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Abstract

In this research, concentrations of vital (Ca, Mg, and Zn) and toxic (Pb and Cd) elements in human hairs belonging to cancerous and non-cancerous subjects were accurately analyzed using CF-LIBS coupled with AAS for comparison. Hair, from patients with stomach cancer and healthy subjects, was sampled and plasma was created by using a Q-switched, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm light. Plasma parameters such as electron density and plasma temperature were evaluated using peak shift of the fall and Boltzmann plot method. The quantitative levels of trace elements were calculated using the CF-LIBS chemical composition strategy under Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) conditions and the results were validated with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). There were differences in the elemental levels in hair between cancer and non-cancer patients. Significant differences were found in formed cancerous tissues in which the concentrations of toxic metals of Pb and Cd were increased and that of essential elements like Ca, Mg and Zn were differed in cancerous tissues and a factor would play a role to cancer development. Excellent agreement between CF-LIBS and AAS indicated that LIBS was a reliable and fast, non-destructive approach for biological research. These findings also imply that the human hair elemental analysis could be utilized as the cancer diagnosis and prognosis marker. The study also demonstrates CF-LIBS as a fast, low sample consumption alternative to traditional spectroscopy in the clinic or bio-medical research.