Major
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Program
Anticipated Graduation Year
2022
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
The alarming prevalence of heavy metals in the environment necessitates examining how these toxic substances impact physiological health. This project seeks to analyze how concentrations of heavy metals relate to eye cataracts. Elemental detection of eye cataract samples is performed using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) and Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) Spectrometry. Confirmation of the established GFAAS method will be performed using chromium, a potentially toxic trace element. Spectral detection of heavy metals will then begin on yeast cells, and a selectivity study will examine how the presence of alternative trace elements may interfere with GFAAS chromium detection.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Michelle Lund, Graduate Student, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Dr. Martina Schmeling, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Spectral Detection of Elemental Chromium in Biological Samples
The alarming prevalence of heavy metals in the environment necessitates examining how these toxic substances impact physiological health. This project seeks to analyze how concentrations of heavy metals relate to eye cataracts. Elemental detection of eye cataract samples is performed using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) and Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) Spectrometry. Confirmation of the established GFAAS method will be performed using chromium, a potentially toxic trace element. Spectral detection of heavy metals will then begin on yeast cells, and a selectivity study will examine how the presence of alternative trace elements may interfere with GFAAS chromium detection.