Trace-Element Analysis in Hair: An Evaluation

Abstract

Abstract The use of hair as an index to the concentration of certain elements in tissues has been evaluated with regard to the effect of prior cosmetic and sample-washing treatments on the results. Untreated rat-hair samples were subjected to selected grooming or cosmetic products and then washed by various commonly cited sample-preparation procedures. The hair samples were then analyzed for Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn, and the concentrations found were compared to those in untreated samples. The results indicate that the values observed can be greatly altered by typical treatments given to human hair, and that such changes are not corrected by the commonly used sample-wash procedures. Thus, obtainable samples of human hair, including pubic hair, cannot be expected to indicate accurately the concentration of these metals that would otherwise be present. Other elements should be similarly studied before confidence can be placed in the validity of data for them.