Determination of Exposure to Medical and Industrial Toxic Chemicals from Beijing by Human Hair, Nail and Blood Analysis

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to the medical and industrial toxic chemicals. The research was carried out on hair, nail and blood samples in a panel of 40 healthy volunteers aged 7 to 77 with an average of 45 ± 19 years (18 women (45%) and 22 men (55%)). All of these individuals had not received medication for at least 1 year, including antibiotics and psychotropic. This study was realized from July 2013 to March 2014 in Beijing, China. The method for an accurate and reliable screening of medical and an industrial toxic chemical was based on detection and assay by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection type of diode arrays. Also more than 10,000 toxic molecules commonly found in western industrial countries were screened by coupling gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The main results indicate that the molecules analyzed are mainly antibiotic (Gentamycine and Tobramycine), antidepressant (Amitriptylin and its metabolites), narcotic (MDMA and Clonitazene), ingredient in cosmetics (Benzenediol and Benzoic acid), insecticide (Carbamate derivative), ketamine, chlorhexidine and phthalate derivatives. There are no detailed documented baseline data of the analysis of medical and Industrial toxic pollutants in hair, nail and blood samples in Beijing; however, this study should be completed on samples from other provinces of China. This study is the first of its kind. Therefore, further studies should be conducted in other cities and provinces of China to be compared with each other.