Determination of Potentially Toxic Metals in Human Livers in New Zealand

Abstract

Ninety-six human liver samples from persons who died as a result of physical injuries in New Zealand have been analysed for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc. The levels found were generally lower than those found in similar studies outside New Zealand. Cadmium and lead levels showed a positive correlation with age and there did not appear to be any major regional variations within New Zealand.

Cirrhotic Liver of Liver Transplant Recipients Accumulate Silver and Co-Accumulate Copper

“…Our investigations demonstrated the detectable presence of Ag in livers of most members of the recipient group and in a minority of donors, thus confirming that human liver could accumulate silver. Previous determinations of liver silver in unexposed controls yielded average results around or below 0.05 ppm of tissue wet weight, but a low number of studies and large variability of other factors precludes more detailed dissection of the results [21][22][23][24]. In the most recent of these studies, hepatitis B patients were investigated, but only the average value of 0.045 ± 0.030 ppm was given and a control group was not included [24].…”