Abstract

The global environmental health issues are concerned with many factors that directly or indirectly affect human health and society and the deficiency or toxicity of different metals in human blood is one of them. Some trace metals such as copper, zinc, iron and magnesium are essential for maintaining good human health whereas, different heavy metals like mercury, molybdenum and lead can have negative impact. This study highlights that there are few diseases in Garo tribes from Durgapur hill tracts, which are due to deficient essential trace element concentration in blood serum. These low or high levels of trace element are related to poor nutritional food habit, defective metabolism, occupational stress and socio cultural milieu. Methods: The study involves collection of seventy one (71) Garo tribal individuals (mean age 15-65 years) from both genders from Durgapur. Body mass index (BMI), blood group and hemoglobin levels were assessed by standard pathological methods. Serum levels of four essential elements; iron, copper, zinc and magnesium were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (FAAS). Results: Initially weight and height of all individuals were taken and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Blood hemoglobin was found between 9mg/dl to 11mg/dl (0.87 to 1.92mg/dl), blood group was almost homogenous B (+ve) 46% to O (+ve) 34% and least percentage of AB (+ve) 16%. Serum Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) was found within the lower normal range of the blood, whereas, Iron (Fe) and Magnesium (Mg) were lower (p = ≤ 0.025) in all Tribal samples when compared with healthy normal subjects. Conclusion: The global environmental health issues are concerned with many factors that directly or indirectly affect human health and the deficiency or toxicity of different metals in human blood is one of them. Hence the present study is conducted to evaluate and compare the level of zinc, copper, iron and magnesium in blood serum of Garo tribal population who lives on soft paste porcelain mining profession in the hilly area of Durgapur.

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