Trace elements in hair of healthy children sampled by age and sex

Biol Trace Elem Res. 1996 Jan;51(1):71-6. doi: 10.1007/BF02790149.

Abstract

Hair trace element (TE) (Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Br, Rb, Sr, Pb) levels from 336 healthy subjects were measured by the Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) method. The subjects were divided in three groups: 157 full-term neonates (75 male and 82 female), 86 children (41 male and 45 female) ages 6 to 11 yr, and 93 adolescents (51 male and 42 female) 11 to 16 yr old. Cu, Zn, Cr, and Br show an increase from birth to 8 yr and then decrease. Fe, Mn, and Sr strongly decrease up to 8 yr and then remain almost stable. Sex differences are present in Fe, Zn, and Br of children and in Cu, Cr, and Br of adolescents.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hair / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sex Factors
  • Trace Elements / analysis*

Substances

  • Trace Elements