Biological Trace Element Research最新文献

{"title":"Effect of Boron on the Growth Performance, Biochemical Indices, Carcass, Intestinal and Bone Characteristics with Economics in Broiler Chickens.","authors":"Jayant Kumar Kakwani, Dharmesh Tewari, S Gautam, Pallavi Maurya, S S Kashyap, V K Singh, Shubham Tripathi, Manish Kumar Singh, Sandeep Kumar Chaudhary","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05219-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05219-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Boron has emerged as a nutritionally important element due to significant role in biological system, including mineral lipid and energy metabolism, immune and endocrine system and brain function. The primary objective of present investigation was to evaluate the effect of graded levels of boron supplementation (0, 12, 24 and 48 ppm) on performance and mineral metabolism of broilers. 200 day-old broiler chicks, which were randomly allotted into four dietary treatment groups, viz., BA-0: No boron supplementation, BA-12: Received boric acid 12 mg Kg^- 1 dry feed, BA-24: Received boric acid 24 mg Kg^- 1 dry feed and BA-48: Received boric acid 48 mg Kg^- 1 dry feed, with five replicates of ten birds each under a completely randomized design for 42 days experimental period. Boric acid was used as a boron source. The body weight, feed conversion ratio, energy and protein efficiency ratio improved significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of boric acid supplementation, while feed intake remained non-significant (p > 0.05) across all treatment groups throughout the experimental period. The serum biochemical profile revealed that serum glucose and cholesterol levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of boric acid supplementation. The tibial bone and intestinal characteristics revealed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the higher supplemented groups, particularly in BA-24 and BA-48, compared to the control group. Profitability and overall economic efficiency increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of boric acid supplementation, with the highest economic returns recorded in the BA-48 group, followed by BA-24. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of boric acid @ 48 ppm improved the growth performance and mineral metabolism in broiler chickens. Further research is warranted to explore the potential of boron in poultry nutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7735-7742"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Salt Deposits to the Dinner Table: A Systematic Review of Heavy Metal Contamination in Edible Salt; Sources, Limitations of Conventional Purification, Human Exposure, and Regulatory Gaps.","authors":"Ali Nikmanesh, Shahram Saburirad, Alimohammad Yavarahmadi, Sajjad Sadeghi","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05236-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05236-w","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Edible salt is an essential component of the human diet and a critical vehicle for iodine fortification, yet it can also serve as a pathway for chronic dietary exposure to toxic heavy metals. Despite decades of research documenting metal contamination in salt, the sources of contamination, particularly the potential role of mine blasting, remain inadequately characterized, and the efficacy of conventional purification methods has been overestimated. This systematic review aimed to synthesize available evidence on heavy metal contamination in edible salt across four interconnected dimensions: (1) documented sources of contamination, while also highlighting empirically untested hypotheses regarding potential extraction‑related contamination pathways (e.g., mining operations) as priorities for future investigation; (2) limitations of conventional purification methods in achieving complete metal removal; (3) human exposure levels and associated health risks; and (4) existing regulatory frameworks and their shortcomings. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted for original research articles published between January 2016 and June 2026 reporting quantitative measurements of heavy metals in edible salt. Of the 16 studies initially meeting the broad eligibility criteria, 12 provided robust quantitative data on heavy metal concentrations with associated health risk or purification assessments and formed the core evidence base (Table 1). The remaining 4 studies were predominantly method‑development or qualitative classification papers and are summarized separately in Supplementary Table S2. Lead (Pb) was the most frequently reported toxic metal, with concentrations ranging from 0.001 mg/kg in Lake Urmia salt to 18.43 mg/kg in contaminated Pakistani sea salt. Cadmium (Cd) reached 6.08 mg/kg in Ghanaian market salts, and mercury (Hg) reached 15.3 mg/kg in Pakistani sea salt, 153 times the Codex limit. Conventional purification methods substantially reduced heavy metal concentrations, but did not completely eliminate them. Health risk assessments diverged sharply: salts from clean environments posed negligible risks, while contaminated salts exhibited hazard indices exceeding 20 and carcinogenic risks above the USEPA threshold. Importantly, no study investigated the contribution of mine blasting with explosives to salt contamination, a significant research gap. Regulatory standards were inconsistent across jurisdictions, with no limits specified for chromium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, or antimony. Heavy metal contamination of edible salt is a global phenomenon, with the highest levels found in salts from polluted harvesting sites. Conventional purification methods can substantially reduce heavy metal contamination, often by over 90%, but they do not necessarily eliminate it entirely. Current regulatory frameworks exhibit important inconsistencies and coverage gaps, particularly for several trace metals that are not specif","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7956-7975"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of Whole Blood Minerals and Trace Elements with Body Composition in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Zhiyi Zhou, Jing Chen, Yuanlan Chen, Yiming Fu, Peipei Qi, Yuan Li, Linqiu Ke","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05242-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05242-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To detect the levels of whole blood minerals and trace elements (calcium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium) in overweight and obese patients, and explore their associations with body weight, body mass index (BMI) and other body composition indicators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 1220 enrolled patients. Participants were categorized into overweight and obese groups based on body mass index (BMI). We compared whole blood minerals and trace elements, body composition and weight-related indicators between the two groups, and explored correlations and independent associations of these elements with BMI, body fat percentage, visceral fat content and muscle mass. