Analysis of Heavy Metals in Human Scalp Hair Using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Technique

Peter O Onuwa,Ishaq S Eneji,Lami A Nnamonu,Rufus Sha’Ato

doi:10.4236/jasmi.2012.24029

Abstract

Analysis of six heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mo) in human scalp hair was carried out among various occupational distributions to ascertain their heavy metal burden, using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence technique (ED-XRF). The result of the analysis shows that mean concentrations (mg/kg) of heavy metals obtained were as follows: Cr = 17.1 ± 12.7; Mn = 3.11 ± 0.50; Ni = 11.3 ± 9.3; Zn = 451 ± 128; Cu = 83.3 ± 35.8 and Mo is 9.16 ± 9.1.While the mean concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Mo were higher in the females, that of Mn, Ni and Zn were more in the males. Statistical analysis of the results for both genders at 0.05 probably shows significant difference for Ni, Zn and Mo while Cr, Mn and Cu showed no significant difference. The relationships between age, body mass, height, and heavy metal concentrations were also investigated. Statistical analysis of the results indicates that there was no correlation between the body mass (R2 ≤ 0.048), height (R2 ≤ 0.002) and heavy metal concentration in hair. Zn showed the highest deviation among other elements in the individual samples for both genders which reflect the individual variation in the concentration of Zn.

Highlights

Hair is a site of excretion for essential, nonessential and potentially toxic elements
The result of the analysis shows that mean concentrations of heavy metals obtained were as follows: Cr = 17.1 ± 12.7; Mn = 3.11 ± 0.50; Ni = 11.3 ± 9.3; Zn = 451 ± 128; Cu = 83.3 ± 35.8 and Mo is 9.16 ± 9.1.While the mean concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Mo were higher in the females, that of Mn, Ni and Zn were more in the males
Statistical analysis of the results indicates that there was no correlation between the body mass (R2 0.048), height (R2 0.002) and heavy metal concentration in hair

Summary

Introduction

Hair is a site of excretion for essential, nonessential and potentially toxic elements. Clinical research indicates that hair levels of specific elements, potentially toxic elements are highly correlated with pathological disorders. For such elements, levels in hair may be more indicative of body stores than the levels in blood and urine. Comparing hair-analysis with blood- or urine-analysis with the same purpose, a couple of factors such as simplicity of matrix, relatively high concentration of trace elements, easier sample gathering, transfer and storage should be considered [2,3]. Blood or urine analysis may exhibit normal concentration level even though sample is gathered in the same time as hair, the analytical results for hair analysis should be observed more carefully [4]. Hair is a good index of exposure to elements because of the partitioning, it allows for a non-invasive biological sample collection [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion