Quantitative analyses of copper in fine and solid particles of snow and hair in the population of Gorno-Altaysk

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The significance of copper (Cu) in the human body and its toxicological effects in elevated concentrations have now been fully established, although the presence of Cu in the environment and in the body of different populations across different regions warrants further research. AIM: To identify the level of Cu accumulation in the fine and solid phases of snow and hair of the population of Gorno-Altaysk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The concentration of Cu in snow water, the solid phase of snow, and hair in the population of Gorno-Altaysk was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Snow samples were collected from the areas of 10 coal-fired boiler houses, and hair samples were collected from 122 people aged 450 years. RESULTS: The Cu content in melted water from all snow intakes in the areas of coal-fired boilers (0.0190.049 mg/L) did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC 0.1 mg/L). In 3 (56.4067.20 mg/kg) of the 10 samples in the solid phase of snow (19.3767.42 mg/kg), an excess of MPC (55.0 mg/kg) was detected. The Cu content in the hair of the subjects did not depend on gender (U=1741; p=0.580); in a population aged 421 years, the concentration of Cu decreased with age (U=29; p=0.05). The concentration of Cu in the hair of the residents of Gorno-Altaysk, when compared with other regions of the world, corresponded to low values (10.0 mg/kg), low concentrations (7.5 mg/kg, 31.9%) were more common among the population than high concentrations (25.0 mg/kg, 5.7%). No correlation was noted between the concentration of Cu in the hair of the population and that in snow water and the solid phase of snow. CONCLUSION: The Cu content in the fine-dispersed phases of snow collected from across areas of coal-fired boilers did not pose any danger to the people, whereas, in the solid phases, increased concentrations were recorded. The hair of the population more often contained a low content of Cu (31.9%) than a high content (5.7%).