Lead Levels in Fingernails of Hemodialysis Patients and Healthy Individuals in Karbala, Iraq: A biomonitoring Study Using ICP OES

Baker A. Joda, aFaculty of Science, University of Kerbala, College of Health and Medical Tecchniques, University of Ahl al-Bayt, Karbala, IraqFollow
Rusul Jaafar, bDepartment Environmental Health, College of Applied Medical Science, University of Kerbala, Karbala, IraqFollow
Rana Hameed, cDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kerbala, Karbala, IraqFollow
Hiba Sadeq Alheloo, dDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kerbala, Karbala, IraqFollow
Sadeq Jaafar Hasan Dwenee, eScientific Research Commission, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad, IraqFollow

Abstract

The use of non-invasive media to evaluate the association between trace elements and diseases has spread in recent centuries. Fingernail samples were collected from 103 individuals, including both healthy participants and those undergoing hemodialysis, residing in Karbala, Iraq, and ranging in age from 21 to 75 years. The concentrations of lead were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES). Statistical analyses using F-tests and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to examine the effects of health status, gender, smoking status, and their interactions on lead levels in washed fingernails. The concentrations of Pb in washed fingernails of healthy individuals (11.245 ± 3.530 μg/g) and females (10.519 ± 3.626 μg/g) exhibited significantly elevated levels relative to those in hemodialysis patients (7.769 ± 1.589 μg/g) and males (8.747 ± 2.563 μg/g) at (P ≤ 0.05), respectively. Conversely, the difference between the concentrations of Pb in smokers (9.059 ± 2.483 μg/g) and non-smokers (9.652 ± 3.367 μg/g) was insignificant at P ≤ 0.05. In summarize, the levels of lead (Pb) in fingernails of 103 individuals in Karbala, Iraq was measured and found significantly higher levels in healthy participants than hemodialysis patients, and in females compared to males, while smoking showed no significant effect

Recommended Citation

Joda, Baker A.; Jaafar, Rusul; Hameed, Rana; Alheloo, Hiba Sadeq; and Dwenee, Sadeq Jaafar Hasan (2026) "Lead Levels in Fingernails of Hemodialysis Patients and Healthy Individuals in Karbala, Iraq: A biomonitoring Study Using ICP OES," Karbala International Journal of Modern Science: Vol. 12 : Iss. 1 , Article 14.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.33640/2405-609X.3451