Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heavy metals in human hair and teeth

The Correlation with Metal Concentration in The Environment

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biological samples were collected simultaneously with environmental quality investigations. Studies of metal levels in biological (hair and teeth) and environmental (soil and air) samples were performed in Zwardoń during 1991/1992. Zwardoń is a small mountain resort village, situated on the border pass of Zwardoń, in the close proximity of the southwestern border of Poland. Heavy metal levels in soil, air, and chemical metals forms in the soil were examined. Pearson’s product correlation in soil (for total concentration of heavy metals and each chemical form) in hair and in teeth was calculated to investigate bioavailability of heavy metals in human organism. We received essential correlations simultaneously between: Pb vs Mn in exchangeable form of metal in soil, in teeth and in soil (total); Cd vs Zn and Mn vs Co in organically bound form in soil and in teeth and soil (total); and Cu vs Zn in all investigated samples (teeth, hair, soil total, and organically bound form in soil); Mn vs Co and Cr vs Mn in residual form in soil, in teeth, and in soil (total) and between Co vs Ni for hair, soil (total), and residual form in soil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Yoshinaga, N. Matsuo, H. Imai, M. Nakazawa, and T. Suzuki, Interrelationship between the concentrations of some elements in the organs of Japanese with special reference to selenium-heavy metals relationships,Sci. Total Environ. 91, 127–140 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. T. Watanable, O. Iwami, H. Nakatsuka, H. Iguchi, and M. Ikeda, Correlation of cadmium, copper, manganese and zinc levels in the urine of people in nonpolluted areas,J. Toxic. Environ. Health 33, 263–267 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J. Yoshinaga, H. Imai, M. Nakazawa, and T. Suzuki, Lack of significantly positive concentrations in hair,Sci. Total Environ. 99, 125–135 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Nowak, Sequential extraction of metals forms in the soil in Beskid Zywiecki district, inConference-Chemistry in the Environment Protection, L. Pawlowskiego, ed., Politechnika Lubelska Grudzien, Poland, pp. 349–354 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  5. B. Nowak, Heavy metals content in biological samples (hair, teeth) as an indicator on the environment pollution, inConference-Chemistry in the Environment Protection, Politechnika Lubelska-Wydawnictwo Uczelniane, L. Pawlowskiego, ed., Poland, pp. 339–348 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  6. B. Nowak and T. Marcinek, Metallgehalte in Biologischen Medien Als Anzeiger Der Umweltgefährdung, Gesellschaft für die Zusammenarbeit Polen-Deuchland in Zielona Göra, 148–157 (1997).

  7. K. Chaudary, W. D. Ehmann, K. Regan, and W. R. Markesebery, Trace element correlations with age and sex in human fingernails,J. Radioanal. Chem. Articles 195, no. 1, 51–56 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. B. Nowak, Levels of heavy metals in the biological tests (hair, teeth) as an indicator of the environment pollution, inInternational Conference-Heavy Metals in the Environment, vol. 2, Toronto, IBN 0905941519, pp. 408–411 (1993).

  9. M. Schegel-Zawadzka, Chromium content in the hair of children and students in southern Poland,Biol. Trace Element Res. 32, 79–84 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Z. Jaworowski, J. Bilikiewicz, Z. Pietras-Flis, and M. Suplinska, Industrial influence for radioactivity pollutants and metals,Arch. Protect. Environ. 1-2, 101–111 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  11. B. Nowak, Occurrence of heavy metals and Na, Ca, K in human hair, teeth and nails,Biol. Trace Element Res. 51, 11–22 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  12. M. Bergonmi, P. Borella, and G. Fantuzzi, Blood, teeth and hair: 3 different materials used to evaluate exposure to lead and cadmium in children living in an industrial zone, Ann.-Iq. Italy,Sept.–Oct., 1(5), 1185–98 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. Manea-Krichten, Comparative increases of lead and barium with age in human tooth enamel, rib and ulna,Sci. Total Environ. 107, 179–203 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. A. C. Brown and R. G. Crounse, eds., Hair Trace Elements, and Human Illness, ISBN 0-03-055441-1, p. 23 (1980).

