PHALANGEAL HAIR DISTRIBUTION AMONG FIELD
AND OFFICE WORKERS IN WESTERN PART OF
NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF WORKERS
DR O.O. OYERINDE,
DR OYEBIMPE O. OYERINDE,
&
DR. O.L. OLAITAN
Accepted for publication by
Journal of Sociology of Education in Africa
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the variation in the distribution of hair on the
phalanges of both the field and office workers in Kwara State. One hundred
workers were randomly selected and used for the study. Relative length, density
of the phalangeal hair were taken for right and left hands. Their ages, job types,
and sexes were also noted. Simple percentage was employed to analyse the
research questions formulated and the findings showed that, an individual’s job
type has impacted on his or her phalangeal hair. Prolonged wet work such as
bricklaying, block making, laundry, hairdressing, machines and all types of
fieldwork predisposed subjects to sparse phalangeal hair. It was recommended
among others that people engaging in these kind of jobs should cultivate the
habit of wearing hand gloves to protect their phalangeal hair, a very important
cold receptor and which can also be used for hair analysis for diagnosis before
and after death.
KEY WORDS
Phalangeal hair.
Ketatinized structures
Proximal Phalangeal
Nigeria.
1
Mid Phalangeal
Distal Phalangeal
Field workers
INTRODUCTION
Hair is a common feature in animals. In human, it is a very special
and cherished feature especially in female who usually prefer long hair on their
heads. It is considered as thing of beauty and pride among women. Dharap
(1985) and Jean, Christophe & Eric (2007) claim that hair (phili) are filaments,
ketatinised structures, present over almost all of the body surface including the
dorsum of the finger and are derivatives of the epidermis which assist in
thermoregulation, provide some protection against injury, have sensory
functions and sub-serve various subtle roles in social communication including
diagnosis purposes.
Hair is found all over the body human and some other animals although,
it may be called another name in certain animals for example, fur and milk. It is
usually more concentrated in some areas more than in other parts in human. For
example, the head, pubic, maxilla, eyelashes and eyebrows while hairs are
absent from a few areas of the body including the thick skin of palms, soles and
flexus surfaces of digits and certain other regions such as umbilicus, nipples,
glens-penis and clitoris, the labia minor and prepuce. Elsewhere, they vary from
about 600 per cm on the face to 60 per cm on the rest of the body (Moore,
1995).
Nasir, Zafar and Naseem (1995), Utter, (1999), and Parmar (2009), have
revealed in their different works that there are variations in the distribution of
2
hair on the phalanges which can be attributed to race, sex and genetic factors.
Other factors that can be responsible for these variations like age and job type
are being considered in this paper. In some people, hairs on the phalanges are
very noticeable, being long and many, while in some, they pass unnoticed. The
interesting thing about hairs on the phalanges is the difference between it and all
other body hairs, apart from scalp hair it is not widely distributed like other
hairs, it seems to be concentrated in particular regions of the phalanx in most
people and it is also not in the entire surface of the phalanx.
Danfort (1921) carried out the first study on the distribution of phalangeal
hair on the hands. Since then, many researchers Nasir et al, (1995), Mbajiogu
(1996), Eike-Meinrad & Kerrin (2005) have been interested in racial differences
in the distributions of hair on the phalanges. The direction of hair on the dorsal
of the phalanges hair from the little finger to the thumb show significant
changes from ulna rather than a radial in both sexes (Dharap, 1995). Mbajiogu
(1996) avers there was an ulna rather than a radial shift in the distribution of
mid-phalangeal hair, a phenomenon which might have been due to a shift in the
morphogenetic gradient during development among the Kanuris and Baburs of
Northern Nigeria. Nasir et al (1995) also noticed that there are differences in
pattern of phalanges air distribution among professionals in the Punjabi area of
Pakistan.
Previous investigation of hair distribution on the phalanges of the hand
shows that most individuals have hair on their proximal but none on their distal
3
phalanges (Jean et al, 2007). Singh (1987) observes that on Nigerians, hair is
present on the proximal phalanges in a high percentage for both sexes. Similar
results were obtained in Tiwari (99.8%) of male and (98.3%) of female
(Hatiboglu, 1993).
