A Study of Heavy Metals in Nails of Some Occupational Workers in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Environmental pollution has an important role in increasing the levels of heavy metals in the human body, which lead to various chronic diseases. The study was conducted to determine the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in toenails and fingernails samples of occupational workers (mechanics, electricians, welders, pesticide sellers, and farmers/pesticide sprayers) in Mubi, (Adamawa North), Gombi (Adamawa central) and Numan (Adamawa south) of Adamawa State and their prolong implication. The nail sample were washed with non-ionic detergent and acetone to remove contamination and the samples were digested with 20cm3 of 3:1 mixture of concentrated nitric acid and per chloric acid. The sample was later analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) for the determination of heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). Base on the result obtained from all the nail samples for the determination of heavy metals, it was found that the highest concentration were recorded Zn found in welders worker and the lowest was determined in Cd found in mechanics. From the result obtained there is a statistically significant relationship between the type of work or workplace and the heavy metal concentration detected in nails samples. The occupational workers (mechanics, electricians, welders, pesticide sellers, and farmers/pesticide sprayers) environments are regarded as important pollution sources for heavy metals and those workers in these places should be kept aware about the dangers relevant to these types of occupations to avoid health issues resulted from the continuous exposure to such dangerous pollutants. Keywords: Nail, Heavy metals, Occupation and Environmental pollution