Toenails as biomarker of exposure to essential trace metals: A review.

Toenails as biomarker of exposure to essential trace metals: A review. Environ Res. 2019 Oct 07;179(Pt A):108787 Authors: Gutiérrez-González E, García-Esquinas E, de Larrea-Baz NF, Salcedo-Bellido I, Navas-Acien A, Lope V, Gómez-Ariza JL, Pastor R, Pollán M, Pérez-Gómez B Abstract Health problems associated with essential trace metals can result from both inadequate (i.e., low intake) and excessive exposures (i.e., from environmental and/or occupational source). Thus, measuring the exposure level is a real challenge for epidemiologists. Among non-invasive biomarkers that intend to measure long-term exposure to essential trace metals, the toenail is probably the biological matrix with the greatest potential. This systematic review collects the current evidence regarding the validity of toenail clippings as exposure biomarker for trace metals such as boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, vanadium and zinc. Special attention was paid to the time-window of exposure reflected by the toenail, the intraindividual variability in exposure levels over time in this matrix, and the relationship of toenail with other biomarkers, personal characteristics and environmental sources. Our search identified 139 papers, with selenium and zinc being the most studied elements. The variability among studies suggests that toenail levels may reflect different degrees of exposure and probably correspond to exposures occ...
Source: Environmental Research - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Environ Res Source Type: research