Analysis of copper and lead in hair using the nuclear microscope; results from normal subjects, and patients with Wilson's disease and lead poisoning

We have recently developed a technique utilizing the nuclear microscope to analyse accurately the trace element content of hair at concentrations of ppm and to differentiate between the levels within hair and those due to surface contamination. Hair was analysed from four patients with Wilson's disease (systemic copper overload), one patient with sub-acute lead poisoning, and three control subjects, and the concentrations and distributions of lead and copper across the hair shafts were shown. However, there was no increase in the copper content of hair from patients with Wilson's disease compared with those of normal subjects, indicating that the high copper levels of many tissues in this disease are not reflected in hair. In contrast, hair samples from the patient with lead poisoning showed maximum concentrations of 14 (+/-2) micrograms g-1, compared with normal levels of less than 1 micrograms g-1. Further, the composition of the hairs along the shaft reflected the temporal changes of lead levels in the patient during lead elimination.

Assessment of toxic metal exposure following the Camelford water pollution incident: evidence of acute mobilization of lead into drinking water

Following the incident of acidic pollution of water by aluminium sulfate centred around Camelford in July 1988, we have carried out a retrospective analysis of the mobilization of toxic metals to residents of the area. An advanced nuclear technique was used to measure trace levels of elements within hair, thus, avoiding surface contamination. In contrast to controls, lead, but no other toxic metals, was consistently found within sections of hair that dated to mid-1988 from four residents; they must, therefore, have consumed this metal around the time of the incident. The source of this lead was probably local water pipe residue, and this was found on analysis to have a matrix specific to such soft-water areas that, prior to the incident, had slowly accumulated certain toxic metals such as cadmium and uranium and particularly lead. Lead is mobilized from such residues by acidic water and could, therefore, have heavily contaminated mains water after the incident. However, analyses of residents' plasma and whole blood, and of urine following a lead-chelation test, showed no evidence of either long-term increased body burdens of toxic metals or depletion of essential elements. In addition, we found no evidence of continued poor water quality in the area. In conclusion, during a short period following the pollution, some residents who consumed mains water would have been acutely exposed to lead and other toxic metals. Prediction of the scale of metal exposure to individuals was not possible owing to heterogeneity of the water distribution network, but long-term effects to residents from lead are not anticipated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)