ACCUMULATION OF METALS IN HAIR AND NAILS OF WOMEN SMOKING CIGARETTES

Abstract

During the combustion of tobacco nicotine is formed and are released other alkaloids, tar, proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, purine bases and amine compounds, pectic substances and essential oils. You can also meet other poisons such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide (II), methyl and ethyl alcohol, or hydrogen sulfide. All of these substances, through the blood, are distributed throughout the body and cause harmful effects. Any substance that is inhaled with cigarette smoke affects the human body. In the same way are exposed active and passive smokers.
Material consisted of hair and nails collected from two group of women: smokers and non-smokers. These women came from Małopolska region and ranged in age from 18 to 70 years. In the test samples, determined the contents of heavy metals: cadmium, lead, nickel, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper.
Hair and nail samples were weighed and mineralized. Metal determinations were made using the method of flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variances ANOVA. Differences were considered statistically significant at p <0.05.
On the basis of studies show that smoking has an effect on the accumulation of metals in hair and nails of women. The concentration of metals in hair and nails are different in women who smoke and in those non-smoking. These differences are statistically significant in the case of magnesium, nickel, cadmium, iron and lead. No statistically significant differences was found in the accumulation of copper and zinc.
More cadmium, zinc, and copper accumulates in the hair than in the nails regardless of women smoked cigarettes or not. In contrast, in the case of magnesium, nickel, iron and lead higher concentrations of this metals detected in the nail than in the hair.
Smoking affects the greater accumulation of metals both in hair and in nails, but it is not the only factor that is responsible for this. Also the conditions in which the person lives, diet, age, and even gender can also affect the accumulation of metals. Metals accumulate in the hair and nails of women irrespective of whether they use the stimulants like cigarettes or not. If a person does not smoke cigarettes does not mean that it is not a passive smoker.