  15. J. Chlopicka, P. Zagrodzki, Z. Zachwieja, M. Krosniak, and M. Flota, Use of pattern recognition methods in the interpretation of heavy metal content (lead and cadmium) in children’s hair,Analyst 120, 943–945 (1995).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. B. Nowak, Occurrence of heavy metals and Na, K, Ca in human teeth,The Analyst 120(3), 747–750 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. M. B. Rabinowitz and D. Bellinger, Lead levels among various deciduous tooth types,Bull. Contam. Tox. 47, 602–607 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. K. Bercovitz and D. Laufer, Carious teeth as indicators to lead exposure,Bull. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 50, 724–729 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. Lyngbye, O. N. Hansen, and P. Grandjean, Lead concentration in deciduous teeth from Danish school children,Dan. Med. Bull. 38, 89–93 (1991).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. S. Caroli, A. Alimonti, E. Coni, F. Petrucci, and O. Senofonte, The assessment of reference values for elements in human biological tissues and fluids: A Systematic Review,Critical Rev. in Anal. Chem. 24(5,6), 363–398 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. H. Hu, H. Watanabe, M. Payton, S. Korrick, and A. Rotnitzky, The relationship between bone lead and hemoglobin,J. Am. Med. Assoc. 272, 1512–1517 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Z. Jaworowski, F. Barbalat, and C. Blain, Heavy metals in human and animal bones from ancient and contemporary France,Sci. Total Environ. 43, 103–126 (1985).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. A. Tessier, Trace metals in toxic lake sediments possible adsorption onto iron oxyhydroxides,Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta 49, 183–194 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J. Prucha, Schwermetallgehalt des Kinderhaares,Zbl. Bukt. Hyg. B185, 273–290 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  25. U. Ewers, M. Turfeid, I. Freier, E. Jermann, and A. Brockhaus, Interrelationships between cadmium, zinc and copper in human kidney cortex,Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 27, 31–88 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. M. Abdulla and J. Chmielnicka, New aspects on the distribution and metabolism of essential trace elements after exposure to toxic metals,Biol. Trace Element Res. 23, 25–53 (1990).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. D. C. Paschal, S. E. Dipietro, D. L. Philips, and E. W. Gunter, Age dependence of metals in hair a selected US population,Environ. Res. 48, 17–28 (1989).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. B. Nowak, J. Kwapulinski, and G. Soltysiak, Trace element content in hair of nonindustralized population in Poland (Wisla, Szczyrk), inBioinorganic and Biotechnological Aspects of Environmental Chemistry, August 23–29, Florence, Symposium European Environmental Research Organization.

  29. C. Patterson, J. Ericson, M. Manea-Krichton, and H. Shirahata, Natural skeletal levels of lead in Homo Sapiens uncontaminated by technological lead,Sci. Total Environ. 107, 205–236 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. J. Hensche and P. Krajewski, Hazardous risk from radionuclide in environment, Report CLOR, Poland (1979).

  31. B. Nowak and T. Koziol, The ecological estimation of Healthresort Wisla for heavy metals,Polish J. Environ. Stud. 4, 61–64 (1995).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. A. Kabata-Pendias and H. Pendias,Biogeochemia Trace Elements, MEN, ISBN83-01112573, Poland (1993).

  33. A. Kabata-Pendias, Al, Cr and Ni in environment, Symposium, Warsaw, 8-November, 8, (1991).

  34. R. Glazewski, Chemical forms of Zn, Pb and Cu in superficial sediments of Dlugie Like in Olsztyn,Pollutants in Environment 1, 11–17 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  35. W. Katz, K. Bieliz, J. Jaeger-Volmer, U. Kielhorn, J. Kronshage, U. Rink, G. Wegmann, Okosysteme Untersuchugen zur Schwerme-tallkontamination eines immissionsbelasteten Forstsaumes an der Autobann Arus in Berlin, Poster zu Verhandlumgen der gellschaft fur Okologie, Essen (1989).

  36. B. Nowak, The sequential extraction of metal forms in the soil near a roadway in south of Poland,The Analyst 120, 737–739.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, Silesian University of Medicine, St. 4 Jagiellońska, 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland

    Barbara Nowak

  2. Institute of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, Str. 14, Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland

    Henryk Kozłowski

Authors
  1. Barbara Nowak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Henryk Kozłowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nowak, B., Kozłowski, H. Heavy metals in human hair and teeth. Biol Trace Elem Res 62, 213–228 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783972

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783972

Index Entries

Search

Navigation