Sains Malaysiana 46(4)(2017): 605–613
http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4604-13
Neutron Activation Analysis and Assessment
of Trace Elements in Fingernail from
Residents of Tokyo, Japan
(Analisis Pengaktifan Neutron dan Penilaian Unsur Surih dalam Kuku Penduduk
di Tokyo, Jepun)
B.S. WEE1*
& M. EBIHARA2
1Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti
Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan,
Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang, Malaysia
2Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo
Metropolitan University, Minami Ohsawa
1-1, Hachioji, 192-0397 Tokyo, Japan
Diserahkan: 28 Jun 2016/Diterima:
18 September 2016
ABSTRACT
We report herewith the study
of fingernail clippings obtained from the residents of Tokyo, Japan.
A total of 18 participants with no health problems and occupational
exposure to metals were recruited to provide fingernails samples
for this study. Through the use of instrumental neutron activation
analysis (INAA),
18 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn,
Na, S, Sb, Se, V, and Zn) were determined. The results showed that
the toxic elements in the fingernails are in the lower range when
compared to literature values. There were no chronic exposures to
toxic elements such as As and Hg found. The level of Hg
found is lower than that reported 20 years ago, possibly due to
the strict regulation control in Japan on the release of Hg to the
environment. The elements Se and Zn are found to be rather uniformly
distributed among participants and are in agreement with results
from other countries. There were no significant differences in elemental
concentrations due to genders and smoking habits. The overall data
from this study showed similar concentrations to those of healthy
participants from other countries. Thus, the current data could
represent the background level of elemental concentrations in fingernails
of residents in Tokyo, which could serve as reference values for
future study.
Keywords: Fingernail; neutron
activation analysis; trace elements
ABSTRAK
Kajian ini melaporkan
mengenai keratan
kuku yang diperoleh daripada penduduk Tokyo, Jepun. Seramai 18 orang
subjek yang tidak
mempunyai masalah kesihatan dan pendedahan
kepada logam
telah direkrut bagi menyediakan sampel kuku dalam kajian ini. Melalui penggunaan instrumen analisis pengaktifan neutron (INAA),
18 unsur-unsur (Ag, Al, As, Ca, Cl, Co,
Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, Sb, Se,
V dan Zn) telah
ditentukan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa unsur toksik
dalam kuku berada
dalam keadaan yang lebih rendah apabila
dibandingkan dengan
nilai daripada sumber rujukan. Tiada pendedahan kronik kepada unsur
toksik seperti
As dan Hg telah
dijumpai. Didapati
bahawa tahap Hg adalah lebih rendah
daripada yang dilaporkan
20 tahun yang lalu,
berkemungkinan disebabkan oleh kawalan peraturan
yang ketat di Jepun
dalam membebaskan Hg ke alam sekitar.
Penyebaran unsur
Se dan Zn juga didapati agak seragam dalam
kalangan peserta
dan keputusan ini
juga sama seperti negara-negara lain. Tiada perbezaan yang signifikan dalam kepekatan unsur yang disebabkan oleh faktor jantina
dan tabiat merokok. Keseluruhan data
kajian ini telah
menunjukkan kepekatan
yang sama dengan
subjek sihat
dari negara lain. Oleh itu, data semasa dapat mewakili tahap latar belakang
kepekatan unsur
dalam kuku penduduk di Tokyo, yang
boleh dijadikan
sebagai nilai rujukan
untuk kajian
pada masa hadapan.
Kata kunci: Analisis
pengaktifan neutron; keratan
kuku; unsur surih
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*Pengarang
untuk surat-menyurat;
email: swboon@unimas.my
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