The Association Between Lithium in Drinking Water and Incidence of Suicide Across 15 Alabama Counties

Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Palmer ◽  
Marshall E. Cates ◽  
Greg Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Lithium Concentration ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Rate Versus ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Drinking Water Samples

Abstract. Background: Recent studies have shown that lithium may be effective at reducing suicide at low doses, such as those found in drinking water. Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare suicide rates with natural lithium levels in the drinking water of various Alabama counties. Method: Five drinking water samples from each of 15 Alabama counties were collected. Lithium levels were measured in triplicate using an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometer and compared with suicide rate data for the period 1999–2013. Age, gender, and poverty were evaluated as potential confounding variables. Results: The average measured lithium concentrations ranged from 0.4 ppb to 32.9 ppb between the counties tested. The plot of suicide rate versus lithium concentration showed a statistically significant inverse relationship ( r = −.6286, p = .0141). Evaluation of male-only suicide rate versus lithium concentration data also yielded significant results; however, the female-only rate was not significant. Age standardized suicide rates and poverty when individually compared against lithium levels were also found to be statistically significant; unexpectedly, however, poverty had a parallel trend with suicide rate. Conclusion: Lithium concentration in drinking water is inversely correlated with suicide rate in 15 Alabama counties.

scholarly journals Investigation of Drinking Water Quality in Kosovo

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatlume Berisha ◽  
Walter Goessler
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Minor Elements ◽  
Important Health ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Drinking Water Samples

In the recent years, not much environmental monitoring has been conducted in the territory of Kosovo. This study represents the first comprehensive monitoring of the drinking water situation throughout most of the territory of Kosovo. We present the distribution of major and minor trace elements in drinking water samples from Kosovo. During our study we collected 951 samples from four different sources: private-bored wells; naturally flowing artesian water; pumped-drilled wells; and public water sources (tap water). The randomly selected drinking water samples were investigated by routine water analyses using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for 32 elements (Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U). Even though there are set guidelines for elemental exposure in drinking water worldwide, in developing countries, such as Kosovo, the lack of monitoring drinking water continues to be an important health concern. This study reports the concentrations of major and minor elements in the drinking water in Kosovo. Additionally, we show the variation of the metal concentration within different sources. Of the 15 regulated elements, the following five elements: Mn, Fe, Al, Ni, As, and U were the elements which most often exceeded the guidelines set by the EU and/or WHO.

Risk estimation and multivariate statistical analysis of the heavy metal content of drinking water samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 714-725
Author(s):  
Rajan Jakhu ◽  
Rohit Mehra
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Multivariate Statistical Analysis ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Drinking Water Samples

Drinking water samples of Jaipur and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan, India, were collected and analyzed for the measurement of concentration of heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to determine the sources of the heavy metals in the drinking water. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the determination of the heavy metal concentrations, and for the statistical analysis of the data, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed. It was observed from the results that with respect to WHO guidelines, the water samples of some locations exceeded the contamination levels for lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg), and with reference to the EPA guidelines, the samples were determined unsuitable for drinking because of high concentrations of Pb and Hg. Using multivariate statistical analysis, we determined that copper, manganese, arsenic, Se, and Hg were of anthropogenic origin, while Pb, copper, and cadmium were of geogenic origin. The present study reports the dominance of the anthropogenic contributions over geogenics in the studied area. The sources of the anthropogenic contaminants need to be investigated in a future study.

The Arsenic Concentration in Saliva, Urine and Drinking Water in Endemic Arsenicosis Area in Shanyin County of Shanxi Province, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 465-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da Peng Wang ◽  
San Xiang Wang ◽  
Zheng Hui Wang ◽  
Li Ming Zhang ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Shanxi Province ◽  
Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry ◽  
Arsenic Level ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Urinary Arsenic

Biological monitoring for arsenic(As) is usually based upon a determination of urine, blood, nail and hair arsenic concentration, however, saliva has been suggested as a non-invasive biological matrix for assessing exposure. To further evaluate the potential utility of saliva for arsenic biomonitoring, Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry(AFS-230) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) were used to evaluate the concentration of arsenic in drinking water, saliva and urine in endemic arsenicosis area in Shanyin County of Shanxi Province. The results showed that the arsenic concentration in drinking water was 0.55-720.0ug/L, and there were 66.67% samples above the arsenic level (50μg/L) of standards for drinking water quality. The median value of arsenic in drinking water was 127.22 μg/L. The salivary and urinary arsenic both can reflect the exposure of arsenic in drinking water. Additionally, there was a significant positive association of salivary arsenic compared with arsenic in drinking water (r=0.674, P<0.05)and urinary arsenic(r=0.794, P<0.05). These results demonstrated that, similar to urinary arsenic, salivary arsenic also can be used as a biomarker for assessing human exposue to arsenic.

A case study for measurement uncertainty of heavy metal analysis in drinking water with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (25) ◽  
pp. 5087-5094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özlem Tunç Dede
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Metal Analysis ◽  
Heavy Metal Analysis ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The measurement uncertainty related to the analysis of eight trace elements (Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn, Cu, Cd, Hg and As) in drinking water using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was evaluated in detail.

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