Applied Chemical Engineering

Bio-monitoring of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in Human Serum and Urine Samples of Patients Under Chronic Medication Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Fatima Ali Hussain

Ministry of Education, Baghdad, Iraq

Saja Farhan Abdullah

University of Al-Iraqia, Department of Chemistry, Baghdad, Iraq

Mohammed Ali Hussein

University of Al-Iraqia, Department of Chemistry, Baghdad, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i3.5914

Keywords: Trace elements; Chronic medication; Bio-monitoring; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Serum; Urine; Heavy metals

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Abstract

Chronic pharmacotherapy modifies a human requirement for essential and toxic trace elements. Chronic use of drugs may interfere with absorption, metabolism or excretion of trace elements, resulting in deficit or gradual poisoning. These disturbances may result in oxidative stress, immunosuppression and heightened toxicological risk.

As a first approach, serum and urine both from chronic medicated patients were studied versus healthy controls. The key minerals Fe, Zn, Cu and Se and toxic metals Pb, Cd, As and Hg were determined by validated AAS. To attenuate confounding bias, smokers, subjects with occupational exposure to metal and mineral supplementation were excluded.

The levels of this latter element decreased significantly more than Fe, Zn and Cu did, the serum values for which they remained stable. Higher concentrations of Pb and Cd were indicated in serum and urine, however. We have found a relationship between the duration of medication use and the levels of toxic metals that seems to demonstrate an accumulated exposure over time. The present results suggest that periodic determination of selected trace elements in patients with extensive medication histories may enable detection of hidden toxicological hazards and contribute to the design of safer, more effective long-term therapeutic programs.

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