Comparison of the Levels of Five Heavy Metals in Human Urine and Sweat after Strenuous Exercise by ICP-MS

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure the levels of trace heavy metals in human urine and sweat, to compare the performance of ICP-MS using three sample processing methods, namely direct dilution, wet digestion, and microwave digestion. The results showed that the wet digestion ICP-MS method has the highest accuracy (relative standard deviation ≤10%) and is more useful for measuring the levels of trace heavy metals in urine and sweat. Hence, we used this method to compare the levels of the five trace heavy metals, namely chromium, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead, in the urine and sweat of adults after strenuous exercise. The results showed that the levels of these five trace heavy metals in sweat were significantly higher than those in urine after strenuous exercise (The differences between the measurements in urine and those in sweat were significant P ≤ 0.01). The results suggested that exercise-induced sweating can effectively remove the harmful heavy metals from the human body.

Levels of heavy metals in urine samples of school children from selected industrial and non-industrial areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…The concentrations of lead in the urine samples were lower than the concentrations of lead found in the urine samples from people of various age groups in the industrial areas of Kattedan, India24 and in urine samples of children with autistic disorders and those without medical disorders in Egypt25. The concentrations of zinc found in the present study were lower than the concentrations of zinc found in the urine samples in the industrial area of Kattedan, India24 and in the urine samples of children in the Czech Republic26, but were greater than the concentrations of zinc found in urine samples after strenuous exercise in China23. The concentrations of copper found in the urine samples in the present study were lower than the levels found in the urine samples in China, India and the Czech Republic23,24,26.…”

“…The concentrations of zinc found in the present study were lower than the concentrations of zinc found in the urine samples in the industrial area of Kattedan, India24 and in the urine samples of children in the Czech Republic26, but were greater than the concentrations of zinc found in urine samples after strenuous exercise in China23. The concentrations of copper found in the urine samples in the present study were lower than the levels found in the urine samples in China, India and the Czech Republic23,24,26. Cadmium was detected in the studies in Ghana, Nigeria, China, India and Egypt16,22,23,24,25.…”

“…The concentrations of the heavy metals found in this study are compared with the findings of similar studies in other countries as summarised in Table 2. The concentrations of lead found in the urine samples in the present study were greater than the concentrations of lead found in the urine of mine workers and non-miners in Ghana16, in urine of school children from urban and rural areas in Swaziland21, in urine samples of electronic repairers in Nigeria22 and in human urine after strenuous exercise in China23. The concentrations of lead in the urine samples were lower than the concentrations of lead found in the urine samples from people of various age groups in the industrial areas of Kattedan, India24 and in urine samples of children with autistic disorders and those without medical disorders in Egypt25.…”

Serum and urinary concentrations of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium and lead after an aerobic training period of six months in aerobic athletes and sedentary people

“…Correlations between blood and sweat Pb levels have been previously reported [44]. After strenuous exercise, higher Pb values have been observed in sweat than in urine [45]. In this respect, another investigation showed a significant increase in the excretion of Pb by sweating after acute exercise to exhaustion [46].…”

Determination of Heavy Metals in Urine of Patients and Tissue of Corpses by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

“…Sani and Abdullahi determined heavy metals concentration in body fluids (blood and urine) of metal workers in Kano metropolis, Nigeria to monitor occupational activities and concluded that the workers are at health risks due to the high concentration of the metals [12]. Other recent reports on levels of heavy metals in urine, blood and water samples have also been documented [13][14][15]. However, heavy metals determination in human kidney, liver and lungs are very scarce as compared to that of animal's specimen.…”