DIAGNOSTIC POTENTIAL OF HAIR ANALYSIS AS APPLIED TO THE GOLDSMITH SECTOR

Trace elements were determined in hair of individuals involved in gold smith activities in Italy. Three major areas of production were select ed: Arezzo, Valenza, and Vicenza. In total, 95 (73 exposed individuals and 22 controls) of the personnel employed in factories located in th ese provinces were examined. Hair samples were collected, washed, and digested as prescribed by well-established procedures. Inductively cou pled plasma mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of Ag , Au, Cd, Co, Cr, In, Ni, Pb, and Pt in the final solutions, whereas H g was quantified by means of the flow injection mercury system. The ex pected high concentrations of Cu and Zn in the hair matrix, on the oth er hand, allowed the use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Certified Reference Material Human Hair (BCR CRM No. 39 7) was used throughout the study to check the accuracy of measurements . The geometric means obtained for exposed subjects were (mu g/g) Ag, 1.293; Au, 1.445; Cd, 0.0369; Co, 0.017; Cr, 0.3270; Cu, 13.27; Hg, 1. 510; In, 0.0016; Ni, 0.276; Pb, 0.662; Pt, 0.0036; and Zn, 172.3. For control subjects, on the other hand, the geometric means ascertained w ere (mu g/g) Ag, 0.403; Au, 0.670; Cd, 0.0314; Co, 0.025; Cr, 0.2125; Cu, 11.08; Hg, 1.360; In, 0.0008; Ni, 0.467; Pb, 0.596; Pt, 0.0051; an d Zn, 168.9. Statistical treatment of the data showed that the greates t difference between the values observed in exposed and unexposed subj ects occurred for Ag, followed by Au, Cu, and In. (C) 1998 Academic Pr ess.