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PubMed2006

The role of stable isotopes in human identification: a longitudinal study into the variability of isotopic signals in human hair and nails.

Recent natural catastrophes with large-scale loss of life have demonstrated the need for a new technique to provide information for disaster victim identification when DNA methods fail to yield the identification of an individual, or in other situations where authorities need to determine the recent geographical life history of people. The latter may be in relation to the identification of individuals detained on suspicion of terrorism or in relation to people-trafficking or smuggling. One proposed solution is the use of stable isotope profiling (SIP) using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Exploiting the link between the isotopic signal of dietary components and the isotopic composition of body tissue, the aim of this study was to refine a non-invasive method of analysing human material such as scalp hair and fingernails using SIP and to assess the degree of natural variability in these profiles. Scalp hair and fingernail samples were collected from British and non-British volunteers at Queen's University Belfast every 2 weeks for a minimum of 8 months. Samples were analysed using IRMS to determine their isotopic composition for 13C, 15N, 2H and 18O. The results of this longitudinal study yielded information on the natural variability of the isotopic composition of these tissues. The data demonstrate the relatively low degree of natural variation in the 13C/15N isotopic abundance of scalp hair and fingernails whilst greater variations were recorded in the hydrogen and oxygen values of the same samples. The 15N and 18O values of nail are noticeably more variable than that of scalp hair from the same subject. A hypothesis explaining this trend is put forward based on the faster rate of formation of hair than of nails. This means that there is less time for the compounds forming hair to be affected by biochemical processes that could alter their isotopic signature.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2003

Dissociation of individual isotopic peaks: predicting isotopic distributions of product ions in MSn.

Traditional practice in tandem mass spectrometry is to select the mono-isotopic ion for dissociation. However, high molecular weight compounds often have weak mono-isotopic peaks, which limit that approach. Furthermore, the traditional approach does not take advantage of the very rich store of information available in the isotopic patterns from the dissociation of individual non-mono-isotopic peaks. Interpretation of these isotopic patterns requires a theory capable of predicting the patterns. However, a general theory for the prediction of these patterns has been lacking. This paper shows that the patterns can be obtained from a certain vector product, the outer product, of the full isotopic distribution of the product ion with the full isotopic distribution of the complementary product. Unlike previous approaches, the method is applicable to systems of arbitrary isotopic complexity. The patterns are potentially useful for elucidation of dissociation pathways, elemental composition, and chemical structure. The paper presents several applications of the theory.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Potential for using isotopically altered metalloproteins in species-specific isotope dilution analysis of proteins by HPLC coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The production and evaluation of an isotopically enriched metalloprotein standard for use as a calibrant in species-specific isotope dilution analysis by HPLC coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. Using a model system involving the copper-containing protein rusticyanin (Rc) from the bacterium Acido-thiobacillus ferrooxidans, it was possible to demonstrate the analytical conditions that could be used for the measurement of metalloproteins by on-line IDMS analysis. Rc was chosen because it is a well-characterized protein with an established amino acid sequence and can be produced in suitable quantities using a bacterial recombinant system. Three different forms of the protein were studied by organic and inorganic mass spectrometry: the native form of the protein containing a natural isotopic profile for copper, an isotopically enriched species containing virtually all of its copper as the 65Cu isotope, and the nonmetalated apo form. Incorporation of the copper isotopes into the apo form of the protein was determined using a UV-vis spectrophotometric assay and shown to be complete for each of the copper-containing species. The experimental conditions required to maintain the conformational form of the protein with a nonexchangeable copper center were established using +ve electrospray mass spectrometry. A pH 7.0 buffer was found to afford the most appropriate conditions, and this was then used with HPLC-ICP-MS to verify the stability of the copper center by analysis of mixtures of different isotopic solutions. No exchange of the enriched copper isotope from Rc with an added naturally abundant inorganic copper cation was observed under a neutral pH environment, indicating that species-specific ID-MS analysis of metalloproteins is possible.

Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans↗
PubMed2005

Development of isotopic and non-isotopic microwell based immunoassays for hCG using 125I and biotin labeled hCG.

Isotopic and non-isotopic immunoassays of hCG, based on the principle of competitive inhibition, using micro-well as solid support and 125I and biotin as labels for hCG, have been developed. In both the assays, rabbit polyclonal antibody was immobilized onto micro-wells. In the non-isotopic assay, to the hCG antibody coated micro-wells, 50 microL of standard or samples along with 100 microL of biotinylated hCG were incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. After incubation, wells were washed and 100 microL of streptavidin-HRP conjugate was added to each well and incubated again for a half hour at 37 degrees C. Bound enzyme activity was measured using tertramethyl benzidine/hydrogen peroxide (TMB/H2O2) as substrate. In the isotopic assay, to the hCG antibody coated micro-wells, 50 microL of standard or samples along with 100 microL of 125I-hCG were incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. The bound radioactivity was measured using a gamma counter. The sensitivities of the non-isotopic and isotopic assays were 0.12 IU/mL and 0.1 IU/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay CVs for both the assays were less than 12.3%. There was a good correlation between the developed non-isotopic and isotopic immunoassays (r = 0.97, n = 20).

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of acetate turnover in methanogenic and sulfate-reducing sediments by radiolabeling and stable isotope labeling and by use of specific inhibitors: evidence for isotopic exchange.

Acetate turnover in the methanogenic freshwater anoxic sediments of Lake Vechten, The Netherlands, and in anoxic sediments from the Tamar Estuary, United Kingdom, and the Grosser Jasmunder Bodden, Germany, the latter two dominated by sulfate reduction, was determined. Stable isotopes and radioisotopes, inhibitors (chloroform and fluoroacetate), and methane flux were used to provide independent estimates of acetate turnover. Pore water acetate pool sizes were determined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector, and stable isotope-labeled acetate was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The appearance of acetates with a different isotope labeling pattern from that initially added demonstrated that isotopic exchange occurred during methanogenic acetate metabolism. The predominant exchange processes were (i) D-H exchange in the methyl group and (ii) (sup13)C-(sup12)C exchange at the carboxyl carbon. These exchanges are most probably caused by the activity of the enzyme complex carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and subsequent methyl group dehydrogenation by tetrahydromethanopterine or a related enzyme. The methyl carbon was not subject to exchange during transformation to methane, and hence acetate with the methyl carbon labeled will provide the most reliable estimate of acetate turnover to methane. Acetate turnover rate estimates with these labels were consistent with independent estimates of acetate turnover (acetate accumulation after inhibition and methane flux). Turnover rates from either radioisotope- or stable isotope-labeled methyl carbon isotopes are, however, dependent on accurate determination of the acetate pool size. The additions of large amounts of stable isotope-labeled acetate elevate the acetate pool size, stimulating acetate consumption and causing deviation from steady-state kinetics. This can, however, be overcome by the application of a non-steady-state model. Isotopic exchange in sediments dominated by sulfate reduction was minimal.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Stable isotope ratios as a tool in microbial forensics--Part 1. Microbial isotopic composition as a function of growth medium.

The stable isotope ratios of a seized pathogen culture could potentially reveal information about the environment in which the agent was produced. In this paper we describe general relationships between stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen in bacteriological culture media and spores of Bacillus subtilis, an endospore-forming soil bacterium. In numerous media that varied both in nutrient composition and water stable isotope ratios, medium to spore enrichment in carbon isotopes was 0.3 +/- 2.0% per thousand (parts per thousand), and in nitrogen, 4.5 +/- 0.7% per thousand. We achieved mass balance for the contribution of hydrogen isotopes from nutrients (70%) and water (30%) to spores in independent experiments by varying the isotope ratios of nutrients or water. A model was derived for predicting the isotope ratio values of spores from those in nutrients and water.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1990

Versatile stable isotope technique for the measurement of amino acids and keto acids: comparison with radioactive isotope and its use in measuring in vivo disposal rates.

Tracer methods using both carbon-13 and -14 have been utilized for determination of ovine fetal amino acid disposal and the results compared in seven animals. We infused [1-13C]leucine simultaneously with [1-14C]leucine into the fetal circulation of pregnant sheep chronically catheterized during late gestation. Radioactive and stable isotope enrichments of leucine (Leu) and stable isotope enrichments of ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) in the umbilical artery and vein and the maternal artery and uterine vein were measured. Stable isotope enrichments and concentrations of both Leu and KIC were determined from a single 0.2-ml sample by the use of internal standards and electron ionization GC/MS analysis after a simple isolation and derivatization procedure. The KIC/Leu enrichment ratio was measured for the first time in fetal arterial plasma and was 0.66 +/- 0.05 (SE). Fetal leucine disposal rate was 9.0 +/- 0.5 (SE) micron/min/kg. Disposal rates determined by stable isotopes were not different from those determined by radioactive isotopes. The GC/MS stable isotope method provided higher precision in both leucine concentration and enrichment measurements and has been shown to be a general method for the determination of concentration and isotopic enrichment of other amino acids and their corresponding keto acids. Furthermore, this method is ideally suited to clinical studies where large numbers of samples of rather small volume can easily be studied with a short turnaround time.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1999

Carbon isotopic fractionation in lipids from methanotrophic bacteria II: the effects of physiology and environmental parameters on the biosynthesis and isotopic signatures of biomarkers.

Controls on the carbon isotopic signatures of methanotroph biomarkers have been further explored using cultured organisms. Growth under conditions which select for the membrane-bound particulate form of the methane monooxygenase enzyme (pMMO) leads to a significantly higher isotopic fractionation than does growth based on the soluble isozyme in both RuMP and serine pathway methanotrophs; in an RuMP type the delta delta 13Cbiomass equaled -23.9% for pMMO and -12.6% for sMMO. The distribution of biomarker lipids does not appear to be significantly affected by the dominance of one or the other MMO type and their isotopic compositions generally track those of the parent biomass. The 13C fractionation behaviour of serine pathway methanotrophs is very complex, reflecting the assimilation of both methane and carbon dioxide and concomitant dissimilation of methane-derived carbon. A limitation in CH4 availability leads to the production of biomass which is 13C-enriched with respect to both carbon substrates and this occurs irrespective of MMO type. This startling result indicates that there must be an additional fractionation step downstream from the MMO reaction which leads to incorporation of 13C-enriched carbon at the expense of dissimilation of 13C-depleted CO2. In these organisms, polyisoprenoid lipids are 13C-enriched compared to polymethylenic lipid which is the reverse of that found in the RuMP types. Serine cycle hopanoids, for example, can vary anywhere from 12% depleted to 10% enriched with respect to the CH4 substrate depending on its concentration. Decrease in growth temperature caused an overall increase in isotopic fractionation. In the total biomass, this effect tended to be masked by physiological factors associated with the type of organism and variation in the bulk composition. The effect was, however, clearly evident when monitoring the 13C signature of total lipid and individual biomarkers. Our results demonstrate that extreme carbon isotopic depletion in field samples and fossil biomarker lipids can be indicative of methanotrophy but the converse is not always true. For example, the hopanoids of a serine cycle methanotroph may be isotopically enriched by more than 10% compared to the substrate methane when the latter is limiting. In other words, hopanoids from some methanotrophs such as M. trichosporium would be indistinguishable from those of cyanobacteria or heterotrophic bacteria on the basis of either chemical structure or carbon isotopic signature.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2001

[The determination of porphyrin carbon isotope composition by gas chromatography-isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry technique].

