title: Correlation of lithium levels between drinking water obtained from different sources and scalp hair samples of adult male subjects.
abstract: There is some evidence that natural levels of lithium (Li) in drinking water may have a protective effect on neurological health. In present study, we evaluate the Li levels in drinking water of different origin and bottled mineral water. To evaluate the association between lithium levels in drinking water with human health, the scalp hair samples of male subjects (25-45 years) consumed drinking water obtained from ground water (GW), municipal treated water (MTW) and bottled mineral water (BMW) from rural and urban areas of Sindh, Pakistan were selected. The water samples were pre-concentrated five to tenfold at 60 °C using temperature-controlled electric hot plate. While scalp hair samples were oxidized by acid in a microwave oven, prior to determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The Li content in different types of drinking water, GW, MTW and BMW was found in the range of 5.12-22.6, 4.2-16.7 and 0.0-16.3 µg/L, respectively. It was observed that Li concentration in the scalp hair samples of adult males consuming ground water was found to be higher, ranged as 292-393 μg/kg, than those who are drinking municipal treated and bottle mineral water (212-268 and 145-208 μg/kg), respectively.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahnawaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baloch
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tasneem Gul
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan. hassanimranafridi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hassan Imran
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Afridi
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jameel Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farah Naz
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Talpur
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Balal
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Arain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis*; D010154:Pakistan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008900:Mineral Waters; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008094:Lithium
keywords: Adult males; Atomic absorption spectrophotometer; Drinking water; Lithium; Scalp hair