The Human Biomonitoring Research Unit (HBRU) of the Luxembourg Institute of Health has recently spoken about a new project which has seen the development of techniques to detect the exposure of the body to toxic substances from a lock of hair.
The HBRU specialises in the evaluation of human exposure to pollutants such as pesticides, polycyclic armoatic hydrocarbons and persistent organic pollutants. Headed by Dr. Brice Appenzeller, the HBRU depends on analytical techniques including chromatography and mass spectrometry along with the use of certain body samples as matrices. The Unit's use of hair to determine pollutant exposure led to PhD candidate, Caroline Chata to win the scientific award for Best Oral Presentation in this field at the international conference for the Society of Hair Testing last June.
"The advantage of hair analysis is that it can cover a period of time ranging from weeks to several months and therefore highlights chronic exposures whilst a urine or blood analysis only corresponds to a few hours prior to the taking of the sample," explained Dr. Brice Appenzeller, who also acted as Chata's thesis supervisor during her PhD. He further highlighted that one centimetre of hair contains information relating to one month of exposure.
"The substances found in the structure of hair are mainly due to the consumption of contaminated or treated food as in the case of pesticides researched in this study," he continued. "The hair is not used as a sensor on which whatever falls from the sky is deposited and remains attached. It reveals the passage of these substances in the body of individuals."
If some of these substances are classified as carcinogenic or endocrine disruptors, other effects related to pollutant exposure such as infertility, metabolic disorders or delayed development are suspected. The technique developed by the laboratory opens up exceptional perspectives for the study of the causal links between exposure to pollutants and health disorders.
The Research Unit reported that it is currently continuing development with the aim of being able to perform routine and non-research analyses for, among others, the individual - a feat that will be achievable now that the laboratory has obtained accreditation.
