Abstract
Data on zinc concentration in the human body may be used to interpret the results obtained in cases of chronic and acute poisonings with zinc compounds, i.e., in clinical and forensic toxicology. In this paper, the concentrations of zinc in human tissues and body fluids obtained from autopsy cases concerning non-poisoned people (n = 203), aged from 14 to 80 years, between 1995 and 2008, are presented. The following values were found by the flame atomic absorption method (mean ± SD, median, range, in microgram per gram or microgram per milliliter): brain 10.3 ± 1.36, 10.2, 7.99–13.8 (n = 48); stomach 14.2 ± 3.63, 13.6, 8.00–22.5 (n = 71); intestines 15.7 ± 5.22, 15.8, 8.36–28.1 (n = 35); liver 39.6 ± 16.1, 36.6, 16.0–78.8 (n = 109); kidney 33.8 ± 10.1, 31.8, 16.4–60.9 (n = 93); lung 12.0 ± 3.88, 11.0, 6.13–18.7 (n = 26); spleen 14.7 ± 2.53, 14.6, 11.4–18.3 (n = 5); heart 26.5 ± 3.63, 26.7, 22.5–31.8 (n = 5); blood 6.81 ± 1.21, 7.00, 4.02–8.68 (n = 50); urine 0.69 ± 1.70, 0.60, 0.39–1.00 (n = 5), and bile 4.92 ± 1.64, 3.75, 3.20–7.09 (n = 9). The accuracy of the method was checked through the use of SRM Bovine Liver 1577b (certified: 127 ± 16 μg Zn/g, found: 117 ± 0.7 μg Zn/g (n = 6)).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Poulsen OM, Christensen JM, Sabbioni E, Van der Venne MT (1994) Trace elements reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European Community. V: review of trace elements in blood, serum and urine and critical evaluation of reference values for the Danish population. Sci Total Environ 141:197–215
Cornelis R, Sabbioni E, Van der Venne MT (1994) Trace element reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European Community. VII. Review of elements in blood, plasma and urine of the Belgian population. Sci Total Environ 158:191–226
Minoia CE, Sabbioni P, Apostoli P, Pietra R, Pozzoli L, Gallorini M, Nicolaou G, Alessio L, Capodaglio E (1990) Trace elements references values in tissues from the inhabitants from the European Community. I. A study of 46 elements in urine, blood and serum of Italian subjects. Sci Total Environ 95:89–105
Hamilton EI, Sabbioni E, Van der Venne MT (1994) Element reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European Community. VI. Review of elements in blood, plasma and urine and a critical evaluation of reference values for the United Kingdom population. Sci Total Environ 158:165–190
Moreno MA, Marin C, Vinagre F, Ostapczuk P (1999) Trace element levels in whole blood samples from residents of the city Badajoz, Spain. Sci Total Environ 229:209–215
Bárány E, Bergdahl IA, Bratteby LE, Lundh T, Samuelson G, Schütz A, Skerfing S, Oskarsson A (2002) Trace element levels in whole blood and serum from Swedish adolescents. Sci Total Environ 286:129–141
Beneš B, Spĕváčková V, Šmid J, Čejchanová M, Kaplanová E, Černá M, Gajevská V, Blatný J (2002) Determination of normal concentration levels of Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn and Se in urine of the population in the Chech Republic. Centr Eur J publ Health 10:3–5
Rükgauer M, Klein J, Kruse-Jares JD (1997) Reference values for the trace elements copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc in the serum/plasma of children adolescente, and adults. J Trace Elem Med Biol 11:92–98
Goullé J-P, Mahieu L, Castermant J, Neveu N, Bonneau L, Lainé G, Bouige D, Lacroix Ch (2005) Metal and metalloid multi-elementary ICP-MS validation in whole blood, plasma, urine and hair, Reference values. Forensic Sci Int 153:39–44
Komaromy-Hiller G, Owen Ash K, Costa R, Howerton K (2000) Comparison of representative ranges based on US patient population and literature reference intervals for urinary trace elements. Clin Chim Acta 296:71–90
Bazzi A, Nriagu JO, Linder AM (2008) Determination of toxic and essential elements in children’s blood with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. J Environ Monit 10:1226–1232
Sabbioni E, Nicolau GR, Pietra R, Beccaloni E, Coni E, Alimonti A, Caroli S (1990) Inductively coupled atomic emission spectrometry and neutron activation analysis for the determination of element reference values in human lung tissue. Biol Trace Elem Res 26–27:757–768
Treble RG, Thompson TS, Lynch HR (1998) Determination of copper, manganese and zinc in human liver. Biometals 11:49–53
Schnier C, Benn HP (1990) Multielement investigation of human bile by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 142:433–443
Iyengar GV, Kollmer WE, Bowen HJM (1978) The elemental composition of human tissues and body fluids. Weinheim, Verlag Chemie
Lech T, Dudek-Adamska D (2009) Concentrations of zinc and manganese in post-mortem tissues and body fluids. Probl Forensic Sci 78:226–238
Rahil-Kazhen R, Bolann BJ, Myking A, Ulvik RJ (2002) Multi-element analysis of trace element levels in human autopsy tissues by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry technique (ICP-AES). J Trace Elem Med Biol 16:15–25
Gerhardsson L, Englyst V, Lundström NG, Sandberg S, Nordberg G (2002) Cadmium, copper and zinc in tissues of deceased copper smelter workers. J Trace Elem Med Biol 16:261–266
Lyon TDB, Fell GS (1992) Trace elements in autopsy tissue. Food Chem 43:299–306
Lopes PA, Santos MC, Vincente L, Rodrigues MO, Pavão ML, Nève J, Viegas-Crespo AM (2004) Trace element status (Se, Cu, Zn) in healthy Portuguese subjects of Lisbon population: a reference study. Biol Trace Elem Res 101:1–17
Minoia C, Sabbioni E, Gatti A, Pietra R, Nicolott A, Fortaner S, Balducci C, Fonte A, Roggi C (1994) Trace elements reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European Community VI: influence of dietary factors. Sci Total Environ 141:181–195
Lech T, Sadlik JK. Zinc concentration in urine of non-exposed persons (unpublished data)
Versieck J (1985) Trace elements in human body fluids and tissues. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 22:97–184
Sumino K, Hayakawa K, Shibata T, Kitamura S (1975) Heavy metals in normal Japanese tissues. Arch Environ Health 30:487–494
Yoo Y, Lee S, Yang J, In S, Kim K, Kim S, Kwon T, Ko Y, Chung K (2000) Distribution of heavy metals in normal Korean tissues. Probl Forensic Sci 43:283–289
Aalbers ThG, Houtman JPW, Makking B (1987) Trace-element concentrations in human autopsy tissue. Clin Chem 33:2057–2074
Somogyi G, Jeni E, Szokol, Buris L, Buris L jr, Nagy D, Pap L (2000) Distribution of inorganic elements in human autopsy tissues. Pharmazie 55:239–242
Lyon TDB, Fell GS, Halls DJ, McKenna F (1989) Determination of nine inorganic elements in human autopsy tissue. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 3:109–118
Bem EM, Piotrowski JK, Turzyńska E (1993) Cadmium, zinc and copper levels in the kidneys and liver of the inhabitants of north-eastern Poland. Pol J Occup Med Environ Health 60:133–141
Katoh Y, Sato T, Yamamoto Y (2002) Determination of multielement concentrations in normal human organs from the Japanese. Biol Trace Elem Res 90:57–70
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lech, T., Sadlik, J.K. Zinc in Postmortem Body Tissues and Fluids. Biol Trace Elem Res 142, 11–17 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8747-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8747-5