Parmar, and Kristen opine that hair on the middle phalanx is frequently
absent but more in female (60%) than in male (44%). Generally, female have a
lower frequency of hair distribution than males on all phalanges. In different
countries, absence of hair on the middle phalanx varies, with Nigeria, having the
highest frequent (of absence) of 71% and America (whites) having the lowest of
22% (Parmar, 1968, Dharap, 1996, Botcharev, 1999, Singh 1982: Mbajiogu
1996).
The frequency of middle phalageal hair (MPH) distribution in Chinese
falls between that of Malays and Japanese which is probably explained by the
fact that these three racial group originate from Asia (Dharap, 1995). The
frequency of MPH in the Africa race is higher than in the white race and in the
intermediate position among the Asia tics and other races (Hatiboglu, 1993).
In Malays, the density of the phalangeal hair distributions among digits of
both hands showed significant correlation on proximal phalanges. Significant
correlation was not observed however in the middle phalangeal hair (Dharap,
sex difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.2704) among the Kanuris,
while Chinese female and male showed a much larger variety of patterns of
digital distribution than male (Mbajiogu, 1996; Dharap, 1995).
4
There is significant effect of age (P > 0.05) on the occurrence of MPH by
which the incidence increased to a peak in the 10 to 15 years age group and
thereafter decreased gradually to a maximum age 35 years in Kanuri and Babur
of Nigeria (Mbajiogu, 1995).
A number of disease conditions can affect the distribution of hair on the
phalanges. Examples of such are costello syndrome in which skin hair hands
and feet become loose (Szalai, 1999). The premature removal and the syndrome
are examples having as one of its manifestations sparse hair growth,
extraordinary fine hair and amlaylosis and osteoporosis of the phalanges and
carpals (Winklespecht, 1997).
Phalangeal hair may also be useful in hair analysis or after death to detect
cause of death if it is drug related, for example, chronic methamphetamine
abuse (Saito, 2000). It may also be used to determine the content of 19 minor
and trace elements with the aim of assessing reference value (RVS) as was done
in Rome recently (Senoforte, 2000). Phalangeal hair also serves as very
important cold receptors. According to Harrison and Davic (1999), cold
thresholds measured by methods of limit (mo1) were lower, that is, occurred at
higher absolute temperatures for the hair skin of the dorso-lateral hand
compared to the glabrous skin of the thenar eminence. Most of the reported
cases failed to look at variations based among field and office workers in
western part of Nigeria. This study therefore investigates the phalangeal hair
differences among field and office workers in western part of Nigeria. Field and
5
office workers are focused since, largely in Nigeria, they form the bulk of man
power group. According to Weber and Lamb (1982) the added information
derived from this type of study i.e. knowledge of the influence of work type on
the dependent variable of phalangeal hair distribution will make the purpose of
the study better achieved.
The following research questions were generated to assist in the conduct
the study.
i.
What is the hair distribution pattern on the phalanges in relation to age,
sex and job type among workers in western part of Nigeria?
ii.
Is there any difference between the density of the phalangeal hair on the
right and left hands of the field workers in western part of Nigeria?
iii.
Is there any difference between the density of the phalangeal hair on the
right and left hands of the office workers in western part of Nigeria?
iv.
Is there any variation in density of right and left hands hair distribution
among the field and office workers in western part of Nigeria?
Methodology
One hundred subjects were used for the study. The subjects were
purposively sampled to meet the job types such as office workers and field
workers. Some Fifty male and fifty female were selected and hand lens was
used in daylight to view the surface of the phalanges in order to see the hair on
the phalanges clearly. The area of highest density of hair was noted on each
phalanx and the number of hair on such area was counted. The area usually
6
counted was about 10mm wide, that is, about 1cm wide, the number of hairs
was recorded. The age and sex, including job types of the subjects were also
recorded.
The length of hair was measured by use of thread to trace and get the
length of hair on the phalanx and a pencil is used to mark the beginning and end
of the length of hair on the thread. Such marked thread was transferred into a
ruler and the length was read and recorded in mm. The average of the densities
of both the right and left hands were noted for analysis and reporting.
