Toenails as biomarker of exposure to essential trace metals: A review.

ABSTRACT: Health problems associated with essential trace metals can result from both inadequate (i.e., low intake) and excessive exposures (i.e., from environmental and/or occupational source). Thus, measuring the exposure level is a real challenge for epidemiologists. Among non-invasive biomarkers that intend to measure long-term exposure to essential trace metals, the toenail is probably the biological matrix with the greatest potential. This systematic review collects the current evidence regarding the validity of toenail clippings as exposure biomarker for trace metals such as boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, vanadium and zinc. Special attention was paid to the time-window of exposure reflected by the toenail, the intraindividual variability in exposure lev

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Gonzalez E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8164381 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature