Trace Elements
Element
Aluminum
Overview
 Used for
beverage cans,
pots/pans,
roofing, foil
 Found in
antacids,
buffered
aspirin,
cosmetics,
antiperspirants
Absorption
Aluminum is
ingested in food
then absorbed in
intestinal walls.
Transport
Once in plasma it
is bound to
carrier proteins
and taken to
various organs,
such as bone and
lung tissue.
Excretion
95% is excreted
in urineremainder in bile
Toxic levels seen
with some
dialysis patients
Toxicity
Antimony
Arsenic
 Used in industrial settings  Used in wood
as an alloy,
preservation,
semiconductor devices,
insecticides, rat
sheet/pipe metal
poison
 Used to treat blood
flukes and parasites.
Arsenic is ingested in
food/water. It can also
be inhaled in
contaminated air
Excreted in urine and bile
Cadmium
 Used in
manufacturing of
pigments ,
batteries, metalplating, plastics
 Burning of fossil
fuels releases
cadmium into the
air
Higher in females
than in males due
to amount of iron
stores.
Chromium
 Used in
 Important
manufacturing
cofactor for
of stainless
some
steel
metalloenzymes
 Occupational
 Needed for the
exposure occurs
reduction of iron
in wood
in heme
treatment,
synthesis
chrome plating,
leather tanning
 Essential
dietary
element- plays
a role in normal
metabolism of
fat, glucose,
cholesterol
Transferrin and
50-80% of ingested
albumin involved
copper is absorbed
in absorption and
from the intestine
transport
Transferrin and
albumin involved
in absorption and
transport
Copper goes to the
liver and binds to
albumin. In the
liver, copper is
added to
ceruloplasmin for
distribution to the
body.
Majority excreted
through bile
One form of
chromium is more
toxic-causing
Wilson’s disease
Excreted in urine
Often used as a poison
since it is odorless and
tasteless.
No known role in
normal physiology
Copper
Element
Aluminum
Antimony
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
dermatitis and
skin ulcers.
When this form is
inhaled, can result
in airway irritation
and lung cancer
Effects
 Anemia
 Bone disease
 Progressive
demetia




Lab
Evaluation
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
Eye irritation
Gastrointestinal issues
Stomach ulcers
Antimony spots on skin
 Gastrointestinal
issues
 Pancytopenia
 Anemia
 Basophilic stipping
 Renal
insufficiency/failure
 Nausea/vomitin
g
 Abdominal pain
 Renal
dysfunction
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
Element
Overview
Absorption
Transport
Excretion
Toxicity
Mercury

Manganese
Molybdenum
Nickel
Used in steel production
Used in misc. products:
dyes, fertilizer, animal
feed, wood preservative
Helps in formation of
connective and bony
tissue
Involved in blood clotting,
fat/carbohydrate
metabolism
Involved in reproductive
functions
 Used in the production
of alloys, flame
retardants
 Vital to human health
because it binds to
certain enzymes
Via inhalation,
ingestion,
cutaneous ,
injection
2-15% absorbed in small
intestine
Absorption is age
dependent- infants have
higher levels
25-80% absorbed in the
stomach and small
intestine
50% absorbed
from GI tract
Fecal/urinary
main routes
No known normal
human
physiology.
Bile
Urine and bile
Majority via
urine/feces
Exposure occurs
from food
Used in
thermometers,
dry cell
batteries,
dental
amalgams,
germicides,
fluorescent
light bulbs,
diaper
ointment,
laxatives
Rare
 Used in coins,
jewelry,
stainless steel
Selenium
Zinc
 Used in the

electronics
industry,
pesticides,
fungicides,
anti-dandruff

shampoo
 Anticarcinogen
 Involved with
thyroid

hormone
synthesis
 Antioxidant

Used in
production
of alloys
(especially
brass)
Used in
paints, skin
lotions, die
casting
Used to
treat
Wilson’s
disease
Influences
enzymes
used in
growth,
wound
healing,
skeletal and
sexual
maturation
Mainly occurs
in small
intestine –
jejunum.
60% found in
muscle, with
the remaining
in the skeleton
Relatively nontoxic
Element
Effects
Lab
Evaluation
Mercury
Toxic to CNS/PNS
 Blurry vision
 Problems with
hearing, taste,
and smell
 Tingling in
arms/legs
 Irritability
 Cough/
breathing
difficulty

 Mass Spec
 AAS
Manganese






Molybdenum
Nausea/vomiting
Headache
Disorientation
Memory loss
Anxiety
Compulsive
laughing/crying
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
Nickel
Selenium
Zinc
 Dermatitis
 GI issues
 Cardiovascular
symptoms
 GI issues
 Decrease in
heme
synthesis
 hyperglyce
mia
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS
 Mass Spec
 AAS