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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology pp 141–177Cite as

Human Nails as a Biomarker of Element Exposure

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Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 185))

Summary

Human nails are extensively employed for monitoring exposure to excessive levels of elements. Nails can be studied easily and economically in subjects of residential areas and industrial workers and patients, and sometimes may indicate that high concentrations of elements are related to various illnesses. Deficiency of certain elements (Se and Fe) can also be determined with use of nails of subjects with specific or unknown deficiencies. Although nails are different from other biological samples in bioaccumulation, physiological activities may be partially due to chemical properties of the elements. Comparison of multielements between nails and other samples is relevant and found significant, because of the status of chronic exposure to high levels of elements. However, comparison of multielements between nails and other samples results in inconsistencies when exposure to elements is acute or unpredictable, or the subject is deficient in the elements being measured. Studies associated with elemental speciation, supplementation, interaction, and deficiency of essential elements (Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo,etc.), although rarely available, may enhance the growing use of nails. In many other research fields nail levels of elements and other associated factors or parameters are being investigated for further expansion of their application.

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  1. Department of Education in Science and Mathematics, Regional Institute of Education, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Mysore, 570 006, India

    A. Sukumar

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    Daniel R. Doerge

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Sukumar, A. (2006). Human Nails as a Biomarker of Element Exposure. In: Ware, G.W., Nigg, H.N., Doerge, D.R. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 185. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30638-2_5

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