Selenium in human nails : a preliminary study using INAA(Special Issue>Malaysian Nuclear Agency)

概要

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Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for healthy body functions in humans. Deficiency of Se may cause diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, Se toxicity or selenosis can also occur in humans as a result of high doses of dietary intake or industrial exposure. This study aims to use human nails for biomonitoring of Se in a healthy Malaysian adult. The results are used to assess long-term Se status and comparisons are made with literature values. Instrumental neutron activation analyses (INAA) were used to determine Se in nail samples collected in a 5-month period. There were 10 fingernail samples and 3 toenail samples. Results showed that fingernails contain an average of 1.06 ± 0.05 μg/g Se (range: 0.98 - 1.13 μg/g Se) and toenails contain an average of 0.94 ± 0.07 μg/g Se (range: 0.89 - 1.02 μg/g Se). Temporal variations of fingernail and toenail Se contents were rather small with RSD of less than 10%. Fingernails show slightly higher Se contents than those of toenails. Both fingernails and toenails show reproducibility of Se concentrations taken during the sampling period. These results are in agreement with literature values for healthy individuals, which show no deficiency or chronic exposures to Se in the past months. Thus, there is no potential health risk in the subject studied.