Hair samples, metals

LNS/ALMEN/CST/AKUT Impact of heavy metals and molds on environmentally burdened patients Study will evaluate immunologic biomarkers and assess heavy metals in serum and/or hair samples (European Commission 2004). 

Many of the private laboratories offer screening for heavy metals (including lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and nickel) and other chemicals, such as PCBs, chlorinated solvents, trichloroethylene, and pesticides. One such laboratory advertised testing for nearly 70 chemicals. Occupational screening was also offered at some of the laboratories. For many laboratories, people may order test and screening kits over the Internet, by fax, or by telephone. A person can send in a blood, urine, or hair sample for analysis. In some cases, a physician s signature is required to have the sample tested. 

Raghupathy, L., Harada, M., Ohno, H., Naganuma, A., Imura, N., and Doi, R. (1988). Methods of removing external metal contamination from hair samples for environmental monitoring. Sci. Total Environ. 77,141-151. 

Hair has been used in the biomonitoring of various elements, for example, arsenic, thallium, and zinc, and has been used in the monitoring of drugs and biological substances. The level of mercury in hair is widely used as a biological indicator for exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg). In addition, hair samples have been utilized to evaluate environmental exposure to pollutants such as lead, and occupational exposures to metals such as nickel and chromium. However, the ATSDR has stated ... 

There are reliable and accurate ways to measure mercury levels in the body. These tests all involve taking blood, urine, or hair samples, and must be performed in a doctor s office or in a health clinic. Nursing women may have their breast milk tested for mercury levels, if any of the other samples tested are found to contain significant amounts of mercury. Most of these tests, however, do not determine the form of mercury to which you were exposed. Mercury levels found in blood, urine, breast milk, or hair may be used to determine if adverse health effects are likely to occur (see Section 2.5). Mercury in urine is used to test for exposure to metallic mercury vapor and to inorganic forms of mercury. Measurement of mercury in whole blood or scalp hair is used to monitor exposure to methylmercury. Urine is not useful for determining whether exposure has occurred to methylmercury. Levels found in blood, urine, and hair may be used together to predict possible health effects that may be caused by the different forms of mercury. 

A further complication is noted by De Antonio et al. (1982) in that they found no correlation between head hair metal content and that of pubic hair. They concluded that variable exogenous contamination by trace metals of hair samples is a major problem. 

M Wolfsperger, G Hauser, W Gbssler, C Schlagenhaufen. Heavy metals in human hair samples from Austria and Italy Influence of sex and smoking habits. Sci Total Environ 156 235-242, 1994. 

Figure 29 A device to study triboelectrification of keratin fibers. 1, Motor 2, rubbing element 3, hair sample 4, metal holding frame 5, target of static detector probe 6, static detector probe 7, Keithley 616 Electrometer 8. Omni Scribe Recorder. (From Ref. 78.)...

Despite greatly increased total use of lead by industry, evidence from hair samples and other sources indicates that body burdens of this toxic metal have decreased during recent decades. This may be in part the result of less lead used in plumbing and other products that come in contact with food or drink. 

Clinical applications of ICP-MS have increased significantly in the past decade. The t)fpes of biological samples analysed by ICP-MS have diversified and now include whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, interstitial fluids, internal organs, teeth, bones, hair, nails, metal-binding proteins as well as various types of human and animal cells. 

Welcome back to the University of California, San Diego—hope the summer break didn t seem to pass too fast. I enjoyed having you in Chemistry 6CH Honors General and Forensic Chemistry last spring. If I recall, you had lunch with one of our guest speakers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, a rare treat that only a few of the students were lucky enough to participate in. I do remember that your final poster presentation for the class was terrific I believe it was on an article that applied atomic absorption spectroscopy to detect heavy metals in hair samples. 

In all microscopic methods, sample preparation is key. Powder particles are normally dispersed in a mounting medium on a glass slide. Allen [7] has recommended that the particles not be mixed using glass rods or metal spatulas, as this may lead to fracturing a small camel-hair brush is preferable. A variety of mounting fluids with different viscosities and refractive indices are available a more viscous fluid may be preferred to minimize Brownian motion of the particles. Care must be taken, however, that the refractive indices of sample and fluid do not coincide, as this will make the particles invisible. Selection of the appropriate mounting medium will also depend on the solubility of the analyte [9]. After the sample is well dispersed in the fluid, a cover slip is placed on top... 

The clean laboratory for trace metals was divided into three areas entrance laboratory (with clothes changing annex), instrument laboratory, and ultraclean sample preparation laboratory, all under positive pressure with active charcoal filtered air. Personnel using the clean rooms were required to wear hair caps, polyethylene gloves, laboratory coats, and designated shoes. These items are worn only in the clean rooms. 

For instance, Cr(III) ions may coexist with Co(II) and Cu(II) ions in a complex sample. The latter two ions may produce CL emission under similar conditions as for Cr(III). Fortunately, the formation rate of the Cr-EDTA complex is relatively slower, making possible the selective determination of this metal ion in waste water [8], urine, blood, and hair [9], Owing to the small number of CL reagents explored in recent years, the elements covered by CL techniques are still rather limited. Up to now only a few elements have been found to produce direct CL emission when reacted with CL reagents. Most of the publications so far involve indirect methods for the detection of elements. 

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