Analysis of Heavy Metals in Human Hair Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)英文文献资料.docVIP

American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2012, 3, 770-773 /10.4236/ajac.2012.311102 Published Online November 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ajac) Analysis of Heavy Metals in Human Hair Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) Onuwa O. Peter, Ishaq S. Eneji , Rufus Sha’Ato * Department of Chemistry and Centre for Agrochemical Technology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria Email: eneji3@ * Received September 28, 2012; revised October 12, 2012; accepted October 20, 2012 ABSTRACT Hair samples of individual were analysed for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb and As) across gender and various occupational distributions by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric technique (AAS). The results of replicate analysis shows the following mean concentrations (mg/kg): Cd = 27.8 ± 8.0, Cr = 2.70 ± 0.7, Pb = 73.8 ± 42.3 and As = 222 ± 34.1. The coefficients of variation for the total distribution is; Cd = 28%, Cr = 26%, Pb = 57% and As = 15%. The distribution of the metals follows the series in decreasing order of As ? Pb ? Cd ? Cr, while their coefficients of variation is in the or- der of Pb ? Cd ? Cr ? As. The result shows the presence of all the metals in relatively large amounts with As having the highest concentration between the two genders. The difference between male and female concentration could be due to individual differences in exposure to heavy metal load as a result of habitual or environmental factors. Keywords: Heavy Metals; Human Scalp Hair; AAS; Concentration 1. Introduction tion of cadmium [6]. Chromium is an essential nutrient in our diet that helps insulin to maintain normal glucose level. Chromium toxicity can cause stomach upsets, ulcer, kidney-, liver-damage and even death. Femer [7] re- ported that lead is the most significant of the toxic heavy metals and the inorganic forms are absorbed through ingestion of food and water as well as inhalation. Apart from the teratogenic effects of lead, its po