Table 6.
Trace element levels (mean and range) in whole blood and plasma of males and females.
| Element (µg/L) | Whole Blood (n = 120) | Mann–Whitney U Test | Plasma (n = 120) | Mann–Whitney U Test | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female (n = 49) | Male (n = 71) | Significance | Female (n = 61) | Male (n = 59) | Significance | |
| Ag | 0.20 (0.1–0.67) | 0.17 (0.1–0.82) | - | - | ||
| Al | - | - | 6.4 (<4–21.8) | 7.4 (<4–81.8) | ||
| As | 2.7 (0.2–42) | 1.8 (0.2–13.0) | - | - | ||
| Bi | <0.1 | <0.1 | <0.08 | <0.08 | ||
| Br | 5140 (2820–12,180 | 4830 (3120–9050) | - | - | ||
| Cd | 0.81 (<0.8–0.99) | 0.80 (<0.8–0.93) | - | - | ||
| Co | 0.37 (<0.2–1.1) | 0.30 (<0.2–0.86) | 0.50 (0.22–1.34) | 0.44 (0.21–1.1) | ||
| Cr | <5 | <5 | <1.7 | <1.7 | ||
| Cu | 930 (710–1420) | 770 (650–950) | p < 0.001 | 1240 (706–2485) | 960 (672–1403) | p < 0.001 |
| Hg | 1.8 <0.8–9.3) | 2.1 (<0.8–7.7) | - | - | ||
| I | 32.5 (20.1–82.7) | 28.5 (19.5–44.6) | p = 0.009 | - | - | |
| Mn | 10.0 (5.7–17.6) | 9.6 (4.5–19.5) | 1.1 (<1–3.1) | 1.0 (<1–1.3) | ||
| Mo | 0.51 (<0.3–1.7) | 0.47 (<0.3–1.2) | 0.85 (0.27–2.67) | 0.96 (0.26–3.0) | ||
| Ni | 2.0 (<2–4.0) | <2 | - | - | ||
| Pb | 13.2 (3.8- 49.6) | 13.9 (4.9–45.0) | - | - | ||
| Sb | 4.0 (2.8–5.9) | 4.1 (2.6–6.2) | - | - | ||
| Se | 140 (122–203) | 142 (118–224) | 124 (82- 179) | 130 (101–161) | p = 0.003 | |
| Tl | 0.061 (<0.06–0.10) | 0.07 (<0.06–0.16) | p = 0.016 | 0.11 (0.05–0.20) | 0.10 (0.04–0.20) | |
| U | <0.1 | <0.1 | - | - | ||
| V | <0.45 | <0.45 | 0.20 (<0.2–0.22) | 0.20 (<0.2–0.22) | ||
| Zn | 6540 (4940–8390) | 6900 (4620–9250) | p = 0.016 | 1140 (850–1660) | 1160 (819–1496) | |
Significant differences were found between female and male for whole blood Cu, I, Tl and Zn, and for plasma Cu and Se.