The analysis of trace elements in human tooth for use as biomarkers continues to generate considerable interest in environmental and bioanalytical studies, medical diagnostic and forensic science. This study investigated concentrations of essential and toxic elements (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and (Na and K) flame atomic emission spectroscopy (FAES) in human tooth obtained from Misan province, Iraq. The influence of smoking habits and born children on the levels of trace elements in additional to dental erosion by some beverages in the tooth samples were investigated. The overall of mean concentrations of (Zn 185.2 ppm, Cu 36.11 ppm, Pb 18.63 ppm, Ni 13.44 ppm, Co 3.45 ppm, and Cd 0.58 ppm, Na 11.683 ppm and K 115.27 ppm), (Zn 178.243 ppm, Cu 35.877 ppm, Pb 15.64 ppm, Ni 12.89 ppm, Co 3.421 ppm, Cd 0.455 ppm, Na 11,558.04 ppm and K 114.04 ppm) in smokers and non-smokers tooth groups respectively, (Zn 81.12 ppm, Cu 24.37 ppm, Pb 11.18 ppm, Ni 13.68 ppm, Co 3.32 ppm, Cd 0.44 ppm, Na 8227 ppm and K 76.42 ppm), (Zn 80.58 ppm, Cu 24.30 ppm, Pb 10.86 ppm, Ni 12.74 ppm, Co 2.71 ppm, Cd 0.23 ppm, Na 8165 ppm and K 72.80 ppm) in mothers and wives tooth groups respectively. However the w/w% loss of tooth immersed in following order of beverages (green tea, black tea, cinnamon, hibiscus, vinegar and citrus aurantifolia (9.09, 9.68, 12.36, 15.01, 16.77 and 17.38), (8.19, 8.25, 9.76, 13.37, 14.02 and 15.33) in smokers and non-smokers groups respectively, (11.25, 11.47, 13.30, 15.75, 19.58, and 20.91), (8.31, 7.96, 11.39, 13.49, 17.40, and 17.67) in mothers and wives groups respectively. However, there is a statistically significant variance found Zn ( tcal 5.029, ttab 2.131), Pb ( tcal 4.8538, ttab 2.131), Ni ( tca l 5.243, ttab 2.131), Cd ( tcal 3.9062, ttab 2.131) and Na ( tcal 3.0832, ttab 2.131) between smokers and non-smokers tooth groups. However, the Co ( tcal 2.7403, ttab 2.131) also shows statistically significant variance between mothers and wives groups. There is no statistically significant variance in w/w% loss after immersed the tooth in some beverages but in general it was higher in smokers than non-smokers and in mothers higher than wives.
Biomonitoring of trace elements in human teeth has become an important tool to evaluate an individual’s nutritional and environmental status [
Sources of Cd include emissions from fuel combustion, tobacco smoke, phosphate fertilizer, sewage sludge, metal smelting, and disposal of metal waste. Other sources include the use of Cd for industrial applications, such as in the production of pigments, stabilizers, and alloys. In addition, Cd is present in trace amounts in certain foods, such as leafy vegetables, potatoes, grains and seeds, liver and kidney, and crustaceans and molluscs. Exposure to environmental Cd has been linked with an increased risk of dental caries [
The extracted healthy permanent molars teeth in total were collected due to periodontal disease or orthodontic treatment between 18 and 50 of age, 64 teeth for trace elements analysis, and 72 teeth for beverages erosion, by private dental clinics in Misan province, 16.072 Km2 in area, with a population 1,412,234. All samples were divided into four groups, according to the men smoking habits and women got children. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the trace elements content in the groups. In additional to monitor the influence of following beverages, green tea (pH = 6.2), black tea (pH = 5.5), cinnamon (pH = 5.4), hibiscus (pH = 2.8), vinegar (pH = 2.4), and citrus aurantifolia (pH = 2.1) on the dental erosion.
Aurora atomic absorption spectrophotometer model (AI-1200) was used with an air-acetylene burner (slot length 11 cm). Instrument setting were: lamp current, 10 mA, slit width, 0.2 nm, air flow, 1.8 L/min, ignition flow 2.4 L /min. These conditions were maintained constant throughout the measurements and Jenway PFP7 flame photometer was used with LPG liquid petroleum gas for sodium and potassium determination. The operating conditions adjusted according to the standard guidelines of the manufacturers. The quantitative determinations of the elements in samples were done by using calibration curves which obtained from diluted stock standard elements 1000 mg/L. The concentrations of the analytes were obtained directly from the FAAS, but through the linear regression’s equations after the correction of the absorbance signal from the blank as shown in
A standard solution of each element was prepared immediately by dilution of 1000 mg/L stock solution (sigma aldrich) prior to use. Deionized water was used throughout this experiment. All solvents and reagents such as HNO3, H2O2 were analytical reagent (AnalaR) grade.
