Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-158)

No description available.

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Bibliography: leaves 185-202.

The accumulation of metal contaminants in the human environment has received a great deal of attention during the last several years as it has become apparent that their presence, in excess, represents a threat to human health. Biochemical assays to determine concentrations of metals in the human body have used such tissues as blood, bone, hair, nails and, more recently, teeth. The present study attempts to provide further evidence for the use of deciduous teeth as indicators of human exposure to concentrations of lead, copper and zinc as a result of ore smelting operations in Kamloops and Trail, British Columbia. Kamloops represents an area of minimum exposure to smelter operations in contrast to Trail where a lead/zinc smelter has been operating for many years. Concentrations of lead, copper and zinc in deciduous teeth from geographically-stable Kamloops children, aged 5 years to 12 years, were compared to concentrations found in a similar population of geographically-stable Trail children. Whole teeth were digested in nitric and perchloric acids and trace element concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Mean lead and zinc concentrations for Kamloops and Trail teeth, respectively, were: 31.6 ± 7.33 ppm and 48.2. ± 11.5 ppm for lead (p < 0.05) and 103.4 ± 23.6 ppm and 111.9 ± 15.4 ppm for zinc. Copper was undetectable at < 1 ppm in all teeth. Locally-grown foods from each area and foods grown elsewhere were also analyzed for lead, copper and zinc in an effort to establish the possible contribution of these elements from local food resources in Kamloops and Trail. Twenty-four hour diet composites were collected and analyzed for copper and zinc by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mean copper and zinc concentrations for foods grown in Kamloops and Trail, respectively, were: 1.5 ± 0.4 ppm and 1.6 ± 0.9 ppm for copper and 3. 2 ± 1.3 ppm and 3.1 ± 0.9 ppm for zinc. Mean copper and zinc concentrations for non-locally grown foods collected from Kamloops and Trail, respectively, were: 1.1 ± 0.2 ppm and 1.6 ± 0.8 ppm for copper and 5.8 ± 1.9 ppm and 6.5 ± 0.3 ppm for zinc. Lead was determined by plasma emission spectroscopy, and was found to be undetectable at < 1 ppm in all food samples. To assess the extent of maximal consumption of locally-grown foods, selected home gardeners in the Brocklehurst district of Kamloops and the Genelle district of Trail were interviewed. Seasonal consumption and home food preservation practices were determined. In addition, 24-hour diet recalls were obtained from 177 Brocklehurst district children in September and April, 1977-78 to determine "typical" eating patterns of these children. . The amount of locally-grown foods consumed was dependent mainly on season of the year; however, choice of food by the children on the whole did not differ from fall to spring. The recalls also indicated that males consumed more food than females, particularly protein. Meals, especially breakfast, were frequently missed, and non-nutritious snacks were common to the diets of many of the children. Results from this study indicated that, although deciduous tooth lead concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Trail than in Kamloops, samples of locally-grown foods obtained in 1978 from these two communities were not excessively high in lead, zinc or copper. In fact, these elements in foods compared well to concentrations reported in other areas of North America. It would appear, then, that the higher concentrations of lead in Trail teeth are a result of increased intake from other environmental sources. Analyses of food consumption patterns of gardening families revealed that local foods comprised an important part of the diet. Measures should be taken to ensure the continued safety of foods in areas where mineral mining and smelting occur. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

This study was designed to examine the influence of Cu deficiency on the binding, uptake, and degradation of apolipoprotein E-free high density lipoproteins (apo E-free HDL) in cultured rat hepatic parenchymal cells. The binding of apo E-free HDL during time course studies was slightly but significantly increased in cells derived from Cu-deficient rats. In saturation studies, the amount of surface-bound apo E-free HDL appeared to be saturable, although no difference was observed between Cu-deficient and adequate animals. The amount of total and specific cell-associated uptake of apo E-free HDL was significantly increased in hepatic parenchymal cells of Cu-deficient animals. The present data suggest that hepatic uptake of the HDL protein moiety may be increased in rats fed a diet deficient in copper.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-176). Also available via World Wide Web.

A method for the trace element analysis of hair by charged particle X-ray fluorescence is presented. The validity of the method is shown by the analysis of NBS SRM 1577--Bovine Liver, obtained from the National Bureau of Standards. Excellent correlation is obtained between results from the analysis by the X-ray method and those certified by NBS. Hair samples are ashed by a low temperature oxidation process and analyzed by the X-ray method. The results from the analysis by the X-ray method are compared to those obtained from the analysis of the same hair samples by atomic absorption. Good correlation is found for iron values but copper values appear low. Subsequent checks show that the low copper values appear to be linked to the low temperature ashing process. The results for nine different elements are tabulated along with the results for the analysis of rabbit hair and deer hair.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 G73 / Master of Science

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 19, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. John D. Robertson. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Cathy W. Levenson, Florida State University, College of Human Sciences, Dept. of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 30, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 94 pages. Includes bibliographical references.