Lead in finger nails and scalp hair of adult males in Kenya

Lead concentration was determined in finger nails and scalp hair of exposed and unexposed males by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The mean levels of Pb in the finger nails ranged from 50–480 μg/g, and 50–240 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively. The mean levels of Pb in the scalp hair ranged from 30–410 μg/g, and 30–200 μg/g for exposed and unexposed males respectively. The study established that the mean Pb levels in both the finger nails and the scalp hair samples increased with increase in age. The mean Pb levels for all the age categories studied had significant differences at α=0.05, p<0.05 (One-way Anova). Comparing the mean lead concentration in scalp hair with finger nails a significant difference was indicated in the two tissues (P<0.05). Even though the Pb levels were higher in the finger nails as compared to the scalp hair in all the male subjects, it is reasonable to say that the two tissues are recording filaments that can be used to know the extent of heavy metal pollution in the environment as well as the levels of essential trace elements.