Harris, WH; Beauchemin, JA; Hershenson, HM; Roberts, SH; Matsuyama, G
The presence or absence of 16 metal ions was determined in eight regions of the human brain. Four human brains obtained at autopsy were divided into eight sections: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, Island of Reil (insula), basal ganglia, brain stem, and cerebellum. Sections were wet ashed with nitric-acid, concentrated, and spectrographically analyzed. Calcium (7440702), magnesium (7439954), and lead (7439921) were found in all sections of all four brains. Aluminum (7429905), copper (7440508), cobalt (7440484), mercury (7439976), manganese (7439965), vanadium (7440622), nickel (7440020) and titanium (7440326) were found in every section at least once. Chromium (7440473) and zinc (7440666) were identified in all sections except the insula and the brain stem, respectively. Silver (7440224), bismuth (7440699), and molybdenum (7439987) were not found in any section. Although quantitation of metal concentrations was not carried out, the authors conclude that it is noteworthy that the majority of metals were present in all areas of all the brains examined.