Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Essential Trace and Toxic Elements in Scalp Hair Samples of Smokers and Alcohol User Hypertensive Patients

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The incidence of hypertension has been associated to cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol. In the present study, trace and toxic elements were determined in scalp hair of patients diagnosed with hypertension who are smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers living in Dublin, Ireland. These results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy, nonsmokers, nondrinking controls. The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material (NCS ZC 81002b) and by the conventional wet acid digestion method on the same certified reference material and on real samples. The recovery of all the studied elements was found to be in the range of 97.5%–99.7% in certified reference material. The results of this study showed that the mean values of cadmium, copper, iron, nickel and lead were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of both smoker and nonsmoker hypertensive patients than referents (P < 0.001); whereas, the concentration of zinc was lower in the scalp hair samples of hypertensive patients of both genders. The deficiency of zinc and the high exposure of trace and toxic metals as a result of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption may be synergistic with risk factors associated with hypertension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Burt VL, Whelton P, Roccella EJ et al (1995) Prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population. Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1991. Hypertension 25:305–313

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Privitera JR, Stang A (1996) Silent clots—life’s biggest killers. The Catacombs Press, Covina, pp 1–55

    Google Scholar 

  3. American Academy of Pediatrics October 1998 Child health month report: the risks of tobacco use: a message to parents and teens. Available at: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/chmtouse.htm (see also Milam JE (2000) Perceived invulnerability and cigarette smoking among adolescents. Addict Behav 25: 71–80)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kazi TG, Jalbani N, Kazi N et al (2008) Evaluation of toxic metals in blood and urine samples of chronic renal failure patients, before and after dialysis. Ren Fail 30:737–745

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kazi TG, Memon AR, Afridi HI et al (2008) Determination of cadmium in whole blood and scalp hair samples of Pakistani male lung cancer patients by electro thermal atomic absorption spectrometer. Sci Total Environ 389:270–276

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fitzpatrick TM, Blair EA (2000) Smoking and pulmonary and cardiovascular disease: upper airway complications of smoking. Clin Chest Med 21:147–157

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. McCord JM (1998) Iron, free radicals and oxidative injury. Semin Hematol 35:5–12

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. McGowan SE, Murray JJ, Parrish MG (1986) Iron binding, internalization, and fate in human alveolar macrophages. J Lab Clin Med 108:587–595

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Clegg MS, Ferrell F, Keen CL (1987) Hypertension-induced alterations in copper and zinc metabolism in Dahl Rats. Hypertension 9:624–628

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. World Health Organization (1974) Trace elements in cardiovascular diseases 45:1

  11. Soylak M, Kidnap M (2001) Serum copper and zinc concentrations of patients with rheumatoid arthritis from Kayseri-Turkey. Fresenius Environ Bull 10:409–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Soylak M, Saracoglu S, Divrikli U, Elci L (2001) Copper and zinc concentrations of serum samples of healthy people living in Tokat, Turkey. Trace Elem Electrolytes 18:47–50

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hennig B, Meerarani P, Toborek M, Mc-Clain C (1999) Antioxidant-like properties of zinc in activated endothelial cells. J Am Coll Nutr 18:152–158

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Memon AR, Kazi TG, Afridi HI et al (2007) Evaluation of zinc status in whole blood and scalp hair of female cancer patients. Clin Chim Acta 379:66–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kozlowski LT, Connor RJ (2002) Cigarette filter ventilation is a defective design because of misleading taste, bigger puffs, and blocked vents. Tob Control 11:140–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wagner GJ (1993) Accumulation of cadmium in crop plants and its consequences to human health. Adv Agron 51:173–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chiba M, Masironi R (1992) Toxic and trace-elements in tobacco and tobacco-smoke. Bull WHO 70:269–275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Reilly C (2002) Metal contamination of food its significance for food quality and human health. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  19. Csalari J, Szantai K (2002) Transfer rate of cadmium, lead, zinc and iron from the tobacco-cut of the most popular Hungarian cigarette brands to the combustion products. Acta Aliment 31:279–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Klaus KA, Witte MB, Andrew L et al (2001) Chronic heart failure and micronutrients. J Am Coll Cardiol 37:1765–1774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gillman MW, Cook NR, Evans DA et al (1995) Relationship of alcohol intake with blood pressure in young adults. Hypertension 25:1106–1110

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ueshima H, Ozawa H, Baba S et al (1992) Alcohol drinking and high blood pressure: data from a 1980 national cardiovascular survey of Japan. J Clin Epidemiol 45:667–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Veenstra J, Schenkel JA, van Erp-Baart AM et al (1993) Alcohol consumption in relation to food intake and smoking habits in the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey. Eur J Clin Nutr 47:482–489

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nawrot TS, Thijs L, Den Hond EM et al (2002) An epidemiological reappraisal of the association between blood pressure and blood lead: a metaanalysis. J Hum Hypertens 16:123–131

