title: Anatomical variations in primary teeth microelements with known differences in lead content by micro-Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-SRXRF) - A preliminary study.
abstract: Shed teeth have been proposed as trace element biomarkers. This study determined variations in the spatial distribution of Ca, K, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Sr in four anatomical locations: superficial enamel (SE, 0-10μm), subsuperficial enamel (SSE, 10-30μm), primary dentin (PD), and secondary dentin (SD). Five primary incisors were analyzed by micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-SRXRF). Two teeth had low concentrations of lead in the SE (<250μg/g), while three contained very high lead concentrations in the SE (>2000μg/g). Teeth were sliced, and five spot measurements (20μm beam diameter) were accomplished in each location. The data are shown as absolute values and as the ratio between the different elements and Ca. The distribution of K was close to that of Ca. Zn was the third most abundant element, with the highest levels being found in the SE and SD and low levels detected in the PD. Increasing Sr levels were found progressing from the enamel to the dentin, with the highest levels being found in the SD, a distribution that was unique. Pb, Mn, and Cu exhibited a similar trend, with higher signals for these elements detected in the SE. This study provides preliminary data on the heterogeneous distribution of different elements in the tooth, highlighting the importance of the first 10μm of the SE for determination of some elements, such as Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cu.
authors.affiliation: Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas, FOP/UNICAMP, P.O. Box 13414-903, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: carolforpusp@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Souza-Guerra
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Janeiro, IF/UERJ, P.O. Box 20559-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: cely_barroso@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Regina Cely
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Instrumentation, COPPE/UFRJ, P.O. Box 68509, 21941-972 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: apalmeid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andre Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas, FOP/UNICAMP, P.O. Box 13414-903, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iza Teixeira Alves
authors.initials: ITA
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: State University of Campinas, FEC/UNICAMP, P.O. Box 13083-852, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: silvana@fec.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Federal University of Paraiba, P.O. Box 58051-900, Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Electronic address: fredericosousa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Frederico Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Dental School of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, FORP/USP, P.O. Box 14040-904, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: rfgerlach@forp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Raquel Fernanda
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017356:Synchrotrons; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000737:chemistry; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D007854:Lead
keywords: Dentin; Enamel; Primary teeth; μ-SRXRF