Acute Comparative Study of Lead Detection in Hair Follicle and Serum of Albino Wister Rat

Lead is known to be highly toxic element, causing various disorders and subsequently death. This study was conducted to determine the possibility of lead detection and possibly determine how long can it be detected after exposure in hair follicle and serum. Thirty-two animals were used, divided into two main groups (1 and 2), each comprising 16 animals. Group 1 received a low dose of lead in form of lead acetate orally, while Group 2 received a high dose. Within each group, subgroups (a, b, c, d, and e) were established, with each subgroup containing 3 animals. Control groups (1a and 2a) were administered only water as a placebo, while treatment groups (1b to 1d and 2b to 2d) received low and high lead doses, respectively, for seven consecutive days. After the last dose, the animals were euthanized after certain periods ranging 24 hours to one month. Blood and hair follicle samples were collected and analysed to determine the presence of lead. These findings from the study showed that lead can be detected in in both serum and hair follicle in early times after exposure, but as time goes on, the serum lead keep reducing over time until it finally vanish in the serum while the hair follicle lead concentration keep increasing over period. In conclusion, Lead levels reflect long-term exposure and are more accurate for assessing chronic health risks and studying past exposures than serum.