Use of Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Lead Pollution: Characteristics and Seasonal Variation of Lead Pollution in Egypt
Lead being a toxic heavy metal that mankind is
exposed to the highest levels of this metal from environmental
pollutants. A total of 180 Male scalp hair samples were collected
from different environments in Greater Cairo (GC), i.e. industrial,
heavy traffic and rural areas (60 samples from each) having different
activities during the period of, 1/5/2010 to 1/11/2012. Hair samples
were collected during five stages. Data proved that the concentration
of lead in male industrial areas of Cairo ranged between 6.2847 to
19.0432 μg/g, with mean value of 12.3288 μg/g. On the other hand,
lead content of hair samples of residential-traffic areas ranged
between 2.8634 to 16.3311 μg/g with mean value of 9.7552 μg/g.
While lead concentration on the hair of the male residents living in
rural area ranged between 1.0499-9.0402μg/g with mean value of
4.7327 μg/g. The Pb concentration in scalp hair of Cairo residents of
residential-traffic and rural traffic areas was observed to follow the
same pattern. The pattern was that of decrease concentration of
summer and its increase in winter. Then, there was a marked increase
in Pb concentration of summer 2012, and this increase was
significant. These were obviously seen for the residential-traffic and
rural areas residents. Pb pollution in residents of industrial areas
showed the same seasonal pattern, but there was marked to decrease
in Pb concentration of summer 2012, and this decrease was
significant. Lead pollution in residents of GC was serious. It is worth
noting that the atmosphere is still contaminated by lead despite a
decade of using unleaded gasoline. Strong seasonal variation in
higher Pb concentration on winter than in summer was found. Major
contributions to the pollution with Pb could include industry
emissions, motor vehicle emissions and long transported dust from
outside Cairo. More attention should be paid to the reduction of Pb
content of the urban aerosol and to the Pb pollution health.
[1] S. M. Robaa, “Urban –Suburban/rural differences over greater Cairo,
Egypt,” Atmosfera, vol. 16, pp.157-171, 2003.
[2] P. Ragan, and T. Turner, "Working to prevent lead poisoning in
children: getting the lead out," JAAPA: Official Journal of the American
Academy of Physician Assistants, vol. 22, no. 7, pp. 40–45, 2009.
[3] N. Mañay, A.Z. Cousillas, C. Alvarez, and T. Heller, "Lead
contamination in Uruguay: the "La Teja" neighborhood case," Reviews
of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol.195, pp.93–115,
2008.
[4] C.S.C. Wong, and X.D. Li, “Pb contamination and isotopic composition
of urban soils in Hong Kong,” The Science of the Total Environment,
vol. 319, pp.185–195, 2004.
[5] T.M. Young, D.A. Heeraman, G. Sirin, .and L.L. Ashbaugh, “Resuspension
of soil as a source of airborne lead near industrial facilities
and highways,” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 36, pp.
2484–2490, 2002.
[6] J.M. Pacyna, “Source inventories for atmospheric trace metals,” In:
Harrison, R.M., Van Grieken, R. (Eds.), Atmospheric Particles, IUPAC
Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems,
vol. 5. Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 385–423, 1998.
[7] T.L. Guidotti, and L. Ragan, "Protecting children from toxic exposure:
three strategies," Pediatric clinics of North America, vol. 54, no.2, pp.
227– 235, 2007.
[8] D. Barltrop, C.D. Strehlow, I. Thornton, and J.S. Webb, "Absorption of
lead from dust and soil,” Postgrad Med J., vol. 51, no.601, pp. 801– 804,
1975.
[9] A.D. Woolf, R. Goldman, and D.C. Bellinger, "Update on the clinical
management of childhood lead poisoning,” Pediatric Clinics of North
America, vol.54, no. 2, pp. 271–294, 2007.
[10] Z. Safar, and M.W. Labib, “Assessment of particulate matter and lead
levels in the Greater Cairo area for the period 1998–2007,” J. of
Advanced Research, vol.1, pp.53–63, 2010.
[11] N. Sturchio, M. Sultan, M.E. Sharkaway A.E. Maghraby, and A. Taher,
“Concentration and isotopic composition of lead in Urban particulate air,
Cairo, Egypt: Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL and Centre for
Environmental Hazard Mitigation, Cairo, University, Cairo, Egypt,
1996.
