Relationship between lead, cadmium, zinc, manganese and iron in hair of environmentally exposed subjects

Trace level analysis of two toxic metals lead and cadmium and three essential metals zinc, manganese and iron was examined in hair of 25 workers of metals finishing units and metal recycling units of State of Rajasthan, India, as Exposed Group (EG). Twenty-five subjects as controls were selected from the office staff of the same units Control Group A (CGA) and 25 subjects selected from the population of State of Rajasthan, India, who were not exposed to metal pollution at their work place were selected as another control group Control Group B (CGB). Head hair samples were collected, decontaminated and digested followed by analysis for trace levels of Pb, Cd, Zn, Mn and Fe by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), ECIL Model-AAS4141 using air acetylene flame. The significant levels of metals in between EG, CGA and CGB have been computed by Student's 't' test. The Pearson rank correlation of the data of five metals revealed significant positive correlation between Mn/Cd, Mn/Pb, Mn/Fe, Cd/Pb, Cd/Fe and Pb/Fe in hair of Exposed Group (EG), Mn/Zn, Mn/Cd, Mn/Pb, Zn/Cd, Zn/Pb, Cd/Pb and Cd/Fe in hair of Control Group A (CGA) and Mn/Cd in hair of Control Group B (CGB). Significant negative correlation was observed between Pb/Fe in hair of CGB.