**Meet the editors**

Hosam Saleh is Professor of Radioactive Waste Management in the Radioisotope Department, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt. He was awarded MSc and PhD degrees in Physical Chemistry from Cairo University. His interest lies in the study of innovative economic and environment-friendly techniques for the management of hazardous and radioactive wastes. He has authored

many peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters, and is the editor of several books from renowned international publishers.

Eithar El-Adham is Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Radioisotope Department, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt. She was awarded an MSc from Cairo University and a PhD from the Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies. She has authored many peer-reviewed medical papers. Her interests lie in the diagnosis and therapy of pediatric diseases and common pediatric health prob-

lems, and experimental trials to find a safe natural alternative to lifelong iron chelation in thalassemics.

Contents

**Preface VII**

**Section 1 Introduction to Trace Elements 1**

Martin Koller and Hosam M. Saleh

**Section 2 Trace Elements in the Human Body 9**

Chapter 1 **Introductory Chapter: An Introduction to Trace Elements 3**

Chapter 2 **Minor and Trace Elements in Whole Blood, Tissues, Proteins**

Jun-ichi Chikawa, Jeremy Salter, Hiroki Shima, Takaaki Tsuchida,

Takashi Ueda, Kousaku Yamada and Shingo Yamamoto

Manuel de Rezende Pinto and Agostinho A. Almeida

Chapter 6 **Trace Elements in Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediments of the Cai River: Nha Trang Bay Estuarine System (South**

**and Immunoglobulins of Mammals 11** Natalia P. Zaksas and Georgy A. Nevinsky

Chapter 3 **Trace Elements in Hair: Relevance to Air Pollution 45**

Chapter 4 **Relation of Trace Elements on Dental Health 71**

Mehmet Sinan Doğan

Chapter 5 **Trace Elements in the Human Milk 85**

**Section 3 Environmental Trace Elements 111**

Sofia Koukina and Nikolay Lobus

**China Sea) 113**

## Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Chapter 6 **Trace Elements in Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediments of the Cai River: Nha Trang Bay Estuarine System (South China Sea) 113** Sofia Koukina and Nikolay Lobus

Chapter 7 **A Simple and Highly Structured Procaine Hydrochloride as Fluorescent Quenching Chemosensor for Trace Determination of Mercury Species in Water 133** Dyab A. Al-Eryani, Waqas Ahmad, Zeinab M. Saigl, Hassan Alwael, Saleh O. Bahaffi, Yousry M. Moustafa and Mohammad S. El-Shahawi

Preface

Trace elements, including metals, play an important role in many biological systems, both in normal or pathological processes. For the human metabolism, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead are considered to be the notorious "top five" toxins among all trace ele‐ ments. Hexavalent chromium, for example, is highly toxic and carcinogenic; the same is val‐ id for mercury vapor and various bivalent mercury compounds. To understand the expedient toxicity of these five heavy metals mechanistically, one has to take into account that these metals exert outstanding affinity for strongly binding with sulfur; if present in the human body, they can easily bind to the thiol (–SH) groups of the amino acid cysteine in enzymes, thus inhibiting or even stopping important metabolic reactions, which deteriorates

Trace elements are resistant towards biodegradation; therefore, they undergo environmental accumulation, which enables their entrance into the food chain. Prior to mitigating trace ele‐ ment pollution, it is of importance to develop enhanced analytical systems to reliably and precisely determine the level of trace element contamination of soil, water, and air. Migra‐ tion of trace elements into areas originally not polluted by them typically occurs as dust, by

We are tremendously optimistic that the exploratory and scientific attempts collected and summarized in this book will encourage researchers all over the globe to deepen their activi‐ ties in this field, and to attract the interest of undergraduates as well as of progressive repre‐ sentatives from relevant various sectors. Primarily, these activities will boost the impatiently desired breakthrough of advanced "trace element" identification and application processes. Particular acknowledgment goes to the publishing process manager, Ms. Dajana Pemac, for her cooperation, exceptional efforts, and prompt response to my requests. Again, we would

> **Hosam El-Din M. Saleh, Ph.D.** Atomic Energy Authority Radioisotope Department Nuclear Research Center

> > Giza, Egypt

leaching through soil, or by dispersing heavy metals containing sewage sludge.

like to thank cordially all contributors to this issue for their supreme work.

the health status of the affected person, and often ends in death.

Chapter 8 **Biomonitoring of Trace Metals in the Coastal Waters Using Bivalve Molluscs 153** Periyadan K. Krishnakumar, Mohammad A. Qurban and Geetha Sasikumar
