Lead Content of Human Hair (1871-1971)

Isotope ratios as well as Pb concentration in the hair samples of the twentieth century varied to a considerable extent depending on the period of hair cut. The oldest hair samples (1910-1920s) had the highest concentration and the most distinct isotope ratios from those of Japanese domestic Pb indicating serious contamination of proximate environment of people of those days with Pb originated from mines in other regions of the world, probably through the usage of Pb-containing face powder. The concentration and isotope ratios of Pb decreased thereafter indicating less serious contamination of proximate environment of Japanese which, in turn, should have affected by environmental contamination of mid-twentieth century due to industrial activities and leaded gasoline. Contemporary Pb level was quite low (<1 mg/kg); however, isotope ratios were close to those in 1960s when hair concentration was assumed to be strongly affected by leaded gasoline.

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“…The Pb concentration in these samples has already been measured and included in the published data (Suzuki et al 1984a (Weiss et al 1972).…”

Section: Pb Concentration In Hair Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotope ratios of lead in Japanese women’s hair of the twentieth century

Matsumoto

Yoshinaga

2009

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Important information in several historical or forensic cases has been obtained from hair analyses [4]. Hair has also been reported to be a valuable indicator of environmental pollution [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Element Profiles in Single Strands of Human Hair Determined by HR-ICP-MS

Gellein

Lierhagen

Brevik³

et al. 2008

Biol Trace Elem Res

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Trace element analysis of human hair has the potential to reveal retrospective information about an individual's nutritional status and exposure. As trace elements are incorporated into the hair during the growth process, longitudinal segments of the hair may reflect the body burden during the growth period. We have evaluated the potential of human hair to indicate exposure or nutritional status over time by analysing trace element profiles in single strands of human hair. The hair strands from five healthy and occupationally unexposed subjects were cut into 1-cm long segments starting from the scalp. By using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS), we achieved profiles of 12 elements in single strands of human hair, namely, Ag, As, Au, Cd, Cu, Hg, Fe, Pb, Se, Sr, U and Zn. We have shown that trace element analysis along single strands of human hair can yield information about essential and toxic elements, and for some elements, can be correlated with seasonal changes in diet and exposure. The information obtained from the trace element profiles of human hair in this study substantiates the potential of hair as a biomarker.

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“…The origin of this decrease is obscure, but the trend seems to continue (Table 1) because the highest value here, 3.6 mg/g, is less than the lower mean values found earlier (Weiss et al, 1972;Klevay, 1973).…”

Section: Generalizationsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Hair as a biopsy material: trace element data on one man over two decades

2004

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Background: Hair mineral analyses are being performed frequently both with and without medical advice. Reasons for analysis often are ill defined. Objective: To assess variability of trace element data both within a series of samples from an individual and among mean values published from other research laboratories. Design: Many samples of hair were collected carefully from a healthy man over a comparatively long period of time and were processed and analyzed under standard conditions. Extensive published data from other research laboratories also were reviewed and compared. Results: Coefficients of variation for trace elements in hair of the donor ranged from 17 to 74% for the essential elements copper, selenium and zinc and from 53 to 121% for the potential intoxicants aluminum, cadmium and lead. The ratio of high mean to low mean for values published by others on hair samples from healthy people ranged from two for selenium and zinc to 18 for aluminum. Conclusions: Hair analysis should be based on a diagnostic hypothesis such as cadmium intoxication or copper deficiency rather than on the ease of analysis or attempts to explain vague symptoms because within-person variability is large and interlaboratory agreement on normal values is poor.

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Lead Content of Human Hair (1871-1971)

Abstract: Samples of antique and contemporary human hair were analyzed for lead by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Antique hair contained a significantly greater amount of lead than did contemporary hair.

Cited by 46 publications

References 8 publications

Isotope ratios of lead in Japanese women’s hair of the twentieth century

Isotope ratios of lead in Japanese women’s hair of the twentieth century

Trace Element Profiles in Single Strands of Human Hair Determined by HR-ICP-MS

Hair as a biopsy material: trace element data on one man over two decades

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