Element content in human hair of residents from Simferopol city

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental pollution is increasingly becoming a problem and will continue to be a serious risk for human health so it is important to monitor the element status of the population.
 Aim: to determine the element status of residents from Simferopol city, Republic of Crimea.
 Methods: 28 elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation method and the mercury content was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry in 80 hair samples of healthy 17-20 year-old Simferopol residents. The concentration coefficients were calculated and the geochemical rows were plotted based on comparison with the published data available for other regions.
 Results: The hair element content was characterized by the normal concentrations for 25 out of 29 chemical elements. Br and Ba excess was found in most residents that could be explained by the geochemical conditions, while significant sex differences in the content of Na, Ca, Sb could be associated with differences in diet, lifestyle, and other gender-associated factors. Comparison of the geochemical elemental rows for Simferopol residents with other territories of Crimea and Krasnodar suggests a greater intake of Hg, Ag, Zn in urban residents (Crimea) compared to Krasnodar, and in comparison with other territories of a peninsula - Co, Na, Fe and As.
 Conclusion: Although most of the elements were within normal ranges, the anthropogenic load keeps on increasing recently that along with previously established physiological effects of endogenous toxic metals being in low concentrations demonstrating the need for further biomonitoring as in population overall and as early detection of anthropogenic impact.