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Trace Metal Concentration in Scalp Hair of Occupationally Exposed Autodrivers

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Abstract

The concentrations of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd wereanalyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in thescalp hair of professional male autodrivers who areoccupationally exposed to the vehicular/industrialpollutants in the industrial city of Coimbatore, TamilNadu. The unwashed hair samples when compared with thewashed hair showed a significantly higher levels of Cr,Zn and Pb. The correlation coefficient showed a strongmutual dependence on the scalp hair of the exposedindividuals and no correlation was found among the tracemetals except for Ni–Pb and Ni–Cd. The results ingeneral showed a positive exogenous contribution of allthe analyzed industrial trace metals. The drivers who are occupationally exposed to vehicular/industrial pollution are at risk.

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Correspondence to H. Vishwanathan.

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Vishwanathan, H., Hema, A., Edwin, D. et al. Trace Metal Concentration in Scalp Hair of Occupationally Exposed Autodrivers. Environ Monit Assess 77, 149–154 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015819818496

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