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Witte KKA, Nikitin NP, Parker AC et al (2005) The effect of micronutrient supplementation on quality-of-life and left ventricular function in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J 26:2238–2244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tuzen M (2002) Determination of some trace elements in whole blood and serum by GFAAS. Trace Elem Electrolytes 19(4):202–204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kazi TG, Afridi HI, Kazi N et al (2008) Distribution of zinc, copper and iron in biological samples of Pakistani myocardial infarction (1st, 2nd and 3rd heart attack) patients and controls. Clin Chim Acta 389:114–119

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Soylak M, Turkoglu O (1999) Trace metal accumulation caused by traffic in agricultural soil near a motorway in Kayseri-Turkey. J Trace Microprobe T 17:209–217

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sari A, Tüzen M, Soylak M (2007) Adsorption of Pb (II) and Cr (III) from Aqueous Solution on Celtek Clay. J Hazard Mater 144:41–46

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Soylak M, Saraymen R, Dogan M (1995) Investigation of lead, chromium, cobalt and molybdenum concentrations in hair samples collected from diabetic patients. Fresenius Environ Bull 4:485–490

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Afridi HI, Kazi TG, Kazi N et al (2008) Evaluation of status of toxic metals in biological samples of diabetes mellitus patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 80:280–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sari H, Tüzen M, Mendil D, Hasdemir E (2006) Trace metal contents in human hair from industrial and residential areas in Tokat, Turkey. Trace Elem Electrolytes 23(1):1–4

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tuzen M, Soylak M (2009) Multi-element coprecipitation for separation and enrichment of heavy metal ions for their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations. J Hazard Mater 162:724–729

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Citak D, Tuzen M (2010) A novel preconcentration procedure using cloud point extraction for determination of lead, cobalt and copper in water and food samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chem Toxicol 48(5):1399–1404

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Afridi HI, Kazi TG, Kazi GH et al (2006) Analysis of heavy metals in scalp hair samples of hypertensive patients by conventional and microwave digestion methods. Spectrosc Lett 39:203–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kagota S, Yamaguchi Y, Shinozuka K et al (1996) Cigarette smoke-modified low density lipoprotein impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated rabbit arteries. Gen Pharmacol 27:477–481

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kawachi I, Colditz GA, Speizer FE et al (1997) A prospective study of passive smoking and coronary heart disease. Circulation 95:2374–2379

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Landsberger S, Wu D (1995) The impact of heavy metals from environmental tobacco smoke on indoor air quality as determined by Compton suppression neutron activation analysis. Sci Total Environ 173:323–337

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Goyer RA (1996) Toxic effects of metals. In: Klaassen CD (ed) Casarett and Doull’s toxicology: the basic science of poisons, vol 5. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 691–736

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hecht SS (2003) Tobacco carcinogens, their biomarkers and tobacco-induced cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 3:733–744

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kazi TG, Jalbani N, Arain MB et al (2009) Toxic metals distribution in different components of Pakistani and imported cigarettes by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer. J Hazard Mater 163:302–307

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sharma G, Sandhir R, Nath R, Gill K (1991) Effect of ethanol on cadmium uptake and metabolism of zinc and copper in rats exposed to cadmium. J Nutr 121:87–91

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Brzoska MM, Moniuszko-Jakoniuk J, Jurczuk M, Chraniuk M (1997) The influence of cadmium on bone tissue in rats. Pol J Environ Stud 6:29–32

    Google Scholar 

  44. Stohs SJ, Bagchi D (1995) Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radic Biol Med 18:321–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Waalkes MP, Coogan TP, Barter RA (1992) Toxicological principles of metal carcinogenesis with special emphasis on cadmium. Crit Rev Toxicol 22:175–201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Lonnerdal B (1993) Dietary factors influencing zinc absorption. J Nutr 130:1378–1383

    Google Scholar 

  47. Henning B, Meerarani P, Ramadass P et al (1999) Zinc nutrition and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells: implications in atherosclerosis. Nutrition 15:744–748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Tang YR, Zhang SQ, Xiong Y et al (2003) Studies of five microelement contents in human serum, hair, and fingernails correlated with aged hypertension and coronary heart disease. Biol Trace Elem Res 92:97–104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Eltayeb MA, Van Grieken RE (1990) Iron, copper, zinc and lead in hair from Sudanese populations of different age groups. Total Environ 95:157–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Wastney ME, Ahmed S, Henkin RI (1992) Changes in regulation of human zinc metabolism with age. Am J Physiol 263:R1 162–R1 168

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Wagner KA, McDaniel R, Self D (2001) Collection and preparation of side stream cigarette smoke for trace elemental determinations by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. JAOAC International 84:1934–1940

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Satarug S, Vanavanitkun Y, Baker JR et al (2004) Influence of body iron store status and cigarette smoking on Cd body burden of healthy Thi man and women. Toxicol Lett 148:177–185

