cric EDITOR: GEORGE H. MORRISON EDiTORlAL HEADQUARTERS 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202-872-4570 Teletype: 710-8220 151 Executive Editor: Josephine M. Petruzzi Associate Editor: Barbara Cassatt Associate Editor: Easton: Elizabeth R. Rufe Assistant Editor: Stuart A. Borman Editorial Assistants: Jacquelyn Danes, Ann M. Ramish Production Manager: Leroy L. Corcoran Art Director: John V . Sinnett Staff Artist: Linda M. Mattingly Copy Editor: Gail M. Mortenson Circulation: Cynthia G. Smith Advisory Board: L. S. Birks, Donald D. Bly, Peter Carr, Georges Guiochon. Kurt F. J. Heinrich, Bruce R. Kowalski, Robert A. Libby, Marvin Margoshes, Robert S. McDonald, James W. Mitchell, Royce W. Murray, Richard S. Nicholson, Garry A. Rechnitz. Walter Slavin, John P. Walters Contributing Editor, Instrumentation: Andrew A. Husovsky Instrumentation Advisory Panel: Nelson L. Alpert, Stuart P. Cram, Catherine Fenselau. Gary M. Hieftje, Tomas Hirschfeld, C. David Miller, Carter L. Olson, Thomas H. Ridgway, Yair Talmi The Analytical Approach Advisory Panel: Edward C. Duniop, Jeanette G. Grasselli, Robert A . Hofstader, Wilbur D. Shults Regulations. Analytical Division Ad Hoc Commitlee: Warren B. Crummett (Chairman). Fred Freeberg (Column Contributor) Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 1155 16th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
%hemistry
Mineral Content of Human Tissues Research related to the role of trace elements in nutrition and metabolism, both in health and disease, has escalated at a remarkable rate in recent years. Still, the interpretation and integration of the accumulating information to new research endeavors are seriously hampered by the lack of reliable, readily available data pertinent to human tissues. The collection and collation of relevant data should prove invaluable to researchers concerned with the mineral aspects of human nutrition. Knowledge of the effects of disease on tissue mineral composition, as well as the inverse, i.e., tissue mineral status relating to good health, should prove valuable in the prevention and cure of human disease. To assess this important problem, a workshop was held in May in College Park, Md., to critically evaluate the current state of knowledge concerning the nutritionally significant minerals occurring in human tissue. Sponsored by the American Institute of Nutrition and funded by the National Science Foundation, the workshop, consisting of experts from the U.S. and abroad in medicine, nutrition, analytical chemistry, and statistics, explored the possibility of developing and maintaining a more complete data base to establish baseline information. One of the major conclusions that emerged was the essential role of chemical analysis in the establishment of a reliable data base. All aspects of analysis, including the collection and storage of tissue samples, improved methods for the determination of trace element concentrations, and processing of data, require reexamination and the establishment of protocols. The need for quality control in all areas is mandatory. Of particular interest is the recent establishment of a pilot environmental specimen bank a t the National Bureau of Standards in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (Anal. C'hern. 1980, 52, 887A). Initial efforts are concerned with the gathering, processing, and storage of human liver samples. The goal of the specimen bank program is to develop analytical protocols and measurement methods, and to evaluate the various storage and sample preparation techniques for their effects on the samples. This pilot study, limited to environmental considerations of one human tissue, is a good beginning to the broader problem of the mineral content of human tissues. It is hoped that the AIN-NSF workshop and its report will stimulate the establishment of a viable program to provide the urgently needed data for the assessment of the role of trace elements in health and disease.
Books and Journals Division Director: D. H. Michael Bowen Journals: Charles R. Bertsch Production: Elmer Pusey, Jr. Research and Development: Seldon W. Terrant Manuscript requirements are published in the January 1980 issue, page 219. Manuscripts for publication (4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY at the ACS Washington address. The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 52, NO. 9, AUGUST 1980 -CIRCLE
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