[12] E.E.A.A, “Egyptian Environment Affair Agency. Report – 1999
Baseline lead emissions inventory for the Greater Cairo Area; Cairo Air
Improvement project (CAIP),” Chemonic International, Inc.
USAID/Egypt, Office of Environment USAID Contract No. 263-C-00-
97-00090-00, 2002.
[13] J. Popko, S. Olszewski, K. Hukalowicz, R. Markiewicz, M.H.
Borawska, and P. Szeparowicz, “Lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc
concentrations in blood and hair of mothers of children with locomotor
system malformations,” Polish J. of Environmental Studies, vol.12, no.3,
pp. 375-379, 2003.
[14] B.A. Revich, “Lead in hair and urine of children and adults from
industrialized areas,” Arch. Environ. Health, vol.49, pp. 59 – 62, 1994.
[15] A. Chatt, and S.A. Katz, “Hair analysis. Applications in the Biomedical
and Environmental Sciences,” VCH publishers Inc: New York, pp.1-
134, 1998.
[16] R.D. Beaty, and J.D. Kerber, “Concepts, instrumentation and
Techniques in Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometery,” Copyrighted by
The Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT, USA, 1993.
[17] G.W. Snedecor, and W.G. Cochran, “Statistical Methods”, 7th Ed.
Oxford and IBIT public. Co. New York, 1980.
[18] E. Ali, and M. Nasralla, “Using hair as bioindicator for exposure to
heavy metals in the Egyptian environment,” Egyptian J. of Occupational
Medicine, vol.14, no. 2, pp. 287-292, 1990.
[19] J. Sen, “Human scalp hair as an indicator of environmental lead
pollution and human exposure,” J. Hum. Ecol, vol.7, no.2, pp.133-141,
1996.
[20] D.S. Jamall, and P.V. Allen, “Use of hair as an indicator of
environmental lead pollution in women of child bearing age in Karachi,
Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, vol.44, pp.
350-356, 1990.
[21] A.S. Zakey, M.M Abdel-Wahab, J.B.C. Pettersson, M. J. Gatari, and M.
Hallquist, “Seasonal and spatial variation of atmospheric particulate
matter in a developing mega city, the Greater Cairo, Egypt,”
Atmosphera, vol. 21, no. 2, pp.171-189, 2008. [22] M. J. Molina, and L. T. Molina, “Megacities and atmospheric pollution,”
J. of the Air and Waste Management Association, vol. 54, no. 6, pp.
644–680, 2004.
[23] S.K.M. Hassan, “Metal concentrations and distribution in the household,
stairs and entryway dust of some Egyptian homes,” Atmospheric
Environment, vol. 54, pp.207-215, 2012.
[24] M.I. Khodeir, S.K. Hassan, and A.A. El-Abssawy, “An Evaluation of
Loading Rate of dust, Pb, CD, and NI and metals Mass Concentration in
the settled Surface Dust in Domestic Houses and Factors Affecting
Them,” Indoor and Built Enviroment, vol.19, no.3, pp.391-399, 2010.
[25] A.S. Zakey, and M. A. Omran, “1st LAS/WMO International
Symposium on Sand and Dust Storms,” WMO Programme on Weather
prediction Research Report Series Project No. 10, World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), Technical Document No. 864, 1997.
[26] D.P. Roy, J.S. Borak, S. Devadiga, D.E. Wolfe, M. Zheng, and J.
Descloitres, “The MODIS land product quality assessment approach,”
Remote Sensing Environ, vol. 83, pp.62-76, 2002.
[27] Y. Abo el Fetouh, H. El Askary, M .El Raey, M. Allali, W.A. Sprigg,
and M. Kafat, “Annual Patterns of Atmospheric Pollutions and Episodes
over Cairo Egypt,” Hindawi Publishing Corporation Advances in
Meteorology Volume , Article ID 984853, pp.11 – 22, 2013.
[1] S. M. Robaa, “Urban –Suburban/rural differences over greater Cairo,
Egypt,” Atmosfera, vol. 16, pp.157-171, 2003.
