Tc. Pan et al., SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ZN, CD, PB, AND CU IN URINE OF PATIENTSWITH BLACKFOOT DISEASE USING ANODIC-STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY, Biological trace element research, 38(3), 1993, pp. 233-241
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.