Influence of Dietary Habits on Essential Elements and Lead Levels in Finger Nails and Scalp Hair of Adult Males in Kenya
- November 18, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS Team
- Categories: IJRIAS, Physical Education
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
James Ndiritu
Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, Turkana University College,
P.O. BOX 69 – 30500, Lodwar, Kenya.
Abstract— The influence of dietary habits on levels of Pb and essential elements Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg was evaluated on finger nails and scalp hair of exposed and unexposed males in Kenya using AAS. In recent years studies have shown that there are increased human health disorders due to negligible concentration of essential elements in the body. This could be due to the poor eating habits especially exhibited by the male population who in addition work in areas that expose them to lead pollution. Lead levels are known to influence essential element levels. The factors that were found to have significant influence on Pb and essential element levels in hair and nails included: use of glazed ceramics, consumption of canned and highly processed foods,consumption of exposed foods and sources of water among others. The study also observed that high levels of Pb in the finger nail or scalp hair had a negative correlation with Ca and Zn. The results of this study will be used to recommend the use of hair and nails as bio-indicators of essential element status as well as environmental exposure to lead instead of blood.
Keywords— Dietary habits, Lead, Essential elements, Human males, Scalp hair, Finger nails, correlation.
I.INTRODUCTION
There are many risk factors which may increase the exposure of human males to Pb including social demographic risk factors such as age, race/ethnicity, income, education, housing vintage and poverty status among others (Sukumar and Subramanian, 2003; Ndiritu et al., 2012a). The environmental risk factors includes: living near heavy traffic road, living near a Pb based industry, smoking, duration of stay near an industry, influence of early child hood diseases, among other factors (Kyle, 1992; O’Neill, 1993; Chakrabati et al., 1996; Owago, 1999; Oyaro, 2000; Park and Palk, 2002; Were et al., 2008; Mogwasi, 2009). The dietary habits of males are also a major risk factor to Pb exposure. These factors include: use of glazed ceramics, consumption of canned and highly processed foods, consumption of exposed foods and sources of water among others. There is increased range of human health disorders due to exposure to toxic heavy metals such as lead (Lekouch et al., 1999). Such exposure may emanate from manufacturing industries (where adult males predominate), consumption of exposed foods, consumption of canned foods and use of glazed ceramics (Kahenya, 1996; Owago, 1999)
