role of hair in chronic lead toxicity

ABSTRACT

The concentration of lead was determined in hair and blood of 90 exposed workers and 100 non exposed workers. Urinary 8 amino levulenic acid was also determined in both groups. Hair was obtained from the scalp, chest and pubic region. The mean scalp hair lead concentrations weie 48.6, 18.2, ug/gm of hair in both exposed and non exposed workers respectively. The mean chest hair lead concentrations were 45.4, 14.3 and that for pubic hair leach concentrations were 40.5, 9.4 in the same groups. Hair lead concentration was highly correlated with blood lead concentration, but there is no significant correlation with urinary 8 amino levulinic acid