Arsenic and Human Nails

We are developing geochemical biomarkers for testing the occurrence of contaminants in the human body and their effects on health. In particular, we are studying the relationships between arsenic levels in drinking water and human nails as a non-intrusive method that determines the differential bioaccumulation of arsenic on different sections of the population (age, gender) and therefore delineate the susceptible populations that are exposed to arsenic in their drinking water. We are currently testing arsenic in water and nails from homeowners exposed to different levels of arsenic in Union County, NC, USA as well as rural communities that consume well waters in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia.