title: Distribution of uranium and some selected trace metals in human scalp hair from Balkans.
abstract: The possible consequences of the use of depleted uranium (DU) used in Balkan conflicts in 1995 and 1999 for the people and the environment of this reason need attention. The heavy metal content in human hair may serve as a good indicator of dietary, environmental and occupational exposures to the metal compounds. The present work summarises the distribution of uranium and some selected trace metals such as Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd and Cs in the scalp hair of inhabitants from Balkans exposed to DU directly and indirectly, i.e. Han Pijesak, Bratoselce and Gornja Stubla areas. Except U and Cs, all other metals were compared with the worldwide reported values of occupationally unexposed persons. Uranium concentrations show a wide variation ranging from 0.9 ± 0.05 to 449 ± 12 µg kg(-1). Although hair samples were collected from Balkan conflict zones, uranium isotopic measurement ((235)U/(238)U) shows a natural origin rather than DU.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, University of Belgrade, PO Box 522, 11000 Beograd, Serbia.
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zunic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokonami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arae
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kritsananuwat
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sahoo
mesh_terms: D063368:Balkan Peninsula; D002681:China; D004058:Diffusion; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005843:Geography; D006197:Hair / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007221:Industry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D012997:Solvents; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D014131:Trace Elements; D014867:Water; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium; C033158:sulfuric acid