The concentration of cadmium and lead in the solid and finely dispersed phases of snow and hair of the population of Gorny Altai

Abstract

To create a systematic database on the presence of metals in the environment and the human body, it is necessary to conduct local studies in different regions of the Russian Federation. A comprehensive analysis of the content of cadmium and lead in different coenotic links, including the human body, has not been carried out in the Altai Republic. The aim of the study was to reveal the level of lead and cadmium accumulation in the solid and finely dispersed phases of snow and hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk. Material and methods. The content of lead and cadmium in the snow and hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk was estimated by the atomic absorption method. Snow samples were taken in the areas of 10 central coal boilers, hair samples were taken from 122 volunteers permanently residing in the city. Results. The concentration of metals in snow water exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations: for cadmium (0.004–0.008 mg/kg) by 3.8–8.2 times; for lead (0.008–0.469 mg/kg) by 2–15.6 times. In the solid phases of snow, the content of metals exceeded the permissible level by about 3 times. The average value of the concentration of cadmium in the hair of the population was 0.16 mg/kg, which did not exceed the all-Russian reference value (0.25 mg/kg), the proportion of excess among the population was 6.5 %. The lead content (3.18 mg/kg) approximately corresponded to the all-Russian values (3.0 mg/kg), the excess was found among 43 % of the population. Conclusion. As a result of the widespread use of solid fuels, the presence of cadmium and lead in the environment increases, which is confirmed by the accumulation of these metals in the snow cover and the accumulation of the analyzed microelements in the hair of the population of Gorno-Altaisk.