Optimization of Cryogenic Grinding as a Hair Sample Preparation Technique for Heavy Metal Concentration Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33394/bioscientist.v14i2.18503Keywords:
Cryogenic grinding, hair, biomonitoring, small-scale gold miningAbstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cryogenic grinding as a hair sample preparation technique and to compare heavy metal analysis results obtained using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Hair samples were collected from five residents of Sekotong and analyzed for Cd, Hg, and Pb content. Data were analyzed descriptively and compared using the Friedman test. The results indicated that AAS consistently yielded higher metal concentrations than EDX. Cd concentrations measured by AAS, EDX of powdered hair, and EDX of intact hair were 0.00656 mg/kg, 0.00130 mg/kg, and 0.00010 mg/kg, respectively. For Hg, the corresponding measurements were 0.00380 mg/kg, 0.00212 mg/kg, and 0.00362 mg/kg, whereas Pb exhibited the largest disparity, with 0.12930 mg/kg for AAS, 0.00224 mg/kg for EDX of powdered hair, and 0.06978 mg/kg for EDX of intact hair. The high variability, particularly in Pb measurements, suggests that heterogeneity in metal distribution and surface contamination affect EDX readings of intact hair. Cryogenic grinding yielded a more homogeneous particle distribution, resulting in EDX measurements of powdered hair that were more representative and numerically closer to AAS results than measurements of intact hair. Although differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), these findings support the use of cryogenic grinding to enhance the accuracy of hair-based heavy metal analysis. Furthermore, this method has the potential to reduce the use of destructive chemicals and hazardous waste, making it a safer and more sustainable alternative for community biomonitoring in areas affected by heavy metal contamination.
References
Bansal, O. P. (2023). The concentration of potentially toxic metals in human hair, nails, urine, blood, and air, and their impact on human health: A review. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(2), 185–216. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(2).18
Brummer-Holder, M., Cassill, B. D., & Hayes, S. H. (2020). Interrelationships between age and trace element concentration in horse mane hair and whole blood. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 87, 102922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102922
Byers, H. L., McHenry, L. J., & Grundl, T. J. (2019). XRF techniques to quantify heavy metals in vegetables at low detection limits. Food Chemistry: X, 1, 100001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2018.100001
De Sousa Parreira, J., Cabral, C. D. S., Pedro di Tárique, B. C., Ott, A. M. T., Dórea, J. G., & Bastos, W. R. (2022). Mercury in the brain (tumor tissues) and in markers (hair and blood) of exposure in Western Amazonia patients. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 72, 126994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126994
dos Santos-Lima, C., de Souza Mourão, D., de Carvalho, C. F., Souza-Marques, B., Vega, C. M., Gonçalves, R. A., Naraya, A., Jose Antonio, M., Neander, A., & de Souza Hacon, S. (2020). Neuropsychological effects of mercury exposure in children and adolescents of the Amazon region, Brazil. Neurotoxicology, 79, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2020.04.004
dos Santos Vianna, A., de Magalhães Câmara, V., de Magalhães Barbosa, M. C., de Souza Espíndola Santos, A., Asmus, C. I. R. F., Luiz, R. R., & de Jesus, I. M. (2022). Mercury exposure and anemia in children and adolescents from six riverside communities of Brazilian Amazon. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 27(5), 1859–1871. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232022275.08842021
El-Bana, M., Al-Taher, F., & Hassan, M. (2023). External contamination control in hair metal analysis. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 76, 127041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127041
El-Bana, M., Hassan, M., & Al-Taher, F. (2024). Influence of surface contamination on EDX analysis of human hair. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 448, 131223.
El-Bana, M., Hassan, M., & Al-Taher, F. (2025). Environmental and cosmetic contamination in hair metal analysis: Implications for EDX measurements. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 456, 131556.
Foo, S. C., Khoo, N. Y., Heng, A., Chua, L. H., Chia, S. E., & Ong, C. N. (1993). Metals in hair as biological indices for exposure. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 65(Suppl), S83–S86.
Foo, S. C., Khoo, N. Y., & Ong, C. N. (1995). Variability of heavy metal concentrations in human hair: Implications for biomonitoring. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 67, 31–38.
Hong, S., Kim, J., & Park, H. (2010). Low-temperature grinding techniques for trace element preservation in hair. Talanta, 80, 1124–1131.
Hong, S., Kim, J., & Park, H. (2012). Preservation of volatile metals during cryogenic hair sample preparation. Talanta, 94, 10–16.
Hong, S., Park, H., & Kim, J. (2011). Cryogenic grinding of hair samples for metal analysis: Efficiency and reproducibility. Talanta, 85, 1498–1505.
Kempson, I. M., & Lombi, E. (2011). Hair analysis as a biomonitor for toxicology, disease and health status. Chemical Society Reviews, 40(7), 3915–3940. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1cs15021a
Kempson, I. M., & Lombi, E. (2012). Human hair as a biomonitor of heavy metal exposure: Challenges and perspectives. Environmental Research, 117, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.010
Mierzyńska, D., Kowalska, J., & Nowak, A. (2024). Surface-sensitive analysis of metals in human hair using EDX: Challenges and considerations. Environmental Research, 245, 116000.
Mierzyńska, D., Nowak, A., & Kowalska, J. (2023). Surface versus bulk elemental analysis in hair: Comparison of EDX and AAS. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195, 678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11457-2
Pozebon, D., Dressler, V. L., & Scheffler, G. L. (2018). Sample preparation and homogenization for accurate hair metal analysis. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1024, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2018.03.045
Pozebon, D., Scheffler, G. L., & Dressler, V. L. (2017). Elemental hair analysis: A review of procedures and applications. Analytica Chimica Acta, 992, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2017.09.017
Richard, G. (1995). Hair as a biomarker for trace elements: Analytical considerations. Science of the Total Environment, 164(2–3), 95–104.
Richard, G., & Smith, J. (1996). Factors affecting metal accumulation in hair: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 180, 87–96.
Smith, J. P., & Brown, K. L. (2019). Analytical techniques for multi-element determination in hair: Comparative study of AAS, ICP-MS, and EDX. Talanta, 201, 403–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2019.03.025
Wang, Y., Li, X., Zhang, H., & Chen, L. (2021). Trace metal distribution in human hair from different exposure sources. Environmental Pollution, 286, 117394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117394
Yoshinaga, J., Morita, M., & Okamoto, K. (1997). New human hair certified reference material for methylmercury and trace elements. Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 357(3), 279–283.
Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., & Wang, S. (2021). Distribution of toxic metals in hair layers: Implications for biomonitoring. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 25644–25656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13842-9
Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Li, X., & Chen, Y. (2020). Metal accumulation in hair: Influence of hair structure and exposure pathway. Environmental Pollution, 263, 114444.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 I Gusti Ayu Sri Andayani, Indah Retnowati, Baiq Mariana, N Ismillayli, Ardiana Ekawanti, Rahmah Dara Ayunda
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
