2nd International Conference on Medical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICMBPS'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012

Analysis of Zinc in Human Blood Using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS)
Syed Fahad Akbar Ali, Nida Imtiaz, and Syed Umair Mehdi
AbstractThis study will summarize the importance of zinc and method for analyzing the zinc concentration in human body. Some metal like sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper & manganese are very important for human body to maintain different physiological processes normally. These metals also play an important role in the structures of proteins and enzyme activities. Zinc is one of the important metals, which have very remarkable impact on immune system of human body such as activities like cell reproduction and healing of wounds need the use of zinc, as it is also involved in reproductive system. It maintains the high sperm count in male and in female, it helps in fetal growth and abortion [1]. This study was carried out as, the detection of zinc concentration in human blood among 75 volunteers categorized as welders, dyers, carpenters, casters and flood victims (15 each), by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) technique which give the analytical results of zinc concentration. Keywords-component; zinc concentration; human blood; volunteers; diseases; flame atomic absorption spectroscopy; ppm

Zinc is important for the metabolism of cells and is needed by more than 100 enzymes for their catabolism. It also involves in synthesis of proteins & DNA, healing of wounds and division of cells. It also contributes in the normal growth of fetus [4]. B. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) The determination of zinc concentration in human blood was done by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. From figure 1, the principle of flame atomic absorption spectroscopy is the absorption of light. The hollow cathode lamp produces a spectrum of a specific wavelength. The atomizer converts the sample into population of free atoms. The light then passes through the free atoms population. The detectors then detect the transmitted light.

I.

INTRODUCTION

A. Zinc and its Importance Zinc is a bluish white metal having an atomic number 30 and atomic mass 65.5amu. It is abundantly found in nature. It is 0.02% of earths crust. It is important and useful in human body due to its chemical properties [1]. All protein containing foods contain a reasonable quantity of zinc. The highest concentration of zinc is present in red meat, cereals with whole grains & pulses it may also be contained by chicken, fish, eggs, milk, vegetables and fruits [1]. Many researchers have suggested that, zinc is very important for human body. The variation in metabolism of zinc can create problems in nutrition of human body. In some cases, the deficiency of zinc was observed in human body in all over the world [2] and it has been proved through recent researches by biochemical and physiological point of view [3].

Fig. 1.

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy [6].

Syed Fahad Akbar Ali, Nida Imtiaz, and Syed Umair Mehdi are with Biomedical Engineering Department, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology,Karachi, Pakistan. Email: fahadakbarali@gmail.com, nidahusyin_07@hotmail.com, umairmehdi297@hotmail.com Fig. 2. Standard Calibration Curve

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2nd International Conference on Medical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICMBPS'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012

TABLE I.

CONCENTRATION OF ZINC IN WELDERS AND DYERS

II. A. Reagents

EXPERIMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION

S. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Zinc in Welders (mg/l) 1.36 1.04 0.98 1.24 0.92 1.41 1.24 1.01 0.84 1.12 1.31 0.98 1.40 1.25 1.30

Zinc in Dyers (mg/l) 1.02 1.33 0.99 1.10 1.13 1.51 1.36 1.39 1.41 1.09 0.98 1.48 1.50 1.49 1.22

Zinc granules Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Deionized water

B. Preparation of Stock / Bulk Solution For the preparation of stock / bulk solution, we dissolve 1.000 gm of zinc granules in a minimum volume of 1:1 HCl then dilute it up to 1 liter with 1 % v / v HCl which give a 1000 ppm (part per million) of zinc stock / bulk solution for further application in this research work. C. Ppreparation of Standard Solutions By preparing a series of standard solutions of 0 ppm, 1 ppm, 2 ppm, 3 ppm and 4 ppm ranges (as per limits within the range) made from stock / bulk solution we constructed a standard calibration curve of zinc metal as it shown in figure 2. D. Prepration of Samples Preparation of blood samples was done by adding deionized water with a ratio of 1:10 to the collected blood samples from various individuals who were participated in our research [5] and thus, the detection of zinc concentration done automatically by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. III. RESULTS

