Naslov
Deposition of heavy metals in biological tissues of workers in metal workshops

Autori
Čargonja, Marija ; Mekterović, Darko ; Žurga, Paula ; Ravlić-Gulan, Jagoda ; Bogdanović Radović, Iva ; Žauhar, Gordana

Izvornik
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (0944-1344) 30 (2023), 13; 36794-36806

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Metal workshops ; Hair ; Nails ; Particulate matter ; XRF ; PIXE ; ICP-MS

Sažetak
Welding and cutting of metals produce large amounts of particulate matter (PM), which poses a significant health risk to exposed workers. Appropriate biological markers to estimate exposure are of great interest for occupational health and safety. Here, hair and nail samples from metal workers were analyzed, which appear to be more suitable than blood or urine samples for assessing long-term exposure. Four workshops working with steel components were included in the study. The hair and nail samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP- MS) to measure the concentrations of 12 elements. At the workplaces, the concentrations of 15 elements in particulate matter were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and particle- induced X-ray emission (PIXE) techniques. The hair and nail samples of the workers contained significantly higher metal concentrations than the analytical results of a nonexposed control group. The most significant difference between the groups was found for Ti, Mn, Fe, and Co.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika, Geofizika, Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

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