Determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in thyroid glands of patients with diagnosed nodular goitre using ion chromatography

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the contents of selected metals in 65 pathological (diagnosed nodular goitre) and 50 healthy human thyroid tissues (taken during autopsies). Ion chromatography (IC) preceded by microwave mineralization was applied for the first time for determination of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in human thyroid samples. The study proved that the concentrations of Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, and Zn2+ were significantly higher in the control group (healthy thyroids) in comparison with the studied group (nodular goitre) (p < 0.05), whereas for Co2+ the difference between two means of concentration (healthy vs pathological thyroids) was not significant statistically at 0.05 significance level. Measurement accuracy was verified by measurements of NIST standard reference material (1566a Oyster Tissue). Very good precision (RSD below 5%) and recoveries (above 90%) were evaluated.