Influence of Gender and Smoking Habit on the Trace Elements Levels of Washed Scalp Hair of a Control Population from Karbala, Iraq

Abstract

Hair samples (n=236) (control or healthy) individuals were collected from Karbala, a city in south-western Iraq. The study population consisted of males (n=196) and females (n=40). All cases were subdivided according to smoking habits (non and active) so as to compare the levels of trace elements in scalp hair in relation to smoking habits. V, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr and Cd levels in washed scalp hair were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The validity and accuracy of the methodology were evaluated by using a certified reference material GBW 09101 Human Scalp Hair with an acceptable range for elemental recoveries ranging from 90 to 107 %. The results obtained showed significantly higher mean level (µg/g dry. weight) of Sr (11.58) in the scalp hair when compared with the reference range values for control or healthy individuals reported in different countries (0.06 – 6.31 µg/g). It was found that the mean values of Sr and Co were significantly higher in females than males, whilst the levels of V, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cd were similar (at a probability level p = 0.05). Hair of smokers contained significantly more V, Sr and Cd than the hair of non-smokers (at P = 0.05). The levels of Mn, Co, Cu and Zn were similar in both sub-groups of smoking activity (at P = 0.05).