The porphyrin carbon isotope composition can be used to explore the precursor of porphyrin, oil-oil and oil-source rock correction and calculation of paleo P CO2. The conventional method is limited because of its time consuming and large sample size (several mg of individual porphyrin) required. Therefore, it hampers the application of porphyrin carbon isotope composition into the chemistry and geoscience. The present paper describes a quantification method to prepare bis-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy) silicon (IV) [(TBDMSO)2Si(IV)] porphyrin which is sufficiently volatile at 300 degrees C and can be used for GC-IRMS analysis. The analysis of carbon isotope composition of aetio I as the form of free base, nickel, demetalization derivative, silicon(IV) and (TBDMSO)2Si(IV) have shown that aetio I porphyrin has no obvious isotope fractionation in the whole synthesis procedure for (TBDMSO)2Si(IV) porphyrin. The carbon isotope study on the porphyrin mixtures of aetio I and OEP indicates that isotope exchange between porphyrins during the synthesis of (TBDMSO)2Si(IV) porphyrin is absent. The method can be applied to the determination of porphyrin carbon isotope compositions. The advantages of the method are time saving, less sample size and lower standard deviation.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed2004

Stable isotope composition of organic compounds transported in the phloem of European beech--evaluation of different methods of phloem sap collection and assessment of gradients in carbon isotope composition during leaf-to-stem transport.

The analysis of stable isotope composition (delta13C, delta15N, delta18O) of phloem-transported organic matter is a useful tool for assessing short-term carbon and water balance of trees. A major constraint of the general application of this method to trees at natural field sites is that the collection of phloem sap with the "phloem bleeding" technique is restricted to particular species and plant parts. To overcome this restriction, we compared the contents (amino compounds and sugars) and isotope signatures (delta13C, delta15N, delta18O) of phloem sap directly obtained from incisions in the bark (bleeding technique) with phloem exudates where bark pieces were incubated in aqueous solutions (phloem exudation technique with and without chelating agents [EDTA, polyphosphate] in the initial sampling solution, which prevent blocking of sieve tubes). A comparable spectrum of amino compounds and sugars was detected using the different techniques. O, C, or N compounds in the initial sampling solution originating from the chelating agents always decreased precision of determination of the respective isotopic signatures, as indicated by higher standard deviation, and/or led to a significant difference of mean delta as compared to the phloem bleeding technique. Hence, depending on the element from which the ratio of heavy to light isotope is determined, compounds lacking C, N, and/or O should be used as chelating agents in the exudation solution. In applying the different techniques, delta13C of organic compounds transported in the phloem of the twig (exudation technique with polyphosphate as chelating agent) were compared with those in the phloem of the main stem (phloem bleeding technique) in order to assess possible differences in carbon isotope composition of phloem carbohydrates along the tree axis. In July, organic compounds in the stem phloem were significantly enriched in 13C by > 1.3 per thousand as compared to the twig phloem, whereas this effect was not observed in September. Correlation analysis between delta13C and stomatal conductance (Gs) revealed the gradient from the twigs to the stem observed in July may be attributed to temporal differences rather than to spatial differences in carbon isotope composition of sugars. As various authors have produced conflicting results regarding the enrichment/depletion of 13C in organic compounds in the leaf-to-stem transition, the different techniques presented in this paper can be used to provide further insight into fractionation processes associated with transport of C compounds from leaves to branches and down the main stem.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed2000

Error-systematics of determining elemental isotopic abundance ratios by the molecular ion beam method: a case study for the simultaneous isotopic analysis of lithium and boron as Li2BO2+

