US EPA

1358424 

Technical Report 

A SURVEY OF ARSENIC LEVELS IN HUMAN HAIR AND NAILS--EXPOSURE OF WOOD TREATMENT FACTORY EMPLOYEES IN NIGERIA 

Ndiokwere Ch 

1985 

HMTC/85/0002376 

2 

2 

95-105; 1985 

eng 

HMTC Hair and fingernail samples taken from male employees at a wood preservative treatment factory and a control group of males residing nearby were tested for arsenic levels. Each hair and nail sample was pretreated to remove dust, oil, and other contaminants. Both exposed and nonexposed samples were weighed, placed into irradiation capsules and heat-sealed. They were then irradiated simultaneously in a nuclear reactor for 3 hours. Decay rates were counted, and arsenic levels were calculated. Results indicate that a correlation between duration of employment and high arsenic levels in both hair and nail samples could be made. Mean arsenic levels of factory workers were consistently higher than those in the control group. (18 ref.) 

arsenic; D004; Health; Substance Identification; Exposure; Toxicity; Exposure; Commingling; Workplace; Ambient Exposure; Metals