[2] P. Ragan, and T. Turner, "Working to prevent lead poisoning in
children: getting the lead out," JAAPA: Official Journal of the American
Academy of Physician Assistants, vol. 22, no. 7, pp. 40–45, 2009.
[3] N. Mañay, A.Z. Cousillas, C. Alvarez, and T. Heller, "Lead
contamination in Uruguay: the "La Teja" neighborhood case," Reviews
of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol.195, pp.93–115,
2008.
[4] C.S.C. Wong, and X.D. Li, “Pb contamination and isotopic composition
of urban soils in Hong Kong,” The Science of the Total Environment,
vol. 319, pp.185–195, 2004.
[5] T.M. Young, D.A. Heeraman, G. Sirin, .and L.L. Ashbaugh, “Resuspension
of soil as a source of airborne lead near industrial facilities
and highways,” Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 36, pp.
2484–2490, 2002.
[6] J.M. Pacyna, “Source inventories for atmospheric trace metals,” In:
Harrison, R.M., Van Grieken, R. (Eds.), Atmospheric Particles, IUPAC
Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems,
vol. 5. Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp. 385–423, 1998.
[7] T.L. Guidotti, and L. Ragan, "Protecting children from toxic exposure:
three strategies," Pediatric clinics of North America, vol. 54, no.2, pp.
227– 235, 2007.
[8] D. Barltrop, C.D. Strehlow, I. Thornton, and J.S. Webb, "Absorption of
lead from dust and soil,” Postgrad Med J., vol. 51, no.601, pp. 801– 804,
1975.
[9] A.D. Woolf, R. Goldman, and D.C. Bellinger, "Update on the clinical
management of childhood lead poisoning,” Pediatric Clinics of North
America, vol.54, no. 2, pp. 271–294, 2007.
[10] Z. Safar, and M.W. Labib, “Assessment of particulate matter and lead
levels in the Greater Cairo area for the period 1998–2007,” J. of
Advanced Research, vol.1, pp.53–63, 2010.
[11] N. Sturchio, M. Sultan, M.E. Sharkaway A.E. Maghraby, and A. Taher,
“Concentration and isotopic composition of lead in Urban particulate air,
Cairo, Egypt: Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL and Centre for
Environmental Hazard Mitigation, Cairo, University, Cairo, Egypt,
1996.
[12] E.E.A.A, “Egyptian Environment Affair Agency. Report – 1999
Baseline lead emissions inventory for the Greater Cairo Area; Cairo Air
Improvement project (CAIP),” Chemonic International, Inc.
USAID/Egypt, Office of Environment USAID Contract No. 263-C-00-
97-00090-00, 2002.
[13] J. Popko, S. Olszewski, K. Hukalowicz, R. Markiewicz, M.H.
Borawska, and P. Szeparowicz, “Lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc
concentrations in blood and hair of mothers of children with locomotor
system malformations,” Polish J. of Environmental Studies, vol.12, no.3,
pp. 375-379, 2003.
[14] B.A. Revich, “Lead in hair and urine of children and adults from
industrialized areas,” Arch. Environ. Health, vol.49, pp. 59 – 62, 1994.
[15] A. Chatt, and S.A. Katz, “Hair analysis. Applications in the Biomedical
and Environmental Sciences,” VCH publishers Inc: New York, pp.1-
134, 1998.
[16] R.D. Beaty, and J.D. Kerber, “Concepts, instrumentation and
Techniques in Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometery,” Copyrighted by
The Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT, USA, 1993.
[17] G.W. Snedecor, and W.G. Cochran, “Statistical Methods”, 7th Ed.
Oxford and IBIT public. Co. New York, 1980.
[18] E. Ali, and M. Nasralla, “Using hair as bioindicator for exposure to
heavy metals in the Egyptian environment,” Egyptian J. of Occupational
Medicine, vol.14, no. 2, pp. 287-292, 1990.
[19] J. Sen, “Human scalp hair as an indicator of environmental lead
pollution and human exposure,” J. Hum. Ecol, vol.7, no.2, pp.133-141,
1996.
[20] D.S. Jamall, and P.V. Allen, “Use of hair as an indicator of
environmental lead pollution in women of child bearing age in Karachi,
Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, vol.44, pp.
