VALIDITY OF TOENAIL ELEMENT LEVELS AS A SURROGATE MEASURE OF EXPOSURE

对于某些元素，使用脚趾甲级别作为替代测量 暴露可能提供的暴露估计高于在 根据食物频率问卷、头发、血液水平或 其他措施。我们假设这是一组 元素(钙、镁、铁、锌、铜、锰、硒、钼、铬、钴、汞和铝)，具有 据称与慢性病有关。改进的评估方法 暴露在这些元素中将有助于研究它们的不利或 有益于健康的影响。 重复采集全饮食匀浆和脚趾甲样本 对77名受试者进行了为期一年的调查。膳食中的元素含量和 脚趾甲样本正在通过中子活化分析和 石墨炉原子吸收。 在指甲和饮食中的微量元素浓缩后 标本已经确定，我们将检查脚趾甲水平有多好 每种元素的摄入量都反映了摄入量。

For some elements, use of toenail levels as a surrogate measure of exposure may provide an estimate of exposure superior to that made on the basis of data from food frequency questionnaires, hair, blood levels, or other measures. We hypothesize that this is the case for a group of elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Mo, Cr, Co, Hg, and Al), that has a purported link with chronic disease. Improved methods of assessing exposure to these elements will facilitate studies of their adverse or beneficial health effects. Repeated samples of whole-diet homogenates and toenails were collected over a one-year period from 77 subjects. The element content of diet and toenail specimens is being determined by neutron activation analysis and graphite furnace atomic absorption. After the concentration of the trace elements in the toenails and diet specimens has been determined, we will examine how well the toenail level of each element reflects intake.