Scalp hair as a monitor of population exposure to environmental pollutants

Abstract

Concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn have been measured in hair from population groups with varied types of environmental exposure. Rural and urban controls have exhibited low levels of most toxic elements, whereas people residing near urban lead refineries, rural gold refinery and other industries have shown high elemental concentrations in their hair. A combination of instrumental as well as radiochemical neutron and photon activation analysis methods have been used to determine the concentrations of the above elements. The precision and accuracy of these methods have been evaluated. © 1977 Akadémiai Kiadó.