Hairs as biomonitors of hazardous metals present in a work environment

Abstract

Human beings come across metal exposure not only through contaminated water and food, but through their metal body burden which increases by working in the environment that is contaminated and not safe. These hazardous metals present in the workplace increases the risk of both illness and injury. Illness tends to develop over time following repeated exposure to a hazard, whereas injury usually occurs instantly. Human biomonitoring is a popular method to cogitate the metal exposure of the work place. The present investigation was carried out to access the metal body burden of males belonging to different profession by using hairs analysis, which is one of inexpensive and useful biomonitors of occupational exposure of hazardous metals. Among the three groups under study (such as traffic constables, cloth dyers and office workers), lead and zinc concentrations were detected to be higher among traffic constables, while hairs analysis of cloth dyers show that copper, chromium, cadmium and manganese were present in greater amount as compared to other groups. Intra correlation of these metals among all categories was also carried out. Lead showed antagonistic relation with zinc, chromium, cadmium and manganese and synergistic relation with copper in the case of traffic constables. The present study reveals that metal toxicity in hair samples of office workers, dyers and traffic personnel, vary with their occupation. So there is instantaneous need for public awareness about the hazards of different occupations in order to enable these personnel take necessary precautionary measures. Key words: Metals, occupational, toxicity, hair, traffic personnel, dyers, office workers.