Determination of chromium and caesium in human cataractous lenses.

The concentration of chromium and caesium in totally opaque (mature) cataractous lenses has been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis and gamma spectrometry. The presence of these trace-elements in the human lens has to our knowledge not been investigated so far. Both elements under study are of known biological importance. Chromium is an essential trace-element necessary for the maintenance of normal glucose metabolism. Moreover it is considered to rank among those elements, the increased level of which contributes to environmental pollution. Caesium is a biologically important trace-element due to its relationship with potassium, as has been demonstrated in a variety of biochemical and physiological processes. The concentration of these elements was determined in cataractous lenses from fifty-one patients with senile cataract and has been correlated with age and sex.