Determination of trace cadmium in human hair, fingernail and toenail for ten years by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The human hair, fingernail and toenail were collected from one person quarterly for about ten years, respectively thirty-three, forty-one and thirty-nine shares. The contents of traces cadmium in hair, fingernail and toenail have been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and the results were satisfactory. From a changing curve in human hair, fingernail and toenail cadmium by age, we found that the range of cadmium contents in hair was 0.010 0-0.410 0 mug.g(-1), in fingernail 0.029 5-0.531 4 mug.g(-1) in tene-nail 0.0899-1.274 mug.g(-1), respectively. In the changing curve there is a nonlinear characteristic.