Elements in the hair of non-mining workers of a lignite open mine in Neyveli.
Trace elements are analyzed in the human scalp hair to assess the extent of body burden of pollution. The levels of seven elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined in the hair of fishermen from Pondicherry, students and businessmen from Madras and non-mining workers from Neyveli lignite open mine. When compared between them, significantly high concentrations of Cd in the non-mining workers from Neyveli and Pb in both the students and businessmen from Madras were observed, thereby indicating environmental source of Cd and Pb pollution. The low Zn level was observed in the fishermen indicating their low nutritional source. In addition to the different residential areas, age, diet, smoking habit and family income of subjects are other factors influencing the concentrations of elements in the hair.
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 10 067, India.
Athimoolam
A
Sukumar
Ramachandran
R
Subramanian
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010858:Pigmentation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
D014131:Trace Elements