Evaluation of Essential Trace and Toxic Elements in Scalp Hair Samples of Smokers and Alcohol User Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

The incidence of hypertension has been associated to cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol. In the present study, trace and toxic elements were determined in scalp hair of patients diagnosed with hypertension who are smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age-and sex-matched healthy, nonsmokers, nondrinking controls. The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material (NCS ZC 81002b) and by the conventional wet acid digestion method on the same certified reference material and on real samples. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 97.5%-99.7% in certified reference material. The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel and lead were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of both smoker and nonsmoker hypertensive patients than referents (P<0.001), whereas, the concentration of zinc was lower in the scalp hair samples of hypertensive patients of both genders. The deficiency of zinc and the high exposure of trace and toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption may be synergistic with risk factors associated with hypertension.

Metal concentrations in hair of patients with various head and neck cancers as a diagnostic aid

“…Analysis of hair as alternative material has shown higher concentrations of necessary and toxic elements than reported in the references, even though these values vary among research papers (Chojnacka et al 2006 ; Guo et al 2007 ; Pasha et al 2007 , 2010 ; Afridi et al 2011 ; Blaurock-Busch et al 2014 ).…”

“…Results obtained by Åkesson et al ( 2008 ) confirmed the hypothesis that cadmium may affect estrogen levels and thus increase the risk of hormone-dependent cancers. Smokers and people living in polluted areas have higher blood and urine cadmium levels, with smoking making the level of this element many times higher than in non-addicted individuals (Afridi et al 2011 ). Studies have confirmed that drinking alcohol in combination with smoking leads to increased absorption and accumulation of cadmium in all body tissues (Afridi et al 2011 ).…”

“…It is considered a mutagenic element, among other reasons due to its lipid peroxidation enhancing effect (Blaurock-Busch et al 2014 ). Lead may also be found in high concentrations in blood and urine of smokers (Afridi et al 2011 ). Epidemiological studies have also shown a potential relationship between exposure to lead compounds at work and incidence of lung cancers (Qayyum and Shah 2014 ).…”

The role of heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the oncogenesis of head and neck tumors and thyroid diseases: a pilot study

“…For example, lead is a highly toxic metal that can accumulate in the body and damage many organs and systems. It is considered a mutagenic element, among other reasons due to its lipid peroxidation enhancing effect (Afridi et al 2011 ). Lead may also be found in high concentrations in the blood and urine of smokers (Afridi et al 2011 ).…”

PIXE Analysis of NIST and IAEA Biological Reference Materials

“…Several analytical methods like X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) [1,2], Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) [3], Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) [4], Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) [5], Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) [6], Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) [7], have been employed to identify and quantify trace elements in a wide variety of samples including biological samples. Among these analytical methods, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS are routinely used for the analysis of samples in a destructive way for which the analyte should be in the form of liquid.…”