| Summary: | Hairand nail samples were collected during a period of Octoberto December 2012from 63 healthy subjects who have been living in Zonguldak for at least ten consecutive years. The subjectsaged over 30 years and having no serious health problems were participated inthe study. The methodology involved the collection, ultrasonic cleaning andmicrowave digestion of samples. The measurements of trace metals (As, Cu, Zn,Se, Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe and Ni) in samples were performed with inductively coupledplasma-mass spectrometry. The predominant metalsdetermined in the both hair and nail samples were the essential metals with thedecreasing concentrations in the order of Zn gt;Fe gt;Cu. Other metalsdetermined in the hair samples followed the concentration order of Pb gt;Se gt;Ni gt;Cr gt;As gt;Cd, whereas in the nail samples, the order wasSe gt;Ni gt;Cr gt;Pb gt;As gt;Cd. Subgroups were formed according to locationand gender. Hair Se and Fe concentrations were significantlyhigher in urban residents. Withregard to nail samples, the rural residents exhibited more elevated Fe levelssignificantly. Genderhad a significant influence on the concentration of Zn and Cu in hair samples with females presenting higher values. However,the effect of gender on the trace metal concentrations in nail samples wasnegligible. The metal concentrations obtained for Zonguldakwere within or below the values reportedworldwide.
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