Trace element abnormalities in chronic uremia. Final report 24 Jun 74--15 Jun 77

Technical Report · Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6933249

Gonick, H C; Alexander, G V

The study assesses trace element alterations in non-dialyzed and dialyzed uremic patients. Trace element concentrations were measured in accessible peripheral tissues, namely red blood cells, plasma, urine and hair by both atomic absorption spectrophotometry and emission spectroscopy. Findings of note in the non-dialyzed uremics include elevated red blood cell and plasma levels of lead, tin, boron, silicon and arsenic, in particular the latter two trace elements. The pathophysiologic significance of these alterations is at present unknown. With dialysis, using water treated by reverse osmosis, trace element alterations tended to return toward normal with the exceptions of red blood cell arsenic, which remained elevated, and red blood cell and plasma silicon, which increased further. The persistently elevated arsenic levels were found to be due to contamination in the dialysate concentrate whereas the increased silicon levels were attributed to more protracted environmental exposure, rather than to the dialysis procedure.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA). Dept. of Medicine
• OSTI ID: 6933249
• Report Number(s): PB-275520
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
BODY
BORON
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
KIDNEYS
LEAD
METABOLISM
METALS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATHOLOGY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SYMPTOMS
TIN
TRACE AMOUNTS
UREMIA
UROGENITAL SYSTEM DISEASES