Levels of Heavy Metals in Human Hair and Nail Samples from Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Hair and nail samples were collected from different subjects with respect to sex, age of those working in iron welder workshop and liquor and non-liquor subject in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria for heavy metals determination. Sample collection and preparations were carried out using standard procedures. The levels of heavy metals (Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Co), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb)) were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS, Unicam 969). From the results of this study, Zn showed the highest concentrations while Cu showed the least levels. The results of the study showed that there was no contribution of liquor towards nail and hair metal concentrations. The levels of all the metals studied were significantly higher in the toenails compared to fingernails samples (p<0.05). Similarly, iron welding workers showed high concentrations of heavy metals when compared to liquor user. The levels of all the metals studied were statistically higher in male subjects compared to female subjects (p<0.05). The concentrations of heavy metals in nail samples were significantly higher when compared to hair samples. Significant levels of these metals in nail and hair samples indicate the presence of these metals in the environment and the workplace of the subjects. Since the present study reveals high levels of some heavy metals in hair and nail samples of iron welding worker volunteer. So there is instantaneous need for public awareness about the hazards of this occupation in order to enable these volunteer take necessary precautionary measures.

Determination of Selected Heavy Metal Levels in Scalp Hair and Fingernail Samples from Dental Laboratory Technicians

“…In the past few years human hair and fingernails have been recognised as an invaluable tissue and more attractive diagnostic tool in assessing heavy metals in human body with environmental exposure [20]. Nowadays there is an increasing interest of scalp hair and fingernails in the fields of medical, biological, forensic, and environmental sciences [17,18,[21][22][23], they can be easily sampled collected, stored and prepared for analysis [24,25].…”

“…The use of scalp hair and fingernails samples in an assessment of environmental and occupational metal exposure has received a great deal of attention in the literature [14][15][16][17][18][19]. In the past few years human hair and fingernails have been recognised as an invaluable tissue and more attractive diagnostic tool in assessing heavy metals in human body with environmental exposure [20].…”

Assessment of Heavy Metals on Occupationally Exposed Workers from Hair Analysis

“…Transporting and storing the samples are also easier. Furthermore, hairs also provide a record of past and current trace element levels since it has the ability to accumulate the elements entering the body [9][10][11].…”

Toenail Metal Concentration as Biomarker of Heavy Metal Exposure among Welders

“…al and K. Sriram et. al on the reliability of toenail metal concentration as biomarker for heavy metal exposure [3], [12], [13]. Thus, there is possibility to use toenail as biomarkers to assess exposure of welding fumes for continuous occupational exposure.…”