The simultaneous isotopic analysis of lithium and boron by the Li2BO2+ ion beam method involves measurements of two different molecular abundance ratios (say, Rj+/-delta(j) and Rk+/-delta(k)), and subsequently extensive calculations to arrive at the analyte isotopic ratios (say, L and Y). It is not presently known how the measurement errors (delta(j) and delta(k)) are transformed into the errors of analysis (deltaL and deltaY). This work addresses this question from fundamental considerations. In the literature, the calculations are sometimes simplified using Ri formulae based on Li2B16O2+ ions and then applying correction factors for the actual Li2BO2+ ions, but this procedure is not generally applicable. We show how equations based on true Li2BO2+ ions (with full isotopic variations of all the constituent elements) can be solved, and illustrate the procedure with several examples. These studies show that accuracy of analysis depends not only on the accuracies of measurements, delta(j) and delta(k), but also on the particular isotopic Li2BO2+ ion-pairs (j and k) used as the monitor pairs. Moreover, this dependence is shown to be different for the different isotopic ratios (L and Y) to be determined simultaneously. Therefore, proper selection of monitor molecular pairs is a requirement for avoiding larger (propagated) errors in the analysis. Similar arguments would, in fact, apply to any arbitrarily chosen case of determining two or an even greater number of isotopic abundance ratios (Ei's) by the molecular ion beam method, irrespective of whether the different analyte ratios, Ei's, relate to a single multi-isotopic element, or different elements.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Delta13C and delta18O isotopic composition of CaCO3 measured by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry: statistical evaluation and verification by application to Devils Hole core DH-11 calcite.

A new method was developed to analyze the stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of small samples (400 +/- 20 micro g) of calcium carbonate. This new method streamlines the classical phosphoric acid/calcium carbonate (H(3)PO(4)/CaCO(3)) reaction method by making use of a recently available Thermoquest-Finnigan GasBench II preparation device and a Delta Plus XL continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Conditions for which the H(3)PO(4)/CaCO(3) reaction produced reproducible and accurate results with minimal error had to be determined. When the acid/carbonate reaction temperature was kept at 26 degrees C and the reaction time was between 24 and 54 h, the precision of the carbon and oxygen isotope ratios for pooled samples from three reference standard materials was </=0.1 and </=0.2 per mill or per thousand, respectively, although later analysis showed that materials from one specific standard required reaction time between 34 and 54 h for delta(18)O to achieve this level of precision. Aliquot screening methods were shown to further minimize the total error. The accuracy and precision of the new method were analyzed and confirmed by statistical analysis. The utility of the method was verified by analyzing calcite from Devils Hole, Nevada, for which isotope-ratio values had previously been obtained by the classical method. Devils Hole core DH-11 recently had been re-cut and re-sampled, and isotope-ratio values were obtained using the new method. The results were comparable with those obtained by the classical method with correlation = +0.96 for both isotope ratios. The consistency of the isotopic results is such that an alignment offset could be identified in the re-sampled core material, and two cutting errors that occurred during re-sampling then were confirmed independently. This result indicates that the new method is a viable alternative to the classical reaction method. In particular, the new method requires less sample material permitting finer resolution and allows automation of some processes resulting in considerable time savings.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of the galactosyltransferase reaction by positional isotope exchange and secondary deuterium isotope effects.

The mechanism of the galactosyltransferase-catalyzed reaction was probed using positional isotope exchange, alpha-secondary deuterium isotope effects, and inhibition studies with potential transition state analogs. Incubation of [beta-18O2, alpha beta-18O]UDP-galactose and alpha-lactalbumin with galactosyltransferase from bovine milk did not result in any positional isotope exchange. The addition of 4-deoxy-4-fluoroglucose as a dead-end inhibitor did not induce any detectable positional isotope exchange. alpha-Secondary deuterium isotope effects of 1.21 +/- 0.04 on Vmax and 1.05 +/- 0.04 on Vmax/KM were observed for [1-2H]-UDP-galactose. D-Glucono-1,5-lactone, D-galactono-1,4-lactone, D-galactono-1,5-lactone, nojirimycin, and deoxynojirimycin, did not inhibit the galactosyl transfer reaction at concentrations less than 1.0 mM. The magnitude of the secondary deuterium isotope effect supports a mechanism in which the anomeric carbon of the galactosyl moiety has substantial sp2 character in the transition state. Therefore, the cleavage of the bond between the galactose and UDP moieties in the transition state has proceeded to a much greater extent than the formation of the bond between the galactose and the incoming glucose. The lack of a positional isotope exchange reaction indicates that the beta-phosphoryl group of the UDP is not free to rotate in the absence of an acceptor substrate.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Changes in hydrogen isotope ratios in sequential plumage stages: an implication for the creation of isotope-base maps for tracking migratory birds.