Parameters | Elements | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cu | Zn | Co | Pb | Ni | Cd | |
Wave length (nm) Slit widith (nm) HCL amp current (mA) Flame LOD (ppm) | 324.7 0.2 6 Air/acetylene 0.03 | 213.9 0.2 5 Air/acetylene 0.03 | 240.7 0.2 7 Air/acetylene 0.05 | 217.0 0.2 5 Air/acetylene 0.03 | 232.0 0.2 7 Air/acetylene 0.03 | 228.8 0.2 5 Air/acetylene 0.01 |
The teeth were collected from private dental clinics in Misan province. 64 healthy extracted molar teeth for trace elements analysis, 32 males teeth, 16 smokers group and 16 non-smokers, in contrast 32 female’s teeth, 16 mothers teeth group and 16 wives teeth group. Furthermore 72 healthy molar teeth for immersion in beverages, three teeth from each group as classified above, immersed in each single beverage, 18 teeth from each group were used, and all teeth were labeled in dry cellophane bags.
To prevent sample contamination, all laboratory glassware was cleaned with detergent solution then rinsed with 10% nitric acid, then rinsed with deionized water before use. Each tooth was soaked in a solution 10% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide for 1 hour to remove any organic material, rinsed with deionized water, air dried, and weighed, some kept for immersion in beverages. The others teeth, each tooth digested with Aristar reagent for trace elements analysis, using 4 ml of 70% (v/v) nitric acid and 3 ml 70% (v/v) perchloric acid in a conical flask, heated on a hotplate in fume hood until a transparent liquid was produced which adjusted to 10 ml with deionized water.
The commercially brewing drinks, prepared by grinding the dry clean (leaves, fruit, flowers, and cortex) by ceramic mortar and pistol, sieving by a sieve mesh, added to 150 ml deionzed water in a 250 ml beaker, filtered by a filter paper, collected in a conical flask 150 ml, the pH of the solutions monitored by the pH meter.
Three dry molar teeth from each group were immersed in each single beverage for (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days) respectively, with a slow shaking by a shaker during immersion, the teeth were dried on air and weight after each period time, the mean weight calculated.
Working range standard solutions used to construct calibration curves for each element were prepared by serial dilution of 1000 ppm standard stock solutions of each element. The calibration curve for each element was constructed by plotting the absorbance obtained from FAAS analysis of the standard solution versus the element concentration in ppm. Each sample was analyzed in triplicate and the average of trace element concentrations in the tooth samples were calculated using the constructed calibration curves.
The trace elements concentrations in ppm obtained from the constructed calibration curves for the investigated trace elements in the tooth samples.
A summary of the levels of trace elements concentrations found in the Teeth of smokers and non-smokers are shown in
At a 95% confidence level, there were significant differences between the mean concentration of Zn (tcal 5.029, ttab 2.131), Cu (tcal 2.056, ttab 2.131) Pb (tcal 4.8538, ttab 2.131), Ni (tcal 5.243, ttab 2.131), Co (tcal 1.990, ttab 2.131), and Cd (tcal 3.9062, ttab 2.131) obtained in smokers and non-smokers tooth groups respectively, as shown in
Elements | Smokers Mean ± SD | Non Smokers Mean ± SD | t-value | Mothers Mean ± SD | Wives Mean ± SD | t-value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cd Co Ni Pb Cu Zn K Na | 0.58 ± 0.10 3.45 ± 0.05 13.44 ± 0.21 18.63 ± 1.97 36.11 ± 0.30 185.20 ± 4.25 115.27 ± 1.30 11683 ± 120 | 0.45 ± 0.08 3.42 ± 0.03 12.89 ± 0.03 15.64 ± 1.48 35.87 ± 0.34 178.24 ± 3.55 114.04 ± 2.10 11,558.04 ± 109 | 3.9062 1.9903 5.2430 4.8538 2.0560 5.0290 1.9922 3.0832 | 0.44 ± 0.85 3.32 ± 0.51 13.68 ± 2.75 11.18 ± 0.61 24.37 ± 0.12 81.12 ± 0.93 76.42 ± 3.10 8227 ± 70 | 0.23 ± 0.31 2.71 ± 0.73 12.74± 1.41 10.86± 0.82 24.30 ± 0.05 80.58 ± 0.54 72.80 ± 7.76 8165 ± 98 | 0.9284 2.7403 1.2166 1.2524 2.1538 2.0089 1.7328 2.0592 |
