Nickel and iron concentrations in hair and nail of some Kano inhabitants

Abstract

Nickel and iron concentrations in hair and nail analysis were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean nickel concentration in hair and nail were 0.51±0.40μg/g and 0.79±0.41μg/g respectively while the mean iron concentration in hair and nail were 0.71 ±0.38 and 2.02 ± 1.07μg/g respectively. A progressive increase in nickel concentrations in hair and nails with age indicated no significant difference when their means were compared suggesting that nickel in hair and nails originate from a common source. Comparing the mean nickel concentrations in hair with that of nails, a significant difference was indicated in the two tissues (≤0.05). Human hair and nails are hence recording filaments that can reflect metabolic changes of many elements over long periods of time and hence furnish a print out of post nutritional event as dietary levels of some of the essential micro-elements. Keyword: Nickel, iron, hair, nail, determination, Kano, inhabitants