Evaluation of Iron Status in Blood, Hair and Nails of Leather Industry Workers in Sialkot

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to heavy metals, particularly iron, in industrial environments poses significant health risks. The leather industry in Sialkot, Pakistan, employs thousands of workers potentially exposed to iron-based compounds used in tanning and finishing processes. Despite the health implications, biomonitoring of iron status in this population remains largely undocumented. Objective: To evaluate iron concentrations in blood, hair, and nail samples of leather industry workers in Sialkot and compare them with non-exposed controls to assess occupational iron burden and its clinical relevance. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 40 male leather workers and 40 age-matched controls with no occupational metal exposure. Blood, scalp hair, and fingernail samples were collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Demographic data and self-reported clinical symptoms were recorded. Statistical comparisons were performed using t-tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariate regression. Results: Iron concentrations were significantly higher in workers compared to controls in blood (904.7 ± 561.8 vs. 266.9 ± 281.3 µg/dL), hair (919.7 ± 771.7 vs. 223.2 ± 270.7 µg/g), and nails (870.0 ± 446.0 vs. 340.8 ± 337.9 µg/g), all p<0.001. Positive correlations were observed between years of employment and iron levels. Symptom prevalence increased with higher iron burden. Conclusion: Leather industry workers in Sialkot demonstrate significantly elevated iron levels across multiple biological matrices, supporting the need for occupational surveillance and the utility of hair and nail sampling in long-term exposure assessment.