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The concentrations of twenty-four elements in twenty-five peppers from three cultivated regions in Guizhou Province (China) were analyzed. The chemometric data processing, including one-way analysis of variance, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were executed to differentiate the peppers. Consequently, the contents of 16 elements (Arsenic, Ba, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sb, Mo, Sr, Y, Zn, Ca, P, and Fe) were significantly different among the three regions (p < 0.05). The correct discrimination rates of 25 peppers were 92.0% for LDA and 96.0% for OPLS-DA. The variable importance in the projection (VIP) values were ranged from 1.063 to 1.262 for seven elements (Tin, Fe, Zn, Y, Cr, Sr, and Mo) indicating that they played an important role for the geographical origin traceability of pepper. To sum up, multi-element concentrations together with chemometric data-processing can be promising for the geographical origin differentiation of pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-element reference materials (ME-RMs) mimicking atmospheric aerosol composition were generated using certified multi-element solutions on PTFE filters for use in calibration and quality checks of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The ME-RMs reference loadings were assigned using an approach based on two assumptions: the accuracy of potassium (K) measured by energy-dispersive XRF (EDXRF) analysis at the University of California-Davis, and no change in the chemical profile of multi-element solutions when deposited on PTFE filters. A subset of ME-RMs was analyzed by EDXRF and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to check the agreement between the two methods and the reference loadings. Several statistical metrics revealed good agreements for Na, Al, Si, S, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Se, As, and Pb. Selected ME-RMs were tested for short-and long-term stability and homogeneity of deposit; they were shown to be homogeneously deposited and, except for Cl and Br, stable when handled and stored properly. The generated ME-RMs have the potential to fill a gap in the currently available XRF quality assurance resources by providing known element loadings in the range of interest for atmospheric aerosol measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger rhizome is a valued food, spice and an important ingredient of traditional systems of medicine of India, China and Japan. An Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) based multi-elemental profiling was performed to assess the quantitative complement of elements, nutritional quality and toxicity of 46 ginger germplasms, collected from the north western Himalayan India. The abundance of eighteen elements quantified in the acid digested rhizomes was observed to be K>Mg>Fe>Ca>Na>Mn>Zn>Ba>Cu>Cr>Ni>Pb>Co>Se>As>Be>Cd. Toxic element, Hg was not detected in any of the investigated samples. Chemometric analyses showed positive correlation among most of the elements. No negative correlation was observed in any of the metals under investigation. UPGMA based clustering analysis of the quantitative data grouped all the 46 samples into three major clusters, displaying 88% similarity in their metal composition, while eighteen metals investigated grouped into two major clusters. Quantitatively, all the elements analyzed were below the permissible limits laid down by World Health Organization. The results were further validated by cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to understand the ionome of the ginger rhizome. The study suggested raw ginger to be a good source of beneficial elements/minerals like Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn and will provide platform for understanding the functional and physiological status of ginger rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two screening methods were developed for rapid analysis of a great number of urine and blood samples within the framework of an exposure check of the population after a firework explosion. A total of 56 elements was measured including major elements. Sample preparation consisted of simple dilution. Extensive quality controls were applied including element addition and the use of certified reference materials. Relevant results at levels similar to those found in the literature were obtained for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Tl, and Pb in urine and for the same elements except Ni, Sn, Sb, and Ba in blood. However, quadrupole ICP-MS has limitations, mainly related to spectral interferences, for the analysis of urine and blood, and these cause higher detection limits. The general aspects discussed in the paper give it wider applicability than just for analysis of blood and urine-it can for example be used in environmental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Elemental profiles of 143 cattle bone samples are determined by ICP-MS. • LDA is used for species and geographical origin discrimination. • The K-fold cross validation accuracies of LDA are 99.3% and 94.5%, respectively. • Multi-element analysis can be used to regulate the bone products market. Consumers have an increasing concern in the provenance of the foods they consume. Methods for discriminating geographical origins and species of cattle bone product are essential to provide veracious information for consumers and avoid the adulteration and inferior problems. In this study, 50 element contents of a total of 143 cattle bone samples from eight producing regions in China, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Element contents were used as chemical indicators to discriminate species and geographical origins of cattle bone samples by multivariate data analysis, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The K-fold cross validation accuracy for species and geographical origin discrimination was 99.3% and 94.5%, respectively. This study reveals that multi-element analysis accompanied by LDA is an effective technique to ensure the information reliability of cattle bone samples, and this strategy may be a potential tool for standardizing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A panel of 55 chemical elements was simultaneously quantified in this work. • P, K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn were the most abundant elements in the viscera. • Liver and kidney were the two richest organs of chemical elements. • Tibetan pig viscera were not fully fit for consumption as food. • Element profile of viscera is significantly correlated with feed, soil and water. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the element distribution in the edible viscera of Tibetan pigs and to clarify its correlation with soils, drinking water and feed. A total of 55 chemical elements were simultaneously quantified. P, K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn were the most abundant elements in the analyzed viscera. The general distribution of all element concentrations in the viscera of Tibetan pigs was such that liver > kidney > small intestine > heart = lung = large intestine > stomach. Comparison with national and international allowable limits of toxic elements indicates that consumption of Tibetan pig viscera presents potential health risks. Spearman correlation analysis reveals that significantly (p < 0.0001) positive relationships exist between the element profiles of viscera and drinking water, soils as well as feed. For all edible viscera, the largest values of correlation coefficient were observed to be with corn feed. Our research provides a relatively comprehensive investigation of the elemental composition in Tibetan pig viscera. The correlation data would be helpful for the local farm to reformulate the feed for Tibetan pigs to improve the quality and safety of the viscera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]