Abstract:
The influence of occupations on the incidence of soil ingestion in Thai people 30-50 years of age in Phatthalung province was studied in ten volunteers compared between groups of farmer (5 volunteers) and other occupations (5 volunteers). Using Aluminum (Al) and Yttrium (Y) as trace elements, a mass - balance approach was employed to assess daily soil ingestion. Duplicate samples of food consumed and feces were collected for seven consecutive days, along with soil samples from each volunteerʼs working location. The amounts of Al and Y in samples were analyzed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). Average of soil ingestion, mean, 25th percentile, 75th percentile and 95th percentile based on Al in a group of farmer were 107.15 +- 55.14, 61.35, 137.91 and 213.37 mg/day, respectively; based on Y were 45.73 +- 50.40, 7.28, 84.20 and 144.62 mg/day, respectively. While average of soil ingestion, mean, 25th percentile, 75th percentile and 95th percentile based on Al in a group of other occupations were 97.92 +- 51.49, 56.86, 133.25 and 185.59 mg/day, respectively; based on Y were 49.15 +- 62.41, -5.61, 103.18 และ 178.26 mg/day, respectively. There is no statistical difference of average soil ingestion between the group of farmer and other occupations both from analysis of Al (107.15 +- 55.14 and 97.92 +- 51.49 mg/day) and Y (45.73 +- 50.40 and 49.15 +- 62.41 mg/day), p-value = 0.6919 and p-value = 0.2180, respectively