Hair, trace elements

A. Chatt et al. Scalp hair as a monitor of community exposure to environmental pollutants. Hair, Trace Elements Sr Human Illness. A.C. Brown and R. Crouse, Editors. Praeger Publishers, New York, 1980, pp. 46-73. 

Valkovic, V, Human Hair Trace Element Levels, Volume 11, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1988. Hopps, H. C., The biologic basis for using hair and nail for analysis of trace elements, Sci. Total Environ., 7, 71, 1977. 

Gottschalk LA, Rebello T, Buchsbaum MS, et al. 1991. Abnormalities in hair trace elements as indicators of aberrant behavior. Compr Psychiatry 32 229-237. 

Hair trace element content of population groups as an indicator of working place and environmental pollution (in Russian). In Shtari AC, ed. Activation analysis, pp. 209-214. FAN,... 

Batzevich VA (1995) Hair trace element analysis in human ecology studies. Sci Total Environ 164 89-98. 

Because of these problems, hair trace element analysis is best suited for follow-up studies on individual patients (Anttila et al., 1984 Grandjean, (1983). 

Brown, A.C. Crounse, R.G eds.. Hair Trace Elements and Human Illness. Praeger, New York (1980). 

Iron. The total body content of iron, ie, 3—5 g, is recycled more efficientiy than other metals. There is no mechanism for excretion of iron and what Httie iron is lost daily, ie, ca 1 mg in the male and 1.5 mg in the menstmating female, is lost mainly through exfoHated mucosal, skin, or hair ceUs, and menstmal blood (74—76). Common food sources rich in iron and other trace elements are Hsted in Table 10. 

An average of about 7 ppm of bromine is found ia terrestrial plants, and edible foods contain up to 20 ppm. Among animals the highest bromide contents are found ia sea life, such as fish, sponges, and cmstaceans (44). Animal tissues contain 1—9 ppm of bromide and blood 5—15 ppm. The World Health Organization has set a maximum acceptable bromide iatake for humans at 1 mg/kg of body weight per day. In adult males the bromine content ia semm has been found to be 3.2—5.6 p.g/mL, ia urine 0.3—7.0 p.g/mL, and ia hair 1.1—49.0 p.g/mL. Bromine may be an essential trace element as are the other hahdes (45). 

We proposed to study diet and health by combining bone chemistry and histomorphometry. Diet would be determined by analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in bone protein and some preserved hair. In addition, trace elements would be quantitatively analyzed in preserved bone mineral. Abonyi (1993) participated in the study by reconstructing the diet from historical sources and analyzing various foods. Having analyzed human tissues for stable isotopes and trace elements, and foods for the same variables, we hoped to learn more about 19th century diet in southern Ontario, and at the same time, learn more about paleodiet reconstruction. 

Trace element results for hair samples were widely variable and appear to reflect contamination. They are not reported here. 

Quevauviller Ph, Maier EA, Vercoutere K, Muntau H, Griepink B (1992a) Certified reference material (CRM 397) for the quality control of trace element analysis of human hair. Fresenius J Anal Chem 343 335-338. 

Yoshinaga j, Morita M, Okamoto K (1997) New human hair certified reference material for methylmercury and trace elements. Fresenius J Anal Chem 357 279-283. 

Wise SA, Schantz MM, Poster DL, Lopez de Alda MJ, and Sander LC (2000) Standard reference materials for the determination of trace organic constituents in environmental samples. In Barcelo D, ed. Sample Handling and Trace Analysis of Pollutants Techniques, Applications and Quality Assurance, pp 649-687. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Yoshinaga Y, Morita M, and Okamoto K (1997) New human hair certified reference material for methylmercury and trace elements. Fresenius J Anal Chem 357 279-283. 

Drasch G, Wanghofer E, Roider G. 1997. Are blood, urine, hair, and muscle valid biomonitors for the internal burden of men with the heavy metals mercury, lead and cadmium Trace Elements and Electrolytes 14(3) 116-123. 

Wilhelm M, Lombeck I, Hafner D, et al. 1989. Hair lead levels in young children from the F.R.G. Journal of Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Health and Disease 3 165-170. 

Research near Bangalore [35] into the effects of crude disposal processes on the environment and workers found elevated levels of trace elements Cu, Zn, In, Sn, Pb, and Bi in soil near informal recycling shops. Among the workers, hair samples held high levels of Cu, Sb, Bi, Cd, and Ag. 

Wet oxidation of samples of biological origin with a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid is a common procedure that may be problematic in certain cases. An alternative procedure for sample preparation is irradiation with a strong UV source. Acidified samples of hair (0.1 g) containing about 2 pg Pb and other trace elements, were irradiated for 3 h with a 500 W source a buffer (pH 5.5) and a small amount of catechol violet (9) were added, and the complex of the dye with the trace elements was determined polarographically RSD ca 5% for Pb95. 

Neutron activation analysis is an attractive method in many trace element problems, or where the total amount of sample is limited. Many geochemical studies of trace constituents and semi-conductor developments have used the technique, whilst in recent years pollution investigations have provided a new focus. In forensic science small flakes of paint, single hairs and a variety of other small samples have been analysed and identified by activation analysis. In recent years activation analysis has lost further ground to ICP-MS which provides more comprehensive information and is more readily operated. Sensitivity is also comparable in many cases. 

Figure 9.8 Trace element profile along a single hair using LA-ICP-MS. The horizontal axis refers to the tracking time of the laser along the hair, which equates to distance, (a) shows lead along individual hairs from different depositional environments A is a modern sample, B is an experimentally buried modern sample, C is from a surface-exposed (8 months) forensic case, and D is an archaeological sample (died 1867). (b) shows arsenic from three of these same samples. There is clearly postdepositional uptake of both elements in the archaeological samples, and in these particular examples little evidence of lateral variation.

Trace element profile along a single hair using LA-ICP-MS 211... 

Toxicology. Selenium is an essential trace element that can be toxic in excessive amounts. Elemental selenium and selenium compounds as dusts, vapors, and fumes are irritants of the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. Chronic exposure may cause central nervous system effects, gastrointestinal disturbances, and loss of hair and fingernails. 

DiPietro ES, Phillips DL, Paschal DC, et al. 1989. Determination of trace elements in human hair Reference intervals for 28 elements in nonoccupationally exposed adults in the US and effects of hair treatments. Biol Trace Elem Res 22 83-100. 

Takagi Y, Matsuda S, Imai S, et al. 1986. Trace elements in human hair An international comparison. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 36 793-800. 

Analytical issues (i) X-ray elemental microanalysis (ii) Ion-selective electrodes for chnical use. (iii) Electron probe and electron energy loss analysis. (iv) Intracellular measurements . (v) Determination of Mg in human tissues and fluids . (vi) Trace elements in hair. (vii) Determination of Ca and Mg in wines . 

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