Assessment of Elements Traces in Nails of Humans Exposed to Environmental Contamination

Abstract

In the present work, elements concentration in fingernails samples of volunteers of different ages (males, females) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) Perkin-Elmer, spectrophotometer.Fingernails samples of different groups were analyzed to determine the trace elements of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Co, Zn and Pb. Standards materials were prepared and samples from two cities in different location in eastern province of Sudan. In addition, samples of hands fingernails and toenails were analyzed for comparison and method approval. Consequently, the significant levels of elements concentration in nails samples of Jabeit residents compared to Port Sudan resident's area due to soil dispersion are supporting the possibility of external contamination. The data of component matrix and rotated component matrix of varimax normalization using principal component analysis were revealed important predictors of nails elements Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations in soil of both areas under study. However, the Pb, Ni, Ca, and Co is possible to be indication of different sources associated with environmental contamination. The significant correlation and principal component analysis of the elements of nails concentrations in the two categories are supported bythe probability of different exposure to environmental contamination. Heavy metals in fingernails of high school female were determined using other technique for results validation. The purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of imposed guidelines for exposures to elements level in district of eastern Sudan namely Port Sudan city. Elements calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) concentrations in fingernails samples of volunteers females students were collected to determine their levels of contamination in hands fingernails .The samples were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (Perkin-Elmer, Spectrophotometer) to analyze the heavy metals in females fingernails of ages 14 to 16 years and childrenof 4 to 5 years old. Different methods are used for data assessment and source identification such as correlation, principal component analysis, eigenvalue and variance confirming that the sources of Ca, Cu and Zn exposure to environmental from locality contamination such as soil dispersion and underground drinking water, while Ni and Pb are connected to other sources exposure by other environmental contamination factors.