ArticleBiometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine2026
Assessment of metal exposure in fingernails of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer: a case study in Vietnamese men.
Article in Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
This study aimed to assess metal exposure in the fingernails of men with nasopharyngeal cancer. Fingernail samples were analyzed using total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to predict metal exposure levels, and Spearman correlations were used to identify variables associated with increased cancer risk. The results showed that the concentrations of 11 metals significantly differed between patients and healthy controls. Adjusted odds ratios (adj.OR) of metal exposure indicated significant positive associations with increased risk of cancer: Fe (adj.OR = 1.04), Cr (adj.OR = 3.70), Ni (adj.OR = 1.87), Cd (adj.OR = 2.93), As (adj.OR = 3.95), and Pb (adj.OR = 3.65). In contrast, significantly lower levels of Ca and Zn were associated with increased risk of cancer: Ca (adj.OR = 0.9976) and Zn (adj.OR = 0.96). Among smoking patients, adj.ORs followed a similar trend but at higher levels, with an increasing risk for Fe (adj.OR = 1.02) < Mn (adj.OR = 1.96) < Cr (adj.OR = 2.31) < Ni (adj.OR = 2.72) < Cd (adj.OR = 5.57) < Pb (adj.OR = 5.61) < As (adj.OR = 6.96) and a decreasing risk for Zn (adj.OR = 0.93) > Ca (adj.OR = 0.9968). Furthermore, Spearman correlations showed that significantly higher levels of Ni and Cd and lower levels of Cu were associated with patients' living environments. Meanwhile, higher levels of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, As, and Pb and lower levels of Ca and Zn were significantly associated with smoking habits. In conclusion, significant alterations in fingernail metal concentrations were associated with an increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. Exposure to toxic metals, mainly through smoking and living environments, may contribute to disease development. These findings highlight the importance of public health strategies to mitigate metal-related cancer risks.
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