Feasibility of measuring zinc in human nails using portable x-ray fluorescence

A variety of adverse health effects have been identified as resulting from zinc deficiency. Zinc supplementation may therefore be indicated for certain individuals or populations. A rapid and straightforward means of assessing zinc status in humans would be of considerable medical benefit. In this study, the feasibility of measuring zinc levels in human fingernails or toenails using a portable x-ray fluorescence technique was assessed. Whole nail models (or phantoms) were constructed from resin, and dosed with various concentrations of zinc. These different concentration “nails” were cut into small slices of 4.4 ± 0.2 mm width. The combination of these various slices into different arrangements allowed the modeling of different time-dependent zinc exposure scenarios. A portable x-ray fluorescence device was tested using an “open beam” configuration having a beam diameter of ∼9 mm, and using a “weld mask” configuration with the beam width reduced to 2.9 mm. Minimum detection limits were determined to be 0.15 ± 0.01 ppm for the open beam, and 1.13 ± 0.08 ppm when using the weld mask. By scanning across the length of the model nails, it was demonstrated that differences in zinc levels deposited over time could be detected, and that the weld mask configuration was better suited to resolving spatial changes. The x-ray fluorescence approach was found to be highly sensitive for detecting zinc in nail, and capable of differentiating patterns of zinc uptake over time.