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Study on Some Trace Element Contents in Serum and Nail Samples Obtained from Sudanese Subjects

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Abstract

This study was performed to investigate trace elements and arsenic contents among Sudanese inhabitants living in the north, east, and west of Sudan. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was used to determine the contents of Zn and Cu. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine Se in serum samples. It was found that Se and Cu are in the normal range. Zinc showed discrepancies among all studied groups. Acute Zn deficiency was detected in the northern and eastern regions of Sudan. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy was operated in the dynamic reaction cell mode to determine the arsenic content in the nail samples of the northern inhabitants of Sudan. High values of arsenic were found in the northern people compared with the control group. This elevation could be linked to the misuse of insecticides and herbicides which might be associated with the high rate of cancer incidence in this region.

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Acknowledgments

The practical work was done with the help and understanding of the staff of the Institute of Ecological Chemistry and the financial support of Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany, and DAAD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sudan Atomic Energy Commission, Khartoum, Sudan

    Ammar Mubark Ebrahim, Mohammed Eltayeb, Mohammed Attahir, Alfatih Osman & Mohammed Elsadig

  2. Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Ecological Chemistry, Neuherberg, Germany

    Baerbel Benker, Peter Grill & Bernhard Michalke

Authors
  1. Ammar Mubark Ebrahim
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  2. Mohammed Eltayeb
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  3. Baerbel Benker
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  4. Peter Grill
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  5. Mohammed Attahir
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  6. Alfatih Osman
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  7. Mohammed Elsadig
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  8. Bernhard Michalke
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Correspondence to Ammar Mubark Ebrahim.

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Ebrahim, A.M., Eltayeb, M., Benker, B. et al. Study on Some Trace Element Contents in Serum and Nail Samples Obtained from Sudanese Subjects. Biol Trace Elem Res 144, 225–233 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9076-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9076-z

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