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Chen YC, Pu YS, Lin RS et al (2001) Blood and urine cadmium levels in relation to demographic and life style in middle aged and elderly men. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 66:287–294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Dickel H, Kuss O, Schmidt A, Diepgen TL (2002) Occupational relevance of positive standard patch-test results in employed persons with an initial report of an occupational disease. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 75:423–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Cohen N, Golik A (2006) Zinc balance and medications commonly used in the management of heart failure. Heart Fail Rev 11:19–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Mussala-Rauhammae H, Salmela SS, Lepannen A, Pyysalo H (1986) Cigarettes as a source of some trace and heavy metals and pesticides in man. Arch Environ Health 41:49–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Thompson AB, Bohling T, Heires A et al (1991) Lower respiratory tract iron burden is increased in association with cigarette smoking. J Lab Clin Med 117:493–499

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. McGowan SE, Henley SA (1988) Iron and ferritin contents and distribution in human alveolar macrophages. J Lab Clin Med 111:611–617

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Lapenna D, de Gioia S, Mezzattgi A et al (1995) Cigarette smoke, ferritin and lipid peroxidation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 151:431–435

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Newcomb PA, Carbone PP (1992) The health consequences of smoking. Med Clin North Am 76:305–329

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Drakesmith H, Prentice A (2008) Viral infection and iron metabolism. Nat Rev Microbiol 6:541–552

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Forge A, Schacht J (2000) Aminoglycoside antibiotics. Audiol Neurootol 5:3–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. de Valk B, Marx JJ (1999) Iron, atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease. Arch Intern Med 159:1542–1548

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Sullivan JL (1981) Iron and the sex difference in heart disease risk. Lancet 1:1293–1294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Steinbrecher UP, Zhang HF, Lougheed M (1990) Role of oxidatively modified LDL in atherosclerosis. Free Radic Biol Med 9:155–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Halliwell B, Chirico S (1993) Lipid peroxidation: its mechanism, measurement, and significance. Am J Clin Nutr 57(suppl):715S–724S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Danesh J, Appleby P (1999) Coronary heart disease and iron status: metaanalyses of prospective studies. Circulation 99:852–854

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Ponka P, Beaumont C, Richardson DR (1998) Function and regulation of transferring and ferritin. Semin Hematol 35:35–54

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. De Feo TM, Fargion S, Duca L et al (2001) Non-transferrin-bound iron in alcohol abusers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 25:1494–1499

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Kannel WB, Ellison RC (1996) Alcohol and coronary heart disease: the evidence for a protective effect. Clin Chim Acta 246:59–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Surgeon General (1979) U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington

  72. Creason J, Hammer D, Colucci A et al (1976) Blood trace metals in military recruits. South Med J 69:289–293

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Lui CF, Medeiros D (1986) Excess diet copper increases systolic blood pressure in rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 9:15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Ahmed I, Sackner M (1985) Increased serum copper in primary pulmonary hypertension: a possible pathogenic link? Respiration 47:243–246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Larsson B, Tjalve H (1978) Studies on the melaninaffinity of metal ions. Acta Physiol Scand 104:479–484

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Mannino DM, Albalak R, Grosse S, Repace J (2003) Secondhand smoke exposure and blood lead levels in US children. Epidemiology 14:719–727

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Navas-Acien A, Selvin E, Sharrett AR et al (2004) Lead, cadmium, smoking, and increased risk of peripheral arterial disease. Circulation 109:3196–3201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Staessen JA, Roels H, Fagard R (1996) Lead exposure and conventional and ambulatory blood pressure: a prospective population study, Phee Cad Investigators. JAMA 275:1604–1606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Tian L, Lawrence DA (1996) Metal-induced modulation of nitric oxide production in vitro by murine macrophages: lead, nickel and cobalt utilize different mechanisms. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 141:540–547

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Torjussen W, Zachariasen H, Andersen I (2003) Cigarette smoking and nickel exposure. J Environ Monit 5:198–201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Richard MJ, Arnoud J, Jurkovitz C et al (1991) Trace elements and lipid peroxidation abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure. Nephron 57:10–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Ding Y, Gonick HC, Vaziri ND (2000) Lead promotes hydroxyl radical generation and lipid peroxidation in cultured aortic endothelial cells. Am J Hypertens 13:552–555

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Yiin SJ, Chern CL, Sheu JY et al (1999) Cadmium-induced renal lipid peroxidation in rats and protection by selenium. J Toxicol Environ Health A 57:403–413

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Dr. Hassan Imran Afridi is grateful to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for providing the scholarships for the post doctoral research work. Dr. H.I. Afridi is also thankful to the National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan for the grant of sabbatical leave.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Hassan Imran Afridi, Dermot Brabazon & Sumsun Naher

  2. National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Hassan Imran Afridi & Tasneem Gul Kazi

Authors
  1. Hassan Imran Afridi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dermot Brabazon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tasneem Gul Kazi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sumsun Naher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hassan Imran Afridi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Afridi, H.I., Brabazon, D., Kazi, T.G. et al. Evaluation of Essential Trace and Toxic Elements in Scalp Hair Samples of Smokers and Alcohol User Hypertensive Patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 143, 1349–1366 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-8984-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-8984-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation