The association between chronic sinusitis and hair ultra-trace element levels in hair of children

The objective of the present study was to assess the association between hair levels of ultra-trace elements and chronic sinusitis in children. Hair samples of 66 children with chronic sinusitis (J32.0 - 1CD-10) (mean age -11.2 +/- 4.5 years) and 66 gender-matched controls (mean age - 11.3 +/- 4.6 years) were analyzed for Ag, Au, Ba, Bi, Ga, Ge, La, Mo, Pt, Rb, Sb, Tl, W, and Zr content using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry at NexION 300D (PerkinElmer Inc., Shelton, CT, USA) after microwave digestion of hair samples. The obtained data demonstrate that hair Ga, TI, and Zr were significantly increased by 20% (p = 0.004). 33% (p = 0.006), and 36% (p = 0.047), respectively, as compared to the control values. In turn, hair Pt levels were 2-fold higher in the group of patients when compared to the healthy controls (p = 0.003). A nearly significant (p = 0.066) 50% increase in hair Sb was observed. Correlation analysis demonstrated that in a group of healthy children. hair Au (-0.2657; p = 0.031), Sb (-0,3871; p = 0.001), W (-0,3046; p = 0.013), and Zr (-0.2766; p = 0.025) levels were significantly inversely correlated with age of the examinees, whereas no such associations were revealed in the patient group. We hypothesize that altered ciliary apparatus in chronic sinusitis patients may result in reduced removal of inhaled metal particles and their subsequent toxicity.