HAIR SELENIUM AS A MONITORING TOOL FOR OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES IN RELATION TO CLINICAL PROFILE

Nineteen workers exposed to low levels of selenium (0.047-0.202 mg/m(3 ) air) along with 15 control subjects were studied for clinical, hemat ological, radiological, and neurobehavioral variables in relation to s elenium concentration in hair. The levels of selenium in the hair of e xposed subjects (1.44 +/- 0.37 mu g/g) were significantly higher than those of control subjects (0.78 +/- 0.18 mu g/g). The levels of seleni um in the hair of 22 nonvegetarian subjects were found to be significa ntly higher as compared to 12 vegetarian subjects. Complaints of weakn ess and/or fatigue were found to be more prevalent in the exposed subj ects. The study holds promise that hair selenium may be used as a moni toring tool for low-level occupational exposure to selenium.