Trace Elements

Element / Aluminum / Antimony / Arsenic / Cadmium / Chromium / Copper
Overview /
  • Used for beverage cans, pots/pans, roofing, foil
  • Found in antacids, buffered aspirin, cosmetics, antiperspirants
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  • Used in industrial settings as an alloy, semiconductor devices, sheet/pipe metal
  • Used to treat blood flukes and parasites.
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  • Used in wood preservation, insecticides, rat poison
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  • Used in manufacturing of pigments , batteries, metal-plating, plastics
  • Burning of fossil fuels releases cadmium into the air
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  • Used in manufacturing of stainless steel
  • Occupational exposure occurs in wood treatment, chrome plating, leather tanning
  • Essential dietary element- plays a role in normal metabolism of fat, glucose, cholesterol
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  • Important cofactor for some metalloenzymes
  • Needed for the reduction of iron in heme synthesis

Absorption / Aluminum is ingested in food then absorbed in intestinal walls. / Arsenic is ingested in food/water. It can also be inhaled in contaminated air / Higher in females than in males due to amount of iron stores. / Transferrin and albumin involved in absorption and transport / 50-80% of ingested copper is absorbed from the intestine
Transport / Once in plasma it is bound to carrier proteins and taken to various organs, such as bone and lung tissue. / Transferrin and albumin involved in absorption and transport / Copper goes to the liver and binds to albumin. In the liver, copper is added to ceruloplasmin for distribution to the body.
Excretion / 95% is excreted in urine- remainder in bile / Excreted in urine and bile / Excreted in urine / Majority excreted through bile
Toxicity / Toxic levels seen with some dialysis patients / Often used as a poison since it is odorless and tasteless. / No known role in normal physiology / One form of chromium is more toxic-causing dermatitis and skin ulcers.
When this form is inhaled, can result in airway irritation and lung cancer / Wilson’s disease
Effects /
  • Anemia
  • Bone disease
  • Progressive demetia
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  • Eye irritation
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Antimony spots on skin
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  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Pancytopenia
  • Anemia
  • Basophilic stipping
  • Renal insufficiency/failure
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  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Renal dysfunction

Lab Evaluation /
  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS

Element / Mercury / Manganese / Molybdenum / Nickel / Selenium / Zinc
Overview /
  • Used in thermometers, dry cell batteries, dental amalgams, germicides, fluorescent light bulbs, diaper ointment, laxatives
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  • Used in steel production
  • Used in misc. products: dyes, fertilizer, animal feed, wood preservative
  • Helps in formation of connective and bony tissue
  • Involved in blood clotting, fat/carbohydrate metabolism
  • Involved in reproductive functions
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  • Used in the production of alloys, flame retardants
  • Vital to human health because it binds to certain enzymes
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  • Used in coins, jewelry, stainless steel
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  • Used in the electronics industry, pesticides, fungicides, anti-dandruff shampoo
  • Anticarcinogen
  • Involved with thyroid hormone synthesis
  • Antioxidant
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  • Used in production of alloys (especially brass)
  • Used in paints, skin lotions, die casting
  • Used to treat Wilson’s disease
  • Influences enzymes used in growth, wound healing, skeletal and sexual maturation

Absorption / Via inhalation, ingestion, cutaneous , injection / 2-15% absorbed in small intestine
Absorption is age dependent- infants have higher levels / 25-80% absorbed in the stomach and small intestine / 50% absorbed from GI tract / Mainly occurs in small intestine – jejunum.
60% found in muscle, with the remaining in the skeleton
Transport
Excretion / Fecal/urinary main routes / Bile / Urine and bile / Majority via urine/feces
Toxicity / No known normal human physiology.
Toxic to CNS/PNS / Rare / Exposure occurs from food / Relatively non-toxic
Effects /
  • Blurry vision
  • Problems with hearing, taste, and smell
  • Tingling in arms/legs
  • Irritability
  • Cough/ breathing difficulty
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  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Headache
  • Disorientation
  • Memory loss
  • Anxiety
  • Compulsive laughing/crying
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  • Dermatitis
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  • GI issues
  • Cardiovascular symptoms
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  • GI issues
  • Decrease in heme synthesis
  • hyperglycemia

Lab Evaluation /
  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS
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  • Mass Spec
  • AAS