Abstract
Considering the effect of environmental exposure and contamination, six trace elements including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in scalp hair samples of cooks at Lhasa city, southern Tibetan Plateau were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Potential of human hair in indicating the exposure and contamination has been assessed. Concentrations of these elements were found in the rank order of Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > As > Cd, with concentrations of Zn and Cu exceeding 10 μg/g (Zn = 208.01 μg/g; Cu = 23.60 μg/g). All the elements, especially Cu and Cr concentration in the hair samples were higher than those of the control, indicating higher indoor air pollution posing higher health risk. Cu, Cr, and Zn concentrations were higher than those of other areas (e.g. Turkey, Poland and Italy), implying that these metals might accumulate in the body and affect the health of cooks. No significant difference between genders was observed. Significantly positive correlations for several elements: Cr and As, Cr and Cd, Cu and Pb, As and Pb were obtained, which were different from the control, indicating heavy exposures to these metals through cooking activities. Our observations suggested that human scalp hair could be a useful biomarker to assess the intensity of heavy metals exposure as well as the indoor air pollution to cooks in Tibet.
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