Afridi Hassan I, Kazi Tasneem G, Jamali Mohammad K, Kazi Gul H, Arain Mohammad B, Jalbani Nusrat, Shar Ghulam Q, Sarfaraz Raja A
Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2006 Oct;22(9):381-93. doi: 10.1177/0748233706073420.
The determination of toxic metals in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. This study aimed to assess the possible influence of environmental exposure on production workers (PW) and quality control workers (QCW) of a steel mill, all male subjects aged 25-55 years. In this investigation, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr were determined in biological samples (blood, urine and scalp hair samples) from these steel mill workers in relation to controlled unexposed healthy subjects of the same age group. After pre-treatment with nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide, the samples were digested via a microwave oven, and for comparison purposes, the same samples were digested by the conventional wet acid digestion method. The samples digested were subjected to graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). To assess the reliability of these methods, critical factors, such as detection limit(s), calibration range(s), accuracy and precision, were studied. Quality control for these procedures was established with certified sample of human hair, urine and whole blood. The results indicate that the level of lead, cadmium and nickel in scalp hair, blood and urine samples were significantly higher in both groups of exposed workers (QW and PW) than those of the controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of disease is discussed. The results also show the need for immediate improvements in workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.
测定人体生物样本中的有毒金属是一项重要的临床筛查程序。本研究旨在评估环境暴露对一家钢铁厂的生产工人（PW）和质量控制工人（QCW）的可能影响，这些工人均为年龄在25至55岁之间的男性。在这项调查中，测定了这些钢铁厂工人的生物样本（血液、尿液和头皮毛发样本）中铅、镉、镍和铬的浓度，并与相同年龄组的未接触对照健康受试者进行比较。在用硝酸 - 过氧化氢预处理后，样本通过微波炉进行消解，为作比较，相同样本采用传统的湿酸消解方法进行消解。对消解后的样本进行石墨炉原子吸收光谱法（GFAAS）测定。为评估这些方法的可靠性，研究了诸如检测限、校准范围、准确度和精密度等关键因素。使用经过认证的人发、尿液和全血样本对这些程序进行质量控制。结果表明，两组暴露工人（QCW和PW）的头皮毛发、血液和尿液样本中的铅、镉和镍水平均显著高于对照组。讨论了这些元素与疾病病因的可能联系。结果还表明需要立即改善工作场所通风和工业卫生措施。