Generally,
The concentration of Zn (tcal 2.0089, ttab 2.131), Cu (tcal 2.1538, ttab 2.131) Pb (tcal 1.2524, ttab 2.131), Ni (tcal 1.2166, ttab 2.131), Co (tcal 2.7403, ttab 2.131), Cd (tcal 0.9284, ttab 2.131) obtained in mothers and wives, as shown in
The order of the mean concentrations of sodium and potassium in tooth samples of smokers group is Na >K, the mean levels of Na (11,683 ppm), K (115.27 ppm) respectively obtained in smokers and Na (11,558.04 ppm), K (114.04 ppm) in non-smokers, as shown in
On the other hand the mean concentration of sodium and potassium in tooth samples of mothers group is following the same previous order Na > K, the mean level of Na (8227 ppm), K (76.42 ppm), and Na (8165 ppm), K (72.80 ppm) respectively in wives group as shown in
ences between concentrations of Na (tcal 2.0592, ttab 2.131) and K (tcal 1.7328, ttab 2.131) obtained in mothers and wives, as shown in
The second part of the study was to determine the effect of some beverages on weight loss percentage of the smokers, non-smokers, mothers and wives tooth groups as shown in
Beverages | pH | Smokers Mean ± SD | Non Smokers Mean ± SD | t-value | Mothers Mean ± SD | Wives Mean ± SD | t-value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green tea Black tea Cinnamon Hibiscus Vinegar Citrus aurantifolia | 6.2 5.5 5.4 2.8 2.4 2.1 | 9.09 ± 5.64 9.68 ± 5.84 12.36 ± 6.81 15.01 ± 7.90 16.77 ± 8.89 17.38 ± 9.05 | 8.19 ± 5.71 8.25 ± 5.36 9. 76 ± 6.81 13.37 ± 7.64 14.02 ± 8.68 15.33 ± 8.93 | 0.3957 0.3344 0.2646 0.3608 0.2999 0.3506 | 11.25 ± 6.51 11.47 ± 6.24 13.30 ± 8.34 15.75 ± 7.86 19.58 ± 11.16 20.91 ± 11.71 | 8.31 ± 5.49 7.96 ± 4.54 11.39 ± 6.98 13.49 ± 7.22 17.40 ± 10.35 17.67 ± 10.61 | 0.2086 0.1466 0.3379 0.3084 0.3661 0.3135 |
w/w% (20.91), but for wives group are green tea (pH = 6.2) w/w% (8.31), black tea (pH = 5.5 w/w% (7.96), cinnamon (pH = 5.4) w/w% (11.39), hibiscus (pH = 2.8) w/w% (13.49), vinegar (pH = 2.4) w/w% (17.40) and citrus aurantifolia (pH = 2.1) w/w% (17.67) as shown in
In general, this study shows that the mean levels of trace elements are found higher in smokers group than non- smokers group. There are statistically significant differences concerning the elements Zn (tcal 4.871, ttab 2.131), Pb (tcal 4.989, ttab 2.131), Ni (tcal 5.111, ttab 2.131) and Cd (tcal 3.787, ttab 2.131) obtained in smokers and non-smokers.
On the other hand, we did not find any statistically differences in trace elements levels between mothers and wives groups except the Co (tcal 2.654, ttab 2.131), but in general the trace elements levels found higher in mothers group than wives group.
The result showed that the tooth erosion by different beverages depended on the pH of the solution, which increased with lower pH value, concerning to the effect of direct attack by the hydrogen ion on the teeth.
There are no statistically significant differences of beverages effect on the teeth erosion between smokers and non-smokers groups, mothers and wives groups; but the teeth erosion of smokers was higher than non-smokers and the teeth erosion of mothers group was also higher than wives.
The authors would like to acknowledgment the private dental clinics in Misan province for their efforts during collecting the tooth samples.
Safaa Sabri Najim,Maiada Abdulla Adnan, (2016) Dental Erosion by Beverages and Determination of Trace Elements in Teeth by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,07,548-555. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2016.77050