Fingernails as biological indices of metal exposure.

Metal determination in human tissues is the most common application of biological monitoring for screening, diagnosis and assessment of metal exposures and their risks. Various biopsy-materials may be used. This paper deals with the quantitative determination of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn concentrations in nails of male subjects exposed to these metals along with their respective controls, while working in locomotive, carriage and road ways workshops, and lead battery factories. The levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in fingernails, assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, were compared with their respective controls by student 't' test. All the obtained values were correlated to the personal and medical history of the subjects under study. Significantly high levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were present in smokers, compared to nonsmokers. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn and Fe were not significantly high in vegetarian subjects. It was also observed that there is no contribution of liquor towards nail-metal concentration. Significant correlations were observed between skin disease and Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu; hypertension and Cd, Mn, Cu; mental stress and Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn; diabetes and Cr, Mn, Ni; chest pain and Pb; respiratory trouble and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn; tuberculosis and Zn; acidity and Cd; and ophthalmic problems and Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn.

Hair as an indicator for assessing adverse effect of cadmium on human health.

Occupational health problems of 240 male workers of roadways workshop, carriage workshop and battery factory were investigated. Cadmium concentrations in the hair were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Health effects, such as acidity, hypotension, hypertension, dermatitis, ophthalmic problems, cardiac disease, indigestion, diabetes, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, respiratory troubles, psychological and liver problems were found in subjects. Significant levels between the unhealthy and normal subjects were determined by applying a parametric test, the student's t test at a significant level of p < 0.05. The results of our studies indicate that the significant difference in cadmium levels were observed in subjects suffering from acidity, ophthalmic problems, hypertension, psychological problems, tuberculosis and their respective controls. No correlation with cadmium was obtained with cardiac diseases, diabetes, hepatitis B, respiratory problems, dermatitis and hypotension.