Hair analysis. Part 2. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric determination of thallium in human hair samples of persons in permanent contact with lead in their workplace

The determination of thallium in human hair samples by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry after microwave digestion has been presented. Hair samples were collected from the vertex of the scalps of donors who were employed in factories manufacturing lead-acid batteries. The results show that permanent contact with an environment polluted by lead makes it possible to absorb very large amounts of thallium, which is present in this environment only as an impurity of lead. The study also shows that absorption of thallium by workers is a few times ‘better’ than that of lead.