Beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children

Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2014, Vol 21, Issue 2

Abstract

Power plant dust is believed to be the main source of the increased presence of the element beryllium in the environment which has been detected in the atmospheric air, surface waters, groundwater, soil, food, and cigarette smoke. In humans, beryllium absorption occurs mainly via the respiratory system. The pharyngeal tonsils are located on the roof of the nasopharynx and are in direct contact with dust particles in inhaled air. As a result, the concentration levels of beryllium in the pharyngeal tonsils are likely to be a good indicator of concentration levels in the air. The presented study had two primary aims: to investigate the beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children living in southern Poland, and the appropriate reference range for this element in children’s pharyngeal tonsils. Pharyngeal tonsils were extracted from a total of 379 children (age 2–17 years, mean 6.2 ± 2.7 years) living in southern Poland. Tonsil samples were mineralized in a closed cycle in a pressure mineralizer PDS 6, using 65% spectrally pure nitric acid. Beryllium concentration was determined using the ICP-AES method with a Perkin Elmer Optima 5300DVTM. The software Statistica v. 9 was used for the statistical analysis. It was found that girls had a significantly greater beryllium concentration in their pharyngeal tonsils than boys. Beryllium concentration varies greatly, mostly according to the place of residence. Based on the study results, the reference value for beryllium in pharyngeal tonsils of children is recommended to be determined at 0.02–0.04 µg/g.

Authors and Affiliations

Ewa Nogaj, Jerzy Kwapulinski, Maciej Misiołek, Wojciech Golusiński, Jolanta Kowol, Danuta Wiechuła

Keywords

Related Articles

Daily tobacco smoking patterns in rural and urban areas of Poland – the results of the GATS study

Introduction and objective: Cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of premature death worldwide. Tobacco smoking is influenced by social and economic factors such as age, gender, level of education and place of resi...

Effectiveness of the National Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in Poland – Outcomes, problems and possible solutions 7 years after implementation

Cervical cancer is a substantial issue for public health in Poland. In 2006, in order to improve epidemiological data, the National Population-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Programme was developed and implemented. The...

Benefits and risks associated with genetically modified food products

Scientists employing methods of genetic engineering have developed a new group of living organisms, termed ‘modified organisms’, which found application in, among others, medicine, the pharmaceutical industry and food di...

Smoking and the level of nicotine addiction in relation to the state of hard dental tissues in young adults

Nowadays, smoking is considered to be one of the unhealthiest human behaviours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential influence of smoking, as well as the degree of the addiction, on the health status of ha...

Clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis in the oral cavity – Case report

Introduction. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma can spread from the primary renal cell carcinoma to other organs, practically to all tissues. Distant metastases – to the tissue of the head and neck – are transferred throug...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP80777
  • DOI -
  • Views 110
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Ewa Nogaj, Jerzy Kwapulinski, Maciej Misiołek, Wojciech Golusiński, Jolanta Kowol, Danuta Wiechuła (2014). Beryllium concentration in pharyngeal tonsils in children. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 21(2), 267-271. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-80777