Nuclear-based methods for the analysis of trace element pollutants in human hair

The trace element composition of human hair is a suitable indicator of exposure to trace element pollutants. During the implementation of an international research programme, coordinated by the IAEA, on the use of nuclear methods for detecting trace element pollutants in hair, much valuable information was collected both on normal levels of trace elements and on increased levels caused by pollution. As a result of reviewing and comparing the data, interesting observations relating to the spread of concentrations were made. Standardized procedures were elaborated for a number of analytical techniques as well as for pre-analytical preparations in the analysis of hair. Paper presented at the Second Meeting on Nuclear Analytical Procedures, Dresden (GDR), 19 to 23 March 1979.     

Hair as an indicator of environmental exposure in Hong Kong

Eleven human hair samples were taken from the Chinese residents of Hong Kong for the study of hair trace elemental level and environmental exposures. Absolute neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry were applied in the determination of the trace elemental level. All results are reported in parts per million except for sulfur and oxygen which are reported in percent. The trace element content of hair from a drug addict was found to be considerably different from other sampled people. Comparison of the normal concentrations of the trace elements of the Chinese residents of Hong Kong was made with those from people of various other national, socio-cultural and environmental backgrounds. It was found that together with a few other trace elements, Ni, Sr, Zr and Hg content of the Chinese Residents of Hong Kong show a higher level than those of the other sampled people.     

Neutron activation analysis of neonate and maternal hair sampled in areas with different levels of pollution

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been performed on human head hair of newborns and mothers sampled in two areas with a different level of environmental exposure. The group of neonates from the exposed area (polluted by thermal power plants burning brown coal and by chemical industry) has exhibited higher levels of several trace elements in hair, e.g. Se, Zn, Hg and Sb in comparison with the control group. Moreover, the mean concentrations of Se, Hg, Zn and Br in neonate hair have been found to be higher than in mothers hair. Although the study revealed statistically significant differences in the composition of neonate hair sampled in areas with different levels of environmental exposure, the differences are relatively small. Only a thorough long-term study both with environmental and medical observations can prove a direct connection of the elevated levels of some trace elements in neonate hair with the higher frequency of mental diseases of children living in the exposed area.     

The effect of washing procedures on trace element content of human hair

The effects of four washing procedures on the concentrations of manganese, iron, copper, zinc and cadmium and were investigated for three pooled samples of human head hair. The solutions evaluated were a non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100), an ionic detergent (sodium lauryl sulfate), acetone and a complexing agent (EDTA). The results indicate that for every element determined there is a level below which the concentration cannot be reduced by further washings. The numbers of washings required to reach these levels vary considerably. This effect must be considered in the trace element analysis of hair.     

老年慢性支气管炎急性发作期病人头发微量元素的测定与分析

为观察老年慢性支气管炎急性发作期头发中微量元素的变化,测定了50例老年慢性支气管炎急性发作期患者和40例正常对照组头发中锌、铁、铜、钙、锰、铅6种元素含量。结果表明,慢性支气管炎急性发作期患者发中锌、铁、铜、钙含量明显低正常对照组（P＜0．01）。提示头发中微量元素减少与慢性支气管炎易反复感染有一定的关系。     

A study of trace element concentrations in human hair of some local population in Malaysia

The content of the trace elements As, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Sb and Zn has been evaluated in hair samples from selected population groups within Malaysia. Each population group was formed of individuals selected to be representative of the adult population living in a well-defined community. The groups were chosen from distinct regions with different socio-economical living habits in order to detect variability of the trace element burden among Malaysian. All the measurements were performed by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis after the hair samples were carefully washed according to standard procedures. The results for all elements investigated do not differ significantly from reported values for other regions of the world. The levels of As, Hg, and Sb are significantly different for the various groups and is strongly linked to local environmental factors.     

Multielement neutron activation analysis of human scalp hair a local population survey in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Applying instrumental neutron activation analysis, multielement analysis of human hair was carried out to elucidate the levels of various trace element concentrations in hair of local population in the Tokyo metropolitan area. 202 hair samples were collected from the inhabitants classified by sex and five age groups. Using several combinations of irradiation time, cooling time and counting time, forty elements were quantitatively analyzed. The method of analysis for data including samples under detection limit is discussed, assuming that the frequanecy distribution of trace element contents in hair is log-normal.     

微波消解-超声雾化-ICP-AES测定发样中微量元素

研究了微波消解-超声雾化-ICP-AES测定人发样品中12种常量、微量元素的方法。对样品的测定条件进行了优化，并对20例女性拉祜族长寿老人发样进行了测定。与普通老人比较，女性拉祜族长寿老人发样中Mn、Mo、Ge的含量均明显高于普通老人发样中含量，存在显著性差异。     

青少年头发中六种微量元素含量随年龄增大的变化差异研究

研究了东北辽源地区5－20风不同年龄段的青少年,1147例头发中六种微量元素含量随着年龄增大的变化规律;既从单因素角度,又从多元素群体、多元统计分析方面研究了不同年龄段青少年头发元素含量的性别差异,相关系数差异及其群体微量元素谱图的差异。     

Investigation of elemental models in senile dementia and depressives using neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used to determine the concentration of a range of elements in hair and blood samples, separated into erythrocytes and plasma, obtained from two groups of women, senile demented (9) and depressives (16), and their respective controls (17 and 9). The results suggest that the senile dementia group has significantly higher Al concentrations in erythrocytes and hair relative to the controls but no significant correlation between the aluminium content of hair and that of blood exists. Further, Zn concentrations determined in the erythrocytes and plasma of these subjects were lower compared to the control values. Vanadium levels above our detection limit for the element were found in seven cases out of a total of sixteen in the depressive group. Vanadium was also found to be at higher concentration in the hair of the depressive group compared to the controls. Again no significant correlation was found to exist between the concentration of vanadium in hair and in erythrocyte sample for these seven subjects.     

