Levels of selected trace metals in hair of urban and rural adult male population of Pakistan

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197432· OSTI ID:62491

Ashraf, W; Jaffar, M ^[1]; Mohammad, D ^[2]

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1. Quaid-e-Azam Univ., Islamabad (Pakistan)
2. Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad (Pakistan)

Human scalp hair as a biopsy material may well serve the purpose of estimating the degree of human exposure to environmental contaminants, especially trace metals. To this effect, the levels of trace metals in hair of various groups of population living in areas with varying extent of environmental exposure are generally compared together. Such comparative evaluations are important since they are unique for each group of population and probably reflect not only a number of factors of genetical, nutritional and environmental origin, but also indicate relationship with factors such as food, ambient air, drinking water, occupational exposure, age, race, sex and metabolic condition etc. Also there are some elements which are selectively deposited in hair and may thus provide clinical information on the level of exposure and toxication. The aim of the present study was two-fold: to collect base-line trace metal data on hair and to evaluate the metal levels as measure of the nutritional status of the relevant groups of urban and rural population in terms of industrial, agricultural and occupation exposure. For this purpose, scalp hair samples were obtained from donors belonging to urban adult male population from the city of Peshawer and a rural town, Jamrood and were investigated for three essential metals (Na, K and Zn) and four non-essential metals (Co, Hg, As and Ag) by AAS technique. The impact of urban and rural environments, including the food habits of individuals, on trace metal distribution in scalp hair of the two classes of population is then reviewed with reference to the literature data available from other parts of the world. 16 refs., 5 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 62491
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 54; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COPPER
HAIR
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MALES
MERCURY
METALS
POTASSIUM
RURAL AREAS
SILVER
SODIUM
URBAN AREAS
ZINC