Results
Table 1: Hair Distribution Pattern According to Job Type and Sex
S/No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
*
Group
2-3-4-5
3-4-5
2-3-4
3-4
4
1-2-3-4-5
4-5
3
3-5
1-2-3-4-5
Without hair
Total No
51
16
3
9
1
11
2
3
1
1
2
Male
26
4
2
2
1
9
1
1
2
Female
5
2
1
7
2
2
2
-
Office
29
6
1
2
1
2
2
-
Field
22
10
2
7
9
3
1
1
2
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th are types of the most common hair distribution
combination patterns measured from 0,005-o.6mm noted on the dorsum of the
phalangeal by most researchers (Hatiboglu 1983, Dharap 1996 & Ejiwumi 1996).
1-2-3-4-5 = 1st – 5th phalanges.
The phalangeal hair pattern was grouped according to presence of hair on
the phalanges on each phalanx. 10 different phalangeal hair patterns were
recorded which have been grouped into 1 to 10 with the group of people without
phalangeal hair in group 11. It was noticed that the most common phalangeal
7
hair pattern is the 2-3-4-5 group 1 in which hair was simply present on the 2 nd,
3rd, 4th hand 5th phalanges. This is because 51% of the sample size had this type
of phalangeal hair pattern. It was followed by group 2 (3-4-5) pattern with 16%
of the sample size while the least common phalangeal hair pattern are the group
5 (4), group 4(3-4), and group 10 (1-2-3) phalangeal hair patterns according to
table 1.
Table 2: Job Type, Sex, Hair Distribution (Office Workers)
PHALANGEAL HAIR DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS
Group
2-3-4-5
3-4-5
2-3-4
3-4
4
1-2-3-4-5
4-5
3
3-5
1-2-3-4-5
0
Total
Male
11
2
1
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
17
Workers
11%
2%
1%
2%
1%
-
-
-
-
-
-
17%
Female
18
4
-
-
-
2
2
-
-
-
-
26
Workers
18%
4%
2%
2%
Male
15
2
1
9
-
15%
2%
1%
Office
Office
-
-
26%
1
1
1
2
32
1
1%
1%
2%
32%
-
-
-
25
Office
Workers
9%
%
Female
7
8
1
7
7%
8%
1%
7%
-
-
-
2
Office
Workers
2
25%
%
X = n/N X 100 %.
Results in table 2 shows that 2-3-4-5 group has the highest frequency of
occurrence which is 51% of the total sample size. It also shows that the
difference between both sexes is not significant i.e. 1%. The following
distribution combinations are the least common 4,3-5,1-2-3-5. 2% of the
population has no hair on the phalanges. The most common pattern for both
8
sexes is 2-3-4-5 while the least common for male are 4,3, 3-5, 1-2-3-5 and for
female is 2-3-4 pattern.
Table 3a: Type and Density of Field Workers.
Density per cm
0 1
No of people with X density on the right 3 5
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
22 15 7
4
-
-
-
-
56
10 19 7
1
2
-
-
-
54
phalanges
No of people with X density on the left 7 8
phalanges
Table 3b: Job and Density of Office Workers.
Density per cm
0 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
No of people with X density on the right 0 2
-
13 15 8
-
1
-
-
39
7
19 14 3
3
-
-
-
50
phalanges
No of people with X density on the left 1 2
phalanges
Results in table 3a shows no significant difference between the density of
the phalangeal hair on the right and left hands of field workers given that left:
right = 54:56. Table 3b shows a significant variation in the density of
phalangeal hair on the right and left hands of office workers. It shows that the
density of the left phalangeal hair is greater than that of the right hand, given
that, left right: 50:39. These are expected because differentials have been found
among types of phalanges used for particular forms of job and depending on
regularity of use (kirsten2009).
9
Table 4: Variation in Density of Right and Left Hands in Field and
Office Workers.
Group
Field worker
Office worker
Density
Right>Left
14
17
Density
Left>Right
29
16
Density
Left=Right
13
11
Table 4: shows that the larger percentage of the population’s (45%) left
phalangeal hair density is higher than that of the right hand. The least common
of both job types is equal phalangeal hair on both right and left hands.
