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Evaluation of Status of Cadmium, Lead, and Nickel Levels in Biological Samples of Normal and Night Blindness Children of Age Groups 3–7 and 8–12 Years

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 December 2010

Abstract

The causes of night blindness in children are multifactorial, and particular consideration has been given to childhood trace metals toxicity, which is the most common problem found in underdeveloped countries. This study was designed to compare the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in scalp hair, blood, and urine of night blindness children age ranged 3–7 and 8–12 years of both genders, comparing them to sex- and age-matched controls. A microwave-assisted wet acid digestion procedure was developed as a sample pretreatment, for the determination of Cd, Pb, and Ni in biological samples of night blindness children. The proposed method was validated by using conventional wet digestion and certified reference samples of hair, blood, and urine. The digests of all biological samples were analyzed for Cd, Pb, and Ni by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated significantly higher levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in the biological samples (blood, scalp hair, and urine) of male and female night blindness children, compared with control subjects of both genders. These data present guidance to clinicians and other professional investigating toxicity of trace metals in biological samples of night blindness children.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan, for sponsoring this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Hassan Imran Afridi, Tasneem Gul Kazi,  Sirajuddin, Ghulam Abbas Kandhro, Jameel Ahmed Baig, Abdul Qadir Shah, Sham Kumar Wadhwa, Sumaira Khan, Nida Fatima Kolachi, Faheem Shah, Mohammad Khan Jamali & Mohammad Balal Arain

  2. Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Hassan Imran Afridi

  3. Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Naveed Kazi

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  1. Hassan Imran Afridi
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  2. Tasneem Gul Kazi
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  3. Naveed Kazi
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  4. Sirajuddin
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  5. Ghulam Abbas Kandhro
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  13. Mohammad Balal Arain
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Correspondence to Hassan Imran Afridi.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8925-5

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Afridi, H.I., Kazi, T.G., Kazi, N. et al. Evaluation of Status of Cadmium, Lead, and Nickel Levels in Biological Samples of Normal and Night Blindness Children of Age Groups 3–7 and 8–12 Years. Biol Trace Elem Res 142, 350–361 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8796-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8796-9

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