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Concentrations of iron, zinc and magnesium were significantly elevated in the obese group (P < 0.001), while calcium concentrations were markedly lower (P < 0.001). No significant intergroup difference was observed for copper (P = 0.408). Correlation analysis revealed that iron, zinc and magnesium were positively correlated with BMI, visceral fat content and muscle mass (P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with body fat percentage (P < 0.001). Copper was positively correlated with body fat percentage (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with muscle mass (P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for gender and age, copper (B = 0.157, P = 0.002) showed a significant independent positive association with body fat percentage. Zinc had a borderline positive association with BMI (B = 0.003, P = 0.069), indicating no statistical significance. None of the elements were significantly and independently associated with visceral fat content.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Iron, zinc, magnesium and copper are closely correlated with obesity-related indices. Copper shows a specific association with body fat percentage rather than visceral adipose tissue. As an observational study, we confirmed associations between these minerals and trace elements and obesity as well as body composition, yet causal relationships cannot be established.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"8046-8052"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148496941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of an Angiotensin II Type-1 Receptor (AT₁R) Antagonist and Mg²⁺ Supplementation on the Levels of NO_X in Plasma and Kidney Homogenates, Lipid Peroxidation, and Osmotic Fragility of Red Blood Cells in Dahl Rats Fed a High Sodium Diet.","authors":"Lusliany J Rondón, Gabriela González-Infante, Gerardo Moncada, Deliana Rojas, Margrego Piña, Reinaldo Marín","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05244-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05244-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mg²⁺ deficiency has been linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypertension. We have previously shown that Losartan increases plasma Mg²⁺ levels in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl) rats, suggesting that defective Mg²⁺ metabolism in this strain contributes to hypertension. Here, we investigated the effects of dietary Mg²⁺ supplementation (0.3% MgO) and/or Losartan (10 mg/kg/day, in drinking water) in male Dahl rats fed a high-NaCl (8%) or standard Na⁺ diet for six weeks. Six-week-old rats were randomly assigned to eight experimental groups. NO metabolites (nitrites and nitrates) were measured in plasma and kidney homogenates. Oxidative stress was assessed by lipid peroxidation in plasma and red blood cell ghosts (RBCG), and by erythrocyte osmotic fragility (OS₅₀). Both Losartan and Mg²⁺ supplementation protected against hypertension and high-salt-induced systemic and local oxidative stress, with differential regulation of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Na⁺-ATPase activity. A consistent \"high Na⁺ effect\" was observed across NaCl-fed groups, characterized by Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) activation, increased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, osmotic fragility, and elevated Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity. Losartan normalized blood pressure (BP) by attenuating renal RAAS activity and reducing oxidative stress, whereas Mg²⁺ supplementation increased (Nitrites + Nitrates) NO_X levels, improved red blood cell (RBC) membrane stability, and stimulated Na⁺-ATPase activity. These findings highlight distinct but complementary mechanisms through which AT₁R blockade and Mg²⁺ supplementation attenuate salt-induced oxidative stress and reduce BP. Future studies incorporating immunohistochemistry and qPCR are warranted to further characterize ROS-mediated renal tissue damage across treatment groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"8053-8073"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148534986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent Advances in the Treatment of Thyroid Pathologies with Selenium-Containing Compounds, Nanoparticles and Nanocomplexes Based on Selenium and Selenoproteins.","authors":"Elena G Varlamova","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05252-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05252-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thyroid diseases are a pressing issue in modern medicine, making it crucial to develop new pharmacological agents with effective therapeutic properties. This review analyzes the latest research on the role of various compounds of the essential trace element selenium in maintaining normal thyroid hormone function. In recent decades, numerous studies have been published demonstrating the diverse therapeutic properties of selenium compounds of various origins, demonstrating the effectiveness of this trace element in combating diseases of various etiologies. It is known that the thyroid gland, an important endocrine organ, regulates the hormonal balance of the key hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, and the enzymes that play a key role in this regulation are selenium-containing deiodinases. This review presents the latest data on this regulation, as well as the role of other selenoproteins in mitigating thyroid pathological processes. In addition, the latest developments in nanoselenium-based drugs are presented and the mechanisms for regulating various thyroid pathologies using selenium-containing nanoparticles and nanocomplexes are described. The role of organic and inorganic selenium-based drugs is also described. Thus, the information presented in this review allows us to understand the latest trends in the development of new selenium-based drugs for maintaining normal thyroid function.