SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ZN, CD, PB, AND CU IN URINE OF PATIENTSWITH BLACKFOOT DISEASE USING ANODIC-STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY

Blackfoot disease (BFD) is an endemic peripheral vascular disorder res ulting in gangrene of the lower extremities, especially the feet, amon g residents in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan. In the present study, the concentrations of zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper in urine of BFD patients with matched normal controls are investigated by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) on a hangi ng mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The analytical results indicate that urinary Copper, cadmium, and lead of the BFD patients are significant ly higher than those of the controls. In addition, the patients showed a significantly lower concentration of zinc in the urine than the nor mal controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiol ogy of the disease is discussed.