牙周病患者头发微量元素的测定

为探讨牙周病与微量元素的关系,对28例牙周病患者头发Fe、Zn、Cu、Ca进行了测定,并与正常对照组做比较。结果表明,牙周病患者头发Fe、Zn、Cu、Ca较对照组明显降低。提示牙周病患者头发微量元素的含量与牙周病有密切关系。     

Trace element exposure in man by instrumental neutron activation analysis of hair

A nondestructive instrumental neutron activation technique was used to analyze human hair samples collected from people living in metropolitan and rural areas in Korea. Samples were also collected from factory workers and cancer patients. Hair from metropolitan area residents contain higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Na, Br, Mn, I and S than rural area residents. Concentrations of I and S from cancer patients, Mg, Zn, Al, Na, Mn and As from glassware workers were relatively higher. The results show that the trace element concentrations of the hair are possibly related to the trace element concentrations in the body.     

精神发育迟滞儿童的头发微量元素检测及分析

为测定和分析精神发育迟滞儿童头发微量元素营养状态,选择来自某特殊学校学生（IQ均低于70）210例发样为观察组,采用原子吸收分光光度法测定发样中锌、铁、铜、钙、锰、铅、镁和铬含量.结果表明,本组210例精神发育迟滞儿童的发铅和发镁低于正常对照组,具有统计学意义.发锌稍高于对照组但无统计学意义,其它几种元素含量基本相似.可见特殊学校精神发育迟滞儿童的发铅和发镁比正常儿童低,其意义值得进一步分析.     

Application of total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for multi-elements characterization in human hair

Biomonitoring of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in scalp hair of the rural population in Punjab state of India was carried out using TXRF. The objective of the study was to understand their exposure to the trace elements from the local environment. The volunteers having age group 30–45 years were selected from rural region of Punjab. Validity of method was checked by analyzing Certified Reference Materials IAEA-436 and INCT-MPH-2. The results of trace elements analysis in hair samples shows no environmental gradient in the concentration of the elements like Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn however Pb was observed higher in few volunteers as compared to published value of concentrations in volunteers from Delhi.     

Trace elements in the hair of workers of a copper mine and of children living in the vicinity

Eleven trace elements were determined in the hair of Chuquicamata copper mine workers and of children living in camp by means of neutron activation analysis. Comparative studies demonstrated that concentrations of certain elements were greater than those corresponding to the nonexposed populations. Arsenic exceeded the normal limit considered for this element by health organizations.     

300例头发微量元素结果分析

为寻找病因、了解婴幼儿体内微量元素缺乏状态与某些疾病的关系,分析了300例发样中的锌、铁、铜、钙、锰、铅含量,结果显示婴幼儿病态下微量元素缺乏较为普遍,是婴幼儿食欲低下、生长发育迟缓、佝偻病、贫血症、多动症的主要病因,反复上呼吸道感染、腹痛、头痛也与体内微量元素浓度有关。     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of the hair of metallurgical workers

Hair samples were collected from 20 metallurgical workers (10 males and 10 females) and from 59 control subjects (32 males and 27 females), whose jobs do not indicate a specific occupational exposure. The concentrations of ten minor and trace elements (Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sb, Se, V and Zn) were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The statistical data distributions, the sex and age influences in these elemental concentrations and the average values obtained for the control group were compared with published data. The effect of occupational exposure to the metallic elements was reflected in elemental composition of hair by significant higher concentration levels of Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sb, V and Zn in the hair of the exposed group, when compared with the control group.     

原子吸收光谱法测定原发性癫痫患者头发中微量元素

通过原子吸收光谱法测定原发性癫痫患者头发中的微量元素Ｚｎ，Ｃｕ，Ｆｅ，Ｍｎ，Ｐｂ和宏量元素Ｋ，Ｎａ，Ｃａ，Ｍｇ并与正常人头发中的微量元素比较，结果表明，：癫痫患者头发中的锰含量明显高于正常人，这一结论与有关文献的结论吻合。     

Groundwater Quality at the Huaibei Coalfield,China

The environmental and health impacts of trace elements are of great concern because of their toxicity, persistence, and bioavailability. Twenty-six groundwater samples were collected from the coal mining areas to evaluate water quality and potential environmental impact caused by mining activities. The physical/chemical properties and trace element concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were determined. The physical/chemical parameters and the concentrations of trace elements varied among the shallow and confined groundwater, which may indicate the absence of hydraulic interactions between the aquifers. The concentrations of trace elements in the mining areas are higher than at background monitoring sites, which suggests that the mining activities may lead to environmental and health impacts. Based on a health risk assessment, the low hazard quotients and cancer risk values in confined groundwater samples indicate that the chronic and cancer adverse effects due to trace elements are negligible. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of groundwater trace element impacts from coal mining in China and is useful for environmental management.     

Multielement determination in cattle hair infested withBoophilus microplus by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to estimate the concentrations of Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Se and Zn in hair samples from Holstein-Friesan male calves, which were infested withBoophilus microplus larvae and, also from healthy animals. These results were obtained in order to evaluate if is there a significant difference between the trace element concentrations in hair samples from infested and healthy animals.