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"8196-8213"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148576641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Metal Mixture Exposure and Risk of Anthracosilicosis: A Case-control Study Based in Xinjiang, China.","authors":"Jiulong Kou, Xueyu Xu, Yufu Wang, Zhaojing Ma, Maoqiang Xue, Shurui Zuo, Yue Du, Ping He","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05229-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05229-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anthracosilicosis is a legally recognized occupational disease that imposes a significant public health and economic burden on developing countries. Environmental exposure to mixed metals may influence the onset and progression of the disease, but relevant evidence among Chinese coal miners remains inconclusive. To evaluate the association between exposure to individual metal elements and their mixtures and the risk of anthracosilicosis using a case-control design. This case-control study included 154 coal miners (84 anthracosilicosis cases and 70 controls) who applied for occupational disease diagnosis at the Third People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between 2020 and 2024. Controls were frequency-matched to cases by age and work tenure. Plasma levels of seven metal elements (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Ga, Mn, Sr) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Single-metal exposure was analyzed using binary logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS). Mixture effects were evaluated using quantile g-computation (QGC), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The case group had higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, and Mn than the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of Cd, Cu, Mn, and Sr were positively correlated with the risk of anthracosilicosis (P < 0.05), whereas an inverse association was observed for Ga (P < 0.05). Both QGC and WQS analyzes indicated that the mixture of seven metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Sr, and Ga) was positively associated with anthracosilicosis risk (P < 0.05). The BKMR model indicated that when the overall mixture exposure level exceeded the 50th percentile, the joint exposure to metals was positively associated with an increased risk of anthracosilicosis (P < 0.05). Mn may be the largest contributor to the cumulative effect of mixed metal exposure on risk, and Ga was negatively associated with the risk of anthracosilicosis. The combined exposure to 7 metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Sr, and Ga) was positively associated with the risk of anthracosilicosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7884-7895"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148577062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal Cerium Exposure and Neural Tube Defect Risk: A Case-control Study in Shanxi, China.","authors":"Jing Wei, Fuyuan Yin, Zuqun Jin, Ning Kang, Dezheng Fu, Tian Tian, Yun Huang, Zhiwen Li, Linlin Wang, Lei Jin, Aiguo Ren, Shengju Yin","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05196-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05196-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neural tube defects (NTDs) exhibit a multifaceted etiology. Limited research has assessed the association between exposure to metallic and non-metallic elements and the incidence of NTDs at the elementomic level. Our study included 40 women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 119 controls in northern China's Shanxi province. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to quantify 45 elements in umbilical cord serum samples collected from all participants. Thirteen elements were excluded from subsequent analysis due to a detection rate below 60%. We employed three machine learning selection models, Boruta, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, and Extreme Gradient Boosting, to jointly identify the key exposure elements as zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), molybdenum (Mo), cerium (Ce), barium (Ba) and titanium (Ti). Bayesian kernel machine regression assessed both single and combined effects of these elements on NTD risk, with individual element effects confirmed via logistic regression. Our results showed a non-significant trend toward higher NTD risk with rising concentrations of the mixture of these six elements. When Ce concentration increased from the 25th to the 75th percentile, a statistically significant elevated risk of NTDs was observed, after adjusting for the concentrations of the other five metals at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles. Logistic regression analysis further identified a significant association between Ce exposure and NTD risk, with an odds ratio (95% CI) of 1.96 (1.10-3.49). No interactions among the elements were identified. In conclusion, our results indicate that higher Ce concentrations are significantly associated with NTD risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7402-7412"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148337612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measurement of Elements (Essential and Toxic) in Various Types of Canned Vegetable Available in Iran Using ICP‑OES Method: A Health Risk Assessment Study.","authors":"Talat Ghane, Melika Heydari, Maryam Beigomi, Nabi Shariatifar, Asma Shokohi Fard, Saeed Aeenehvand","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05209-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05209-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canned vegetables are widely consumed due to their convenience, making the measurement of both toxic and essential elements crucial for food safety evaluation. In this study, fourteen elements were analyzed in canned vegetable samples using the ICP‑OES method. These included toxic elements (Hg, Ni, Al, As, Cd, and