Trace Element Concentration in Hair Samples as an Indicator of Exposure of Population in the Negev, Israel

The concentration of the toxic elements Ag, As, Cd, Co, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, and U and the elements Al, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn in human hair samples of population living in the north of the Negev Desert in Israel was determined. The study population consisted of three subgroups: Jewish urban population, Bedo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological trace element research 2013-11, Vol.155 (2), p.209-220
Main Authors: Sela, H, Karpas, Z, Cohen, H, Tal, A, Zeiri, Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aluminum
arsenic
at-risk population
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
cadmium
cobalt
copper
Environmental Exposure - analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Females
gold
Hair
Hair - chemistry
Heavy metals
Human exposure
Humans
iron
Israel
Jews
Lead
Life Sciences
lifestyle
Lifestyles
magnesium
Male
manganese
Metal concentrations
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Minority & ethnic groups
molybdenum
Nutrition
Oncology
selenium
Social behavior
toxic substances
Trace elements
Trace metals
urban population
Urban populations
villages
women
zinc
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Summary:The concentration of the toxic elements Ag, As, Cd, Co, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, and U and the elements Al, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn in human hair samples of population living in the north of the Negev Desert in Israel was determined. The study population consisted of three subgroups: Jewish urban population, Bedouin urban population, and Bedouins living in unrecognized villages (the “dispersion”). The main focus is on the differences between these subgroups in an attempt to explore factors responsible for the variation in trace metal contents in hair samples. The results show that the level of several elements, particularly Ag, Mn, and Pb, in the female Bedouin group significantly differed from the other groups in the study. Exploring the reasons for these differences, we concluded that the lifestyle of those women is the main cause. The female Bedouin subgroup is exposed to heavy metals from kitchen utensils, jewelry, and makeup. Therefore, differences in the heavy metal concentration in the hair samples of this group were attributed to the traditional unique lifestyle and social behavior of the females in the Bedouin society.
ISSN:0163-4984
1559-0720
DOI:10.1007/s12011-013-9794-5