Under this limitation, GM metal concentrations in blood were 1.23 μg/l for Cd, 0.55 μg/l for Cr, 13.2 μg/l for Mn, 1.81 μg/l for Ni and 15.8 μg/l for Pb. Cd and Pb tended to increase in association with age, whereas Cr, Mn and Ni tended to decrease. Smoking induced elevation both in Cd and in Pb in blood. It was also made clear that the ICP-SF-MS is reliable for measurements of Cd, Mn and Pb in blood allowing evaluation even on an individual basis, while the results of Cr and Ni should be reliable on a group basis (e.g., n ≥ 5). Limitation in compatibility was discussed between the results by ICP-SF-MS and that by traditional graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Conclusions

ICP-SF-MS is a reliable method of blood analysis for Cd, Mn and Pb even for the evaluation on an individual basis. Cr and Ni analyses should be reliable on a group basis, probably due to limited performance inherent to the analysis principle and matrix. Possible contamination from phlebotomy devices with Cr should be taken into account in evaluating the results.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid from Food Safety Commission, Japan (No. 0802; Head Investigator, M. Ikeda), for the fiscal years of 2008 and 2009. ICP-SF-MS analyses for metals were conducted by Inorganic Analysis Laboratories, Toray Research Center, Inc., Ohtsu, Shiga, Japan. Thanks are due to Hirosaki City Medical Association (Hirosaki, Japan) and Fukui Health Service Association (Fukui, Japan) for their cooperation in collecting blood samples, and Kyoto University Human Specimen Bank (Organizer; Professor A. Koizumi) for their generous supply of blood samples. The authors are grateful to the administration and staff of Kyoto Industrial Health Association (Kyoto, Japan) for their interest in and support to this study.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kyoto Industrial Health Association (Main Office), 67 Nishinokyo-Kitatsuboicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8472, Japan

    Masayuki Ikeda, Fumiko Ohashi & Yoshinari Fukui

  2. Kyoto Industrial Health Association (Mibu Office), 4-1 Mibu-Shujaku-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8871, Japan

    Sonoko Sakuragi & Jiro Moriguchi

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  1. Masayuki Ikeda
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  2. Fumiko Ohashi
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Correspondence to Masayuki Ikeda.

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Ikeda, M., Ohashi, F., Fukui, Y. et al. Cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese and nickel concentrations in blood of women in non-polluted areas in Japan, as determined by inductively coupled plasma-sector field-mass spectrometry. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 139–150 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0542-2

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