Heavy Metal Analysis Using Inductively Couple Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) on Hair of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Heavy metals can be found in everyday environments and can enter the human body through food, water, and air. Heavy metals are categorized into three groups by the World Health Organization (WHO): essential elements such as Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn); potentially essential elements like Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni); and potentially toxic elements such as Cadmium (Cd) and Lead. (Pb). The heavy metal is a systemic poison that causes organ dysfunction in humans. The aim of this research is to analyze the levels of heavy metal elements Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) in the hair of breast cancer patients. The method used to measure heavy metal content is Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry. (ICP-OES). The levels of heavy metal elements Cu, Fe, and Zn in five hair samples from breast cancer patients differ from the standards GBW07601 and IAEA-086. The levels of Cu and Fe in breast cancer patients are lower than the standard, while the level of Zn is higher than the standard.