Recent Advances in Human Trace Element Determination Methods and Clinical Application

Abstract

Trace elements play an important role in maintaining human metabolism and life activities, and affect human health in a complicated way. Excessive intake of certain trace elements might be toxic to human whereas inadequate intake of essential elements may lead to human metabolic disorders caused by enzyme dysfunction. With the rapid development of industrialization and technology, more and more heavy metal components have been spread into the environment through the sewage disposal, which result in varying degrees of air, water and soil pollution as well as metabolic disorders due to one or more trace elements imbalances in body fluids. Using key techniques for determining the trace elements can identify the balance status of trace elements in human body. In this paper, we compared the characteristics and application challenges of various techniques related to trace element determination, aiming to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for clinical use of such determinations.