350-356, 1990.
[21] A.S. Zakey, M.M Abdel-Wahab, J.B.C. Pettersson, M. J. Gatari, and M.
Hallquist, “Seasonal and spatial variation of atmospheric particulate
matter in a developing mega city, the Greater Cairo, Egypt,”
Atmosphera, vol. 21, no. 2, pp.171-189, 2008. [22] M. J. Molina, and L. T. Molina, “Megacities and atmospheric pollution,”
J. of the Air and Waste Management Association, vol. 54, no. 6, pp.
644–680, 2004.
[23] S.K.M. Hassan, “Metal concentrations and distribution in the household,
stairs and entryway dust of some Egyptian homes,” Atmospheric
Environment, vol. 54, pp.207-215, 2012.
[24] M.I. Khodeir, S.K. Hassan, and A.A. El-Abssawy, “An Evaluation of
Loading Rate of dust, Pb, CD, and NI and metals Mass Concentration in
the settled Surface Dust in Domestic Houses and Factors Affecting
Them,” Indoor and Built Enviroment, vol.19, no.3, pp.391-399, 2010.
[25] A.S. Zakey, and M. A. Omran, “1st LAS/WMO International
Symposium on Sand and Dust Storms,” WMO Programme on Weather
prediction Research Report Series Project No. 10, World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), Technical Document No. 864, 1997.
[26] D.P. Roy, J.S. Borak, S. Devadiga, D.E. Wolfe, M. Zheng, and J.
Descloitres, “The MODIS land product quality assessment approach,”
Remote Sensing Environ, vol. 83, pp.62-76, 2002.
[27] Y. Abo el Fetouh, H. El Askary, M .El Raey, M. Allali, W.A. Sprigg,
and M. Kafat, “Annual Patterns of Atmospheric Pollutions and Episodes
over Cairo Egypt,” Hindawi Publishing Corporation Advances in
Meteorology Volume , Article ID 984853, pp.11 – 22, 2013.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:68734", author = "A. A. K. Abou-Arab and M. A. Abou Donia and Nevin E. Sharaf and Sherif R. Mohamed and A. K. Enab", title = "Use of Hair as an Indicator of Environmental Lead Pollution: Characteristics and Seasonal Variation of Lead Pollution in Egypt", abstract = "Lead being a toxic heavy metal that mankind is
exposed to the highest levels of this metal from environmental
pollutants. A total of 180 Male scalp hair samples were collected
from different environments in Greater Cairo (GC), i.e. industrial,
heavy traffic and rural areas (60 samples from each) having different
activities during the period of, 1/5/2010 to 1/11/2012. Hair samples
were collected during five stages. Data proved that the concentration
of lead in male industrial areas of Cairo ranged between 6.2847 to
19.0432 μg/g, with mean value of 12.3288 μg/g. On the other hand,
lead content of hair samples of residential-traffic areas ranged
between 2.8634 to 16.3311 μg/g with mean value of 9.7552 μg/g.
While lead concentration on the hair of the male residents living in
rural area ranged between 1.0499-9.0402μg/g with mean value of
4.7327 μg/g. The Pb concentration in scalp hair of Cairo residents of
residential-traffic and rural traffic areas was observed to follow the
same pattern. The pattern was that of decrease concentration of
summer and its increase in winter. Then, there was a marked increase
in Pb concentration of summer 2012, and this increase was
significant. These were obviously seen for the residential-traffic and
rural areas residents. Pb pollution in residents of industrial areas
showed the same seasonal pattern, but there was marked to decrease
in Pb concentration of summer 2012, and this decrease was
significant. Lead pollution in residents of GC was serious. It is worth
noting that the atmosphere is still contaminated by lead despite a
decade of using unleaded gasoline. Strong seasonal variation in
higher Pb concentration on winter than in summer was found. Major
contributions to the pollution with Pb could include industry
emissions, motor vehicle emissions and long transported dust from
outside Cairo. More attention should be paid to the reduction of Pb
content of the urban aerosol and to the Pb pollution health.
", keywords = "Hair, lead, environmental exposure, seasonal variations, Egypt.", volume = "8", number = "10", pages = "744-6", }
