Energy dispersive x-ray flourescence (EDXRF) analysis of heavy metals on scalp hairs of Valenzuela City residents

• Main Author: Patacsil, John Emer S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Heavy metals—Physiological effect; Hair—Analysis; Biological and Chemical Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18608
• Institution: De La Salle University

Human scalp hair is a known bio indicator that could help trace the concentration of heavy metals in the body which can be linked to health effects to a person The research was conducted to perform an analysis of heavy metals found in scalp hairs of Valenzuela City residents using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and to correlate its effects to the subjects. This study also compared the amount of heavy metals found in the scalp hair of the subjects and determined its possible sources based on their lifestyle. Scalp hair samples from seventeen Valenzuela City residents were collected. After sample preparation and pulverization, the heavy metals were determined using EDXRF. Additional information required to evaluate the exposure was obtained by distributing questionnaires that ask for the basic lifestyle of the subjects. There were a total 17 heavy metals found in all subjects and only six, particularly T􀁋 Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb were seen consistently in all the subjects. Among these six heavy metals, significant differences were only seen in Fe and As. For Fe, grouping variables that distinguishes frequent pork- or beef-eaters with non-frequent pork- or beef-eaters and frequent chicken-eaters with non-frequent chicken-eaters showed significant differences. On the other hand, for As, significant differences were found between unemployed subjects and those working outside Valenzuela Further, it was found out that some of the samples exceeded the reference values used for each heavy metal. In addition to this, their nature of work, frequent food intake, and lifestyle are most likely to cause exposure.