Trace metal contamination study on scalp hair of occupationally exposed workers

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199020· OSTI ID:6607419

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

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

Scalp hair is a metabolic end product that incorporates metals into its structure during the growth process. The levels of trace elements in the hair are considered to be influenced in particular by food, air and occupational exposure, and in general by race, age, sex, metabolism, hygienic condition and geographical location of individuals. Recently, trace metal content of human hair has been explored as a tool for monitoring the impact of environmental pollution on the inhabitants of a community. In this respect, the endogenous and exogenous contents of metals in hair are understood to play important role towards exposure assessment. The exogenous metal content of hair reflects exposure to the occupational, domestic and recreational environments, provided the donor is not suffering from heavy metal poisoning and depressed endogenous levels arising from dietary deficiencies. Keeping this in view, the exogenous and endogenous metal contents of scalp hair of occupationally exposed workers from various workshops were determined in the present study, both in unwashed and washed hair samples to assess the extent of metal contamination. All donors, within the age group of 6-45 years, were full-time workers of various autoworkshops situated in the densely populated and industrialized city of Lahore. ICP atomic emission and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods were used for determining the levels of five non-essential and three essential elements in the scalp hair. 20 refs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6607419
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States) Vol. 53:4; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BODY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
HAIR
MAMMALS
MAN
METALS
MONITORING
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
SKIN
VERTEBRATES