Lead and Calcium in Human Males Using Fingernails and Scalp Hair

    January 2013 in “ International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences ”
    James Ndiritu, Jane I. Murungi, Ruth Wanjau
    TLDR Hair and nails can show long-term changes in lead and calcium levels.
    The study analyzed lead (Pb) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in the scalp hair and finger nails of exposed and unexposed males using atomic absorption spectrometry. It found that Pb levels were higher in exposed individuals, with finger nails showing 50–480 μg/g and scalp hair 30–410 μg/g, compared to unexposed individuals with 50–240 μg/g in finger nails and 30–200 μg/g in scalp hair. Conversely, Ca levels were generally higher in unexposed individuals. A negative correlation was observed between Pb and Ca levels, indicating that as Pb levels increased, Ca levels decreased. The study concluded that hair and nails could serve as indicators of metabolic changes and nutritional status over time, with significant differences in Pb and Ca levels between exposed and unexposed groups, as well as between the two types of tissues.
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