Abstract
For the purpose of obtaining standard levels of toxic metals in the Japanese, hair samples are collected from 5,846 healthy Japanese (2,201 men and 3,645 women; average age 39.9 ± 16.3, means±SD) and the contents of mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium and aluminum in hair were measured with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Among the adults aged 16 or older, men’s average content of mercury was high at 5.38 ± 4.37 ppm and women’ s was 3.37 ± 2.45 ppm. Thus men showed higher contents. The content of lead was 1.09 ± 4.87ppm with men and 1.56 ± 10.58 ppm with women, who showed higher contents. Arsenic content was measured to be 69 ± 86 with men and 38 ± 92 ppb with women. Men had higher arsenic contents. Cadmium content was 28 ± 106 ppb with men and 28 ± 55 ppb with women. Beryllium content was 1.6 ± 2.0 ppb with men and 2.0 ± 4.1 ppb with women. And aluminum content was 5.01 ± 5.82 ppm with men and 6.02 ± 6.61 ppm with women. Thus, a significant difference was not noted. Children aged 15 and younger had higher contents of cadmium and aluminum than adults.
Hair mineral analysis is deemed useful in diagnosing acute or chronic poisoning by these toxic metals or determining exposure to them.
