Arsenic and old toenails
Scientists from Leicester and Nottingham have devised a method for identifying levels of exposure to environmental arsenic – by testing toenail clippings.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment and people can be exposed to it in several ways. Long term exposure to arsenic is associated with increases in lung, liver, bladder and kidney cancers and skin growths.
The researchers collected toenails and washed and acid digested the samples under microwave irradiation. They then analysed the samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
The research, published online ahead of print in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring, was carried out with Dr Gawen Jenkin, Department of Geology, University of Leicester. Dr Jenkin said: “This is the first time that the chemical form of the arsenic in the toenails has been measured.
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