Manganese and Cobalt Concentrations in Hair and Nail of Some Kano Inhabitants

Manganese and cobalt concentrations in hair and nail were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).The mean manganese in hair and nail were 0.54 ± 0.35mg/g and 0.68 ± 0.30mg/g while the mean cobalt in hair and nail were 0.30 ± 0.24mg/g and 0.460.37mg/g respectively. A progressive increase in cobalt concentrations in hair and nails with age indicated no significant difference in their means suggesting that cobalt in hair and nails originate from a common source. Comparing the mean manganese concentrations in hair with the nails a significant difference is indicated in the two tissues (pdd0.05). Human hair and nails are hence recording filaments that can reflect metabolic changes of many elements over long periods of time and hence furnish a post nutritional event of some essential micro-elements.