Accurate reference maps are important in the use of stable-isotopes to track the movements of migratory birds. Reference maps created by the analysis of samples collected from young at the nest site are more accurate than simply referring to naturally occurring patterns of hydrogen isotope ratios created by precipitation cycles. Ratios of hydrogen isotopes in the nutrients incorporated early in the development of young birds can be derived from endogenous, maternal sources. Base-maps should be created with the analysis of tissue samples from hatchlings after local the isotopic signature of exogenous nutrients is dominant. Migratory species such as Peregrine Falcons are known to use endogenous sources in the creation of their eggs, therefore knowledge of what plumage stage best represents the local hydrogen ratios would assist in the planning of nest visits. We conducted diet manipulation experiments involving Japanese Quail and Peregrine Falcons to determine the plumage stage when hydrogen isotope ratios were indicative of a switch in their food source. The natal down of both the quail and falcons reflected the diet of breeding adult females. The hydrogen isotope ratios of a new food source were dominant in the juvenile down of the young falcons, although a further shift was detected in the final juvenile plumage. The juvenile plumage is grown during weeks 3-4 after hatch on Peregrine Falcons. Nest visits for the purpose of collecting feathers for isotope-base-map creation should be made around 4 weeks after the presumed hatch of the young falcons.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Kinetic isotope effects in cytochrome P-450-catalyzed oxidation reactions. Intermolecular and intramolecular deuterium isotope effects during the N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylphentermine.

Two N,N-dimethylphentermine (N,N-dimethyl-2-amino-2-methyl-3-phenylpropane) substrates differing in deuterium substitution have been used to determine the intermolecular and intramolecular isotope effects associated with the cytochrome P-450-dependent N-demethylation of this substrate. No intermolecular isotope effect was observed in Vmax or Vmax/Km when the reaction rates for this substrate were compared to those for the substrate in which both N-methyl groups contained deuterium. In contrast, identical isotope effects of 1.6 to 2.0 were observed in both Vmax and Vmax/Km when this reaction was studied with a substrate in which only one of the two N-methyl groups was substituted with deuterium. Furthermore, both the intermolecular and intramolecular isotope effects were independent of the cytochrome P-450/NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase mole ratio. From these data, it is concluded that: 1) the carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage step does not contribute significantly to Vmax; 2) the contribution of the carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage step to Vmax is not detectably increased through changes in the cytochrome P-450/NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase mole ratio; 3) the N-methyl groups are free to exchange at the enzyme active site. The basis for these conclusions is the proposal of a new kinetic model for interpretation of intramolecular isotope effects which shows that intramolecular isotope effects are not necessarily equal to intrinsic isotope effects and, in fact, may be much smaller.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The mechanism of glycogen synthetase as determined by deuterium isotope effects and positional isotope exchange experiments.