TABLE II. CONCENTRATION OF ZINC IN CARPENTERS, CASTERS AND FLOOD VICTIMS

S. No.

Zinc in Carpenters (mg/l) 0.44 0.89 1.00 0.46 1.46 0.89 0.65 0.44 1.02 1.20 0.62 0.44 1.20 1.10 0.75

Zinc in Casters (mg/l) 1.12 1.31 1.26 1.36 1.30 1.46 1.38 1.29 1.51 1.66 1.27 1.34 1.22 0.90 1.44

Zinc in Flood Victims (mg/l) 1.16 1.23 1.80 0.22 1.50 1.13 1.02 1.43 1.70 1.16 1.25 0.98 1.52 1.39 1.00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

The results of zinc concentration determination by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), in blood serum of welders, dyers, carpenters, casters and flood victims with dilution factor 1:10 for all samples is shown in Table I and Table II. IV. DISCUSSION

C. Study Format This work was started with literature study about zinc metal and after acquiring a suitable amount of information related with zinc, the practical work was began as 1000 ppm (part per million) stock / bulk solution of zinc was prepared. In order to obtain stock solution we made a series of standard solutions of 0 ppm, 1 ppm, 2 ppm, 3 ppm and 4 ppm and established a standard characteristic calibration curve. After that we prepared sample solution of human blood serum of those people who participated in our study as volunteers and were suffering from increased concentrations of zinc in the body according to their work places. In the end, the analysis of all 75 samples was done on flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and then results have been acquired.

The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of zinc in human blood serum by using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The blood samples were collected from 75 volunteers who participated in our research and we targeted those areas where we could found the deficiency and toxicity of zinc. For this purpose we divided all volunteers in 5 groups and each group was consisting of 15 volunteers and they were categorized as welders, dyers, carpenters, casters and flood victims respectively. Comparison of zinc detection with standard normal ranges of zinc concentration in human blood i.e. 0.5-1.4 mg/l from table I and II shows no significant deficiency or toxicity of zinc among those volunteers who have been categorized as welders, dyers and casters with respective to their experience of work. Whereas only single volunteer among the categories of carpenter and flood victim, are found slightly zinc deficient.

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2nd International Conference on Medical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICMBPS'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012

Concentration of Zinc
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Individuals

Concentration of zinc
2
concentration

concentration

1.5 1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Individuals

Fig. 3.

Bar Graph of Zinc Concentration in Welders

Concentration of zinc
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Individuals

Fig. 6.

Bar Graph of Zinc Concentration in Casters

Concentration of Zinc
2
concentration

concentration

1.5 1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Individuals

Fig. 4.

Bar Graph of Zinc Concentration in Dyers Fig. 7. Bar Graph of Zinc Concentration in Flood Victims

Concentration of Zinc
1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Individuals

have some serious hazardous effects of zinc, if proper precautions shall not be taken. REFERENCES
[1] [2] Kenneth H. BrowWorkshop Papers Presented at the University of California, Davis, California, USA, 2123 October 1999. J. Cecil Smith, Jr., James A. Halsted A Conspectus of Research on Zinc Requirements of Man, Albany Medical College Albany, New York, USA, & Trace Element Research Laboratory Veterans Administration Hospital, Washington, D. C. Clinical, Biochemical, and Pharmacological Role of Zinc, Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Office of the Dietary Supplements, National Institute of Health. Strengthening Knowledge and Understanding of Dietary Supplements. Qi Jian-Xin, Determination of Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na and K in Serum by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Human Medical University, Changcha, Peoples Republic of China. (http://web.nmsu.edu/~esevosti/scheme.htm)

concentration

[3] [4]

Fig. 5.

Bar Graph of Zinc Concentration in Carpenters

[5]

V.

CONCLUSION
[6]

From this work of zinc concentration determination among welders, dyers, carpenters, casters and flood victims, it has been noted from all five categories of blood donors as shown in figure 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, carpenters and flood victims have a chance to effected by zinc deficiency or toxicity, whereas welders, dyers and casters has zinc concentration within the normal ranges. But still we can say that, as they are being into their professions for long period of time, they will definitely

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