Diagnostic Potential of Hair Analysis as Applied to the Goldsmith Sector

✍ Scribed by S. Caroli; O. Senofonte; N. Violante; S. D'Ilio; S. Caimi; F. Chiodo; A. Menditto

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 115 KB
• Volume: 59
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0026-265X
• DOI: 10.1006/mchj.1998.1563

✦ Synopsis

Trace elements were determined in hair of individuals involved in goldsmith activities in Italy. Three major areas of production were selected: Arezzo, Valenza, and Vicenza. In total, 95 (73 exposed individuals and 22 controls) of the personnel employed in factories located in these provinces were examined. Hair samples were collected, washed, and digested as prescribed by well-established procedures. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of Ag, Au, Cd, Co, Cr, In, Ni, Pb, and Pt in the final solutions, whereas Hg was quantified by means of the flow injection mercury system. The expected high concentrations of Cu and Zn in the hair matrix, on the other hand, allowed the use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Certified Reference Material Human Hair (BCR CRM No. 397) was used throughout the study to check the accuracy of measurements. The geometric means obtained for exposed subjects were (mg/g)