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Using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we measured the concentrations of thallium and uranium in local water resources from three villages (?elije, Draz, and Potnjani) in eastern Croatia, with the aim to determine if they were associated with the levels of these same elements in the serum, urine, and hair collected from the residents of this area. The exposure of the local population to thallium and uranium through drinking water was generally low. ICP-MS was capable of measuring the levels of both of the elements in almost all of the analysed samples. Although there were differences in the concentrations of both elements in water samples and biological specimens taken from the residents, they did not reach the maximum contaminant level in any of the four sample types studied. Although hair was previously reported as an excellent indicator of occupational and environmental exposure to various elements, our study did not confirm it as a reliable biological material for tracing thallium and uranium levels, mainly due to the very low concentrations of these elements, often well below the detection limit. However, our results have shown that the concentration of thallium and uranium in drinking water can be effectively traced in urine samples.
KEY WORDS: biological specimens, inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry, local water resources, toxic metals
Sazetak
ODRE?IVANJE RAZINA TALIJA I URANA U BUNARSKOJ VODI I BIOLOSKIM UZORCIMA STANOVNISTVA TRIJU ISTO?NOHRVATSKIH SELA
Koriste?i masenu spektrometriju induktivno spregnute plazme (ICP-MS), izmjerili smo koncentracije talija i urana u lokalnim izvorima vode triju isto?nohrvatskih sela (?elije, Draz i Potnjani) radi odre?ivanja jesu li povezane s razinama obaju elemenata u serumu, urinu i kosi stanovnika tih triju sela. Izlozenost lokalnog stanovnistva taliju i uranu preko pitke vode op?enito je bila niska. ICP-MS uspjesno je izmjerio razine obaju elemenata u gotovo svim analiziranim uzorcima. Iako je bilo razlika u razinama obaju elemenata u uzorcima vode i bioloskim uzorcima stanovnika, nijedan nije presao maksimalnu dopustenu granicu. Kosa je prethodno opisana kao izvrstan pokazatelj profesionalne ili okolisne izlozenosti razli?itim elementima, no rezultati naseg ispitivanja nisu potvrdili njenu pouzdanost pri mjerenju talija i urana uslijed vrlo niskih koncentracija obaju elemenata, koje su ?esto bile i ispod razine detekcije. Me?utim, pokazali su kako uzorci urina mogu posluziti kao vrlo dobri indikatori prisutnosti talija i urana...