Cigarette smoking exposes individuals to numerous toxic substances, including heavy metals. Smokers are at risk due to the accumulation of these substances in various tissues. Objective: To compare the concentrations of 41 elements in 11 brain regions, the spinal cord, the bronchial, the lungs, and the liver in smokers (n = 11) and non-smokers (n = 17). Elemental composition was determined by ICP-MS after wet digestion in a microwave system. The following toxic elements were detected at levels of µg/g w.w.: Al, Cd, Pb, Ba, As, Ni, and Tl. Significantly higher concentrations of Al were detected in bronchial and lung, and more Pb, Tl, and rare earth elements were detected in the liver of smokers compared to non-smokers. In addition, smokers had significantly lower concentrations of essential elements involved in antioxidant defense, such as Cu, in liver tissue (p = 0.033). The brain and spinal cord in smokers and non-smokers were similar in terms of chemical composition, except the insula, where smokers had greater Al accumulation (p = 0.030), the precentral gyrus, where higher amounts of As, Cd, and Mn were detected, and the septal nucleus accumbens, which preferentially accumulated Cd in smokers; however, the p-values indicate that these differences were not statistically significant. Most brain areas of smokers were characterized by higher Na content (p < 0.05). These findings prove the long-term effects of smoking, demonstrating the bioaccumulation of toxic elements, the increased levels of rare earth elements in the liver, decreased levels of elements involved in the body’s antioxidant defense, and disruption of sodium homeostasis in the brain of smokers.

Inappropriate concentrations of elements in infant formulae may lead to adverse health effects, so this study was designed to determine the concentration of selected basic (Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and toxic or potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Sn, and Ni) in formulae for infants from birth to 12 months currently available on the Polish market. The concentrations of these elements were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and the estimated daily intake (EDI) of elements was calculated. The concentrations of most analyzed elements in formulae were in good agreement with the recommended EU limits, except for Cu (median 72 µg/100 kcal, range 0 − 338 µg/100 kcal) and K (155 µg/100 kcal, 103 − 316 µg/100 kcal) in some formulae did not meet the guidelines for minimum and maximum levels. Additionally, there were large differences in Mn concentrations between the various formulae (range 1 − 91 µg/100 kcal). The Ni EDI exceeded 4.3 µg in some formulae, which EFSA established as the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for eczematous skin reactions. Therefore, regular monitoring of the composition of formulae for infants is recommended.

Chronic exposure to heavy metals poses significant health risks. This study analyzed the concentrations of toxic (Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni) and essential (Cu, Zn, Se, Mn) elements in autopsy samples (the frontal pole area of the brain, the 6th intercostal space of the liver, and lungs (average of left and right lung samples) from 45 residents of South-Eastern Poland using ICP-MS. The aim was to determine the average body burden and organ-specific accumulation in a moderately industrialized region. HDBSCAN clustering revealed highly homogeneous elemental profiles, suggesting a unifying influence of local environmental factors. The liver acted as a metabolic hub, showing preferential sequestration (p < 0.0001) of essential elements (Zn, Se, Mn, Cu) regulated by homeostatic mechanisms. Toxic metals exhibited ‘metabolic trap’ patterns, particularly Cd and Pb in the liver and Cr in the lungs, due to their long biological half-lives. Strong positive correlations (Se–Zn, Se–Cu) indicated integrated antioxidant responses, while toxic pairs (Cr–Ni, Pb–Cd) suggested shared exposure pathways and molecular mimicry via transporters such as DMT1. Results confirmed long-term bioaccumulation, with toxic elements in the brain remaining below 0.25 µg/g. In the lungs, the accumulation hierarchy (Pb > Mn > Cd > Cr) reflected inhalation exposure. These findings emphasize the role of organ-specific sequestration in assessing long-term environmental exposure.

The metal accumulation abilities of Typha latifolia L. are of particular importance in small, semi-enclosed aquatic ecosystems in human-modified landscapes, which are highly susceptible to anthropogenic pollution. In this study, major and trace elements, with a particular focus on rare earth elements (REEs), were studied in samples collected from three wet castle moats in the Wielkopolska Region, Poland. The analysis of selected elements in water, bottom sediments (BS) and different parts of T. latifolia L. aimed to reveal the plant's potential to accumulate and redistribute elements, depending on the characteristics of its growth site. Differences in accumulation patterns among plants from different locations ranged from almost none to very high, depending on the specific element, as indicated by the Bioaccumulation Factor (from 0.04 to 274) and Translocation Factor (from 0.01 to 11.4) values. The studied plants were capable of effective lanthanum uptake, whereas other REEs were accumulated at a disproportionately lower rate than their content in the BS. Different accumulation patterns reflect differences in the elemental composition of BS among the studied moats. This study enhances understanding of how aquatic plants take up and accumulate elements, with implications for environmental assessment and management of small aquatic systems.

Inappropriate concentrations of elements in formulae for infants may lead to adverse health effects. Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for the proper development of infants. It is naturally present in human milk and is also added to infant formulae. However, both insufficient and excessive Se intake may be harmful. The aim of this study was to determine Se concentrations and chemical forms in 148 formulae for infants available on the Polish market and to assess their nutritional safety. Se concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-iCRC-MS). Se speciation was performed using a HPLC system coupled to ICP-iCRC-MS. The Se concentrations in most analyzed formulae were in good agreement with the recommended EU limits (median 4.5 µg/100 kcal, range 0–15.6 µg/100 kcal). However, the estimated daily intake for 6-month-old infants exceeded the tolerable upper intake level in six formulae, indicating a potential health risk. Speciation analysis showed that the dominant Se forms were sodium selenite and sodium selenate, and their levels were mostly consistent with the manufacturers’ declarations. Additionally, trace amounts of selenometionine (SeMet) and methyloselenocysteine (MeSeCys) were detected. Therefore, regular monitoring of the composition of infant formulae remains necessary. The detection of SeMet and MeSeCys provides new avenues for research on Se content and Se speciation in formulae intended for infants.