Discussion
In discussing the findings in table 1, no significant variation in group 1(23-4-5) between males and females. The males were just 1% above the
percentage of females in this group. Mbajiorglu (1995) also observed this in
Kanuris and Bubars had 12% while males had 4% which shows that more
females have the phalangeal hair pattern 3-4-5 than males. Group 4(3-5), 7(4-5)
and (8) also had highest percentages of female.
The fact that proximal phalanx had the highest percentage of hair had
also been observed by Singh (1982), while Jean et al (2007) found that more
phalangeal hair exists at the dorsal view than other sights.
Results in table 2 shows similarity with what Nasir et al (1995) found
among professionals in Punjabi, Pakistan that most office workers belong to the
2-3-4-5 combination pattern while the field workers are more widely spread into
10
other groups, although majority of them have the 2-3-4-5 pattern (22%). The
most common pattern in both sexes and both job type is the 2-3-4-5 patterns.
The least common phalangeal hair distribution patterns for male office workers
are 2-3-4 and 4 patterns. The least common pattern for female office workers is
the 1-2-3-4-5 and 4-5 patterns while the least common for female field workers
is 2-3-4 patterns.
From table 2, it can be deduced that the most common type of phalangeal
hair pattern in both field and office workers is the 2-3-4-5 pattern that is, group
1 while the least common in office workers are the 2-3-4 and 4 group, group 3
and 5, in field workers, the least common phalangeal hair patterns are the 3-5
and 1-2-3-5 group (groups 9 and 10).
This research shows that age had no significant effect on the density of
proximal phalangeal hair. However, there exists a significant effect of age in the
occurrence of middle phalangeal hair in Kanuris (Mbajioglu, 1996). All the age
groups had close average densities of phalageal hair with a difference of IO 15
to 0.43 except for the age group 4-9 whose average density is 3.3. The
difference were + 1.2 and + 0.7 respectively. The variation position was
analysed in Tables 2 and 3 and it was noticed that the density of phalangeal hair
on the left hand was greater (46%) than that of the right hand (31%). According
to Dharap (1995), the digits of right hands showed significant correlation with
hair growth on proximal phalanges. This may be due to the fact that many
people use their right hand more than the left. This was especially noticeable
11
among field workers, in many people, the pores where hair should have grown
were seen on the phalanges employed especially on the right hand. This was
noticed by the use of hand lens. The rest that is, 24% had equal densities on
both right and left hand.
It was also discovered during interview with the subjects that the number
of years spent doing a particular job affects the density more than 2-3 years
doing a particular job especially mechanics and bricklayers had less hair on
their phalanges with many empty pores. This is in line with the research carried
out by Uter (1999) where it was observed that unprotected wet work of more
than two hours per day was a significant risk factor.
Table 3b shows a significant variation in the density of phalangeal hair on
the right and left hand of office worker. It shows that the density of the left
phalangeal hair is greater than that of the right hand i.e. left right: 39:50. These
are expected because differentials have been found among types of phalanges
used for particular forms of job and depending on regularity of use
(kirsten2009).
Conclusions and Recommendations
Variations occur in distribution of hair on the phalanges. There were
variations in hair distribution pattern, about ten was recorded in this study.
There were also variations, due to job type and sex especially in relative hair
density. There is no significant variation due to age. The number of years spent
undertaking block making and hair dressing also dictate the extent to which the
12
variation occur due to job types. It is recommended that the field workers
should put on hand gloves during working hours, to protect the hair on their
phalanges from being shed (NEEDS 2004). Both the field and office workers
should be careful in handling chemicals like spray paint, liquid petroleum
products, antiseptics and pesticides and reagents while in the office or even at
home. (WHO 1984, Babatunde 2001 & Oyedumade 2001). While Akinsola,
(2006) recommended that only prescribed types of detergent and soap should be
used for washing especially for domestic purposes.
13
APPENDIX
KEY
Y
Office Workers
13
N
o
12
Field Workers
11
10
o
f
9
8
7
p
e
o
p
l
e
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
0 .5
1
1.5
Fig. 1
2
2.5
3
3 . 5 4 4 .5 5 5 . 5 6 6 . 5
HAIR LENGTH (MM)
Histogram Showing Job Type & Hair Length
14
7
7.5
X
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