Pb) and essential elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Se). Moreover, a health risk assessment (covering both carcinogenic and non‑carcinogenic risks) was performed for children and adults based on per capita consumption using the Monte Carlo method. The results showed that among the toxic elements, aluminum had the highest mean concentration (417 ± 52.4 µg/kg), while mercury was not detected (ND) in any sample. For essential elements, potassium exhibited the highest mean level (4627 ± 1466 mg/kg), whereas selenium had the lowest (10.9 ± 5.37 mg/kg). Overall, the concentrations of both toxic and essential elements were below the established safety standards for those elements for which such standards exist in Iran and other international organizations. Probabilistic risk assessments demonstrated that the cumulative estimated daily intake (EDI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and target hazard quotient (THQ) for the analyzed toxic metals posed no significant health risks to Iranian consumers under either the average or maximum exposure scenarios (THQ ≤ 1, ILCR ≤ 10^- 6).</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7571-7591"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148381435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intrapulmonary Mercury Deposition more than a Decade after Ingestion of a Mercury-Containing Traditional Remedy: A Case Report.","authors":"Abudushalamu Abudureheman, Lijuan Lin, Hailin Chen, Chunping Wu, Maimaitirexiati Supaji, Tianming Zheng","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05230-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05230-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isolated intrapulmonary metallic density nodules are rare clinical findings. Elemental mercury deposition in the lung parenchyma is exceptionally uncommon and is typically associated with intravenous injection or occupational exposure. Cases resulting from oral ingestion with latency periods exceeding a decade present significant diagnostic challenges. A 52-year-old male farmer presented with an incidentally discovered thoracic opacity on imaging. Chest computed tomography revealed a solitary hyperdense nodule with a precise attenuation of 2809 Hounsfield Units located in the posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe. The patient denied typical mercury exposure but recalled ingesting a traditional medicine explicitly stated to contain mercury over ten years prior for joint pain. During video assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the lesion was identified within the lung parenchyma. Intraoperative fluoroscopy confirmed the metallic content in the resected specimen. Gross examination revealed silvery liquid mercury pooling within the lesion. Histopathological analysis demonstrated granulomatous inflammation with black particulate deposits, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy identified characteristic mercury peaks within these deposits, confirming localized mercury deposition. Notably, comprehensive evaluation revealed that systemic blood and urinary mercury biomarkers remained strictly within normal limits. This case demonstrates that localized pulmonary mercury deposition following oral exposure can remain entirely asymptomatic and eventually manifest solely as an incidental radiological finding more than a decade later. Precise preoperative localization of highly dense lesions near the diaphragm can be challenging. The integration of intraoperative fluoroscopy and a detailed traditional medicine history is crucial for an accurate diagnosis. This report highlights the silent but enduring health risks associated with the unregulated use of heavy metals in traditional remedies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"7896-7904"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148454372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Statistical Comparison and Human Health Risk Assessment of Some Toxic and Trace Elements in Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don (Boraginaceae) Grown in Türkiye Using ICP-OES and FAAS with Different Digestion Methods.","authors":"Aysen Kurt Cucu, Emirhan Ozdemir","doi":"10.1007/s12011-026-05245-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12011-026-05245-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don is an edible wild plant widely consumed as food and used in complementary medicine in Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of some toxic and trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and total Cr) in Trachystemon orientalis collected from two districts of Düzce Province and to compare wet and microwave digestion methods using ICP-OES and FAAS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and human health risk assessment based on estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) were also performed. According to ICP-OES results, the highest concentrations (mg/kg) were 239.09 ± 40.29 for Fe in microwave-digested samples from Gümüşova, 6.11 ± 0.89 for Cu and 21.15 ± 2.64 for Zn in wet-digested samples from Gümüşova, 3.40 ± 0.72 for Pb and 0.13 ± 0.04 for Cd in wet-digested samples from Kaynaşlı, and 1.01 ± 0.14 for Cr in microwave-digested samples from Kaynaşlı. FAAS results showed maximum concentrations of 221.47 ± 24.34 mg/kg for Fe in microwave-digested samples, and 4.66 ± 1.01 mg/kg for Cu and 24.22 ± 1.13 mg/kg for Zn in wet-digested samples from Gümüşova. A direct comparison between FAAS and ICP-OES was therefore limited to Fe, Cu, and Zn, as Pb, Cd, and Cr were below the detection capability of FAAS under the experimental conditions employed. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of digestion method and/or sampling region on the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd (p < 0.05), whereas Cr was significantly affected only by the interaction between digestion method and sampling region. PCA results showed clear separation of samples according to digestion method. All the HQ and HI values were less than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. Overall, Trachystemon orientalis samples did not pose a significant health risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":8917,"journal":{"name":"Biological Trace Element Research","volume":" ","pages":"8074-8088"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}