The reaction mechanism for glycogen synthetase from rabbit muscle was examined by alpha-secondary deuterium isotope effects and positional exchange experiments. Incubation of glycogen synthetase with [beta-18O2,alpha beta-18O]UDP-Glc did not result in any detectable positional isotope exchange from the beta-nonbridge position to the anomeric oxygen of the glucose moiety. Glucono-1,5-lactone was found to be a noncompetitive inhibitor versus UDP-Glc. The kinetic constants, K(is) and K(ii), were found to be 91 +/- 4 microM and 0.70 +/- 0.09 mM, respectively. Deoxynojirimycin was a nonlinear inhibitor at pH 7.5. The alpha-secondary deuterium isotope effects were measured with [1-2H]UDP-Glc by the direct comparison method. The isotope effects on Vmax and Vmax/K were found to be 1.23 +/- 0.04 and 1.09 +/- 0.06, respectively. The inhibitory effects by glucono-lactone and deoxynojirimycon plus the large alpha-secondary isotope effect on Vmax have been interpreted to show that an oxocarbonium ion is an intermediate in this reaction mechanism. The lack of a detectable positional isotope exchange reaction in the absence of glycogen suggests the formation of a rigid tight ion pair between UDP and the oxocarbonium ion intermediate.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Changes in the lead isotopic composition of blood, diet and air in Australia over a decade: globalization and implications for future isotopic studies.

Source apportionment in biological or environmental samples using the lead isotope method, where there are diverse sources of lead, relies on a significant difference between the isotopic composition in the target media and the sources. Because of the unique isotopic composition of Australian lead, source apportionment has been relatively successful in the past. Over the period of a decade, the 206Pb/204Pb ratio for Australian (mainly female) adults has shown an increase from a geometric mean of 16.8-17.3. Associated with this increase, there has been a decrease in mean blood lead concentration from 4.7 to 2.3 microg/dL, or about 5% per year, similar to that observed in other countries. Lead in air, which up until 2000 was derived largely from the continued use of leaded gasoline, showed an overall increase in the 206Pb/204Pb ratio during 1993-2000 from 16.5 to 17.2. Since 1998 the levels of lead in air were less than 0.2 microg/m3 and would contribute negligibly to blood lead. Over the 10-year period, the 206Pb/204Pb ratio in diet, based mainly on quarterly 6-day duplicate diets, increased from 16.9 to 18.3. The lead concentration in diet showed a small decrease from 8.7 to 6.4 microg Pb/kg although the daily intake increased markedly from 7.4 to 13.9 microg Pb/day during the latter part of the decade probably reflecting differences in demographics. The changes in blood lead from sources such as lead in bone or soil or dust is not dominant because of the low 206Pb/204Pb ratios in these media. Unless there are other sources not identified and analysed for these adults, it would appear that in spite of our earlier conclusions to the contrary, diet does make an overall contribution to blood lead, and this is certainly the case for specific individuals. Certain population groups from south Asia, south-east Asia, the Middle East and Europe (e.g. UK) are unsuitable for some studies as their isotopic ratios in blood are converging towards the increasing Australian values. The increases in blood 206Pb/204Pb ratio combined with globalization, which has resulted in the increases in 206Pb/204Pb ratio for diet, means that isotopic studies undertaken with a high degree of certainty of outcomes over a decade ago, are now considerably more difficult, not only in Australia but also in other countries where the isotopic differences are even less than in Australia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Determination of porphyrin carbon isotopic composition using gas chromatography-isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry.

Carbon isotopic compositions of aetio I occurring in the form of free-base, nickel, demetallation, dihydroxysilicon(IV) and bis(tert.-butyldimethylsiloxy)silicon(IV) [(tBDMSO)2Si(IV)] have shown that it has experienced no obvious isotope fractionation during the synthesis of [(tBDMSO)2Si(IV)] porphyrin from aetio I. Here, aetio I porphyrin species such as free-base, nickel, demetallated and dihydroxysilicon were analyzed by the conventional method, namely it is combusted in sealed system, and followed by isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometric analysis. [(tBDMSO)2Si(IV)] aetio I was assayed by gas chromatography-isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS). A porphyrin mixture of [(tBDMSO)2Si(IV)] aetio I and octaethylporphyrin was also prepared. Their carbon isotopic compositions measured by GC-IRMS indicate that no isotope exchange took place between the porphyrins during the synthesis of [(tBDMSO)2Si(IV)] porphyrins. This method is employed for delta13C determination of geoporphyrins from the Maoming and Jianghan oil shales.

Carbon Isotopes↗