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The objective was to evaluate metal ion accumulation in hair of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances in time. The patients (N = 47) participated in a questionnaire survey. Hair sampling was performed at the beginning and in the 4th, 8th, and 12th month of the treatment. The content of metals (Cr, Ni, Fe) in hair was analyzed by ICP-OES equipped with USN nebulizer. The peak release of Cr and Fe occurred after 4 months of the treatment, and the peak release of Ni gradually increased throughout the whole year of the therapy. During 1 year treatment, an average accumulation of metals in hair tissue was 7.42 ± 14.19 μg of Ni, 8.94 ± 13.1 μg of Cr, and 131 ± 279 μg of Fe. The mean content of Cr was higher than the 90th percentile value for this element. The upper limit of literature reference ranges for Cr, Ni, and Fe in hair was not exceeded. The value of exposure (kinetics and dose) of orthodontic patients to metal ions released from orthodontic appliances can be assessed by hair mineral analysis. The content of Cr was statistically significantly higher during the treatment than before the beginning of therapy.

The kinetics of metal ions release from orthodontic appliances in in vitro, in in vivo on pigs, and in vivo trials on patients (where hair samples were taken) was discussed. We have evaluated (by means of ICP-OES and ISO 17025) and compared the mass of Cr and Ni ions released. Not all the metal ions released from the appliance were transferred to hair tissue. The transfer factor was expressed as coefficient ω and evaluated as: ωCr(patients) 33.0%, ωCr(pigs) 17.2%, ωNi(patients) 49.8%, ωNi(pigs) 0.553%. The kinetics was described by a power function. Coefficient ω was used to combine the models: the in vitro and in vivo on animals on the one hand and the in vitro and in vivo on human on the other, which enabled the extrapolation of in vitro and translation of the results into in vivo conditions. The dose of metal ions released during orthodontic treatment was estimated., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to lead from various sources by investigation of mineral composition of human scalp hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled from 267 young adults living in Wrocław (southwest Poland). The effect of the place of residence, diet, and lifestyle on lead content in hair was examined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Lead was determined at the wavelength 220.353 nm. These outcomes were reached by linking the results of lead level in hair with the results of questionnaire survey. The mean lead level in hair of the whole examined population was 2.01 ± 2.10 mg kg(-1). Lead can enter the human body mainly by inhalation and gastrointestinal absorption. It was found that consuming cheese, fish, and lettuce caused increased level of lead in hair. On the other hand, drinking of milk, tea, coffee, or lemon resulted in decreased content of lead in hair. Additional source of exposure to lead could be cigarette smoking, distance to the traffic road, painting the walls, amalgam filling. Based on the results, it can be concluded that exposure to lead can occur mainly from eating habits and environmental exposure.

Background: The lack of systematic review on reference values of elements in human hair with the consideration of methodological approach. The absence of worldwide accepted and implemented universal reference ranges causes that hair mineral analysis has not become yet a reliable and useful method of assessment of nutritional status and exposure of individuals., Objectives: Systematic review of reference values of elements in human hair., Data Sources: PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus., Study Eligibility Criteria: Humans, hair mineral analysis, elements or minerals, reference values, original studies., Results: The number of studies screened and assessed for eligibility was 52. Eventually, included in the review were 5 papers. The studies report reference ranges for the content of elements in hair: macroelements, microelements, toxic elements and other elements. Reference ranges were elaborated for different populations in the years 2000-2012. The analytical methodology differed, in particular sample preparation, digestion and analysis (ICP-AES, ICP-MS). Consequently, the levels of hair minerals reported as reference values varied., Conclusions: It is necessary to elaborate the standard procedures and furtherly validate hair mineral analysis and deliver detailed methodology. Only then it would be possible to provide meaningful reference ranges and take advantage of the potential that lies in Hair Mineral Analysis as a medical diagnostic technique., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hair analysis is used for estimation of the nutritional status of individuals. In the present work, a systematic review on the relation between the mineral composition of hair and the physical or mental disorders is discussed. Detailed information of examined populations, methods of sample preparations and analytical techniques are presented., Methods: A systematic literature search in four electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Medline (from 1997 to 2012/01/31) for English language articles was performed. In addition, a reference list and manual search was undertaken., Results: The following number of studies was included: 66. Most of the authors reported that there exists a correlation between deficiency or excess of some elements in hair and occurrence of some diseases, such as: autism, cancer, hypertension, myocardial infarction, kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. However, not all results were consistent., Conclusions: Most of the authors concluded that the profile of hair mineral imbalance might be useful as a diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of many diseases. However, it seems that there is a need to standardize sample preparation procedures, in particular washing and mineralization methods., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure to nickel from various sources by investigation of mineral composition of human scalp hair. The research was carried out on hair sampled from subjects, including 87 males and 178 females (22 ± 2 years). The samples of hair were analyzed by ICP-OES. The effect of several factors on nickel content in hair was examined: lifestyle habits (e.g. hair coloring, hair spray, hair straighteners, hair drier, drugs); dietary factors (e.g. yoghurts, blue cheese, lettuce, lemon, mushroom, egg, butter); other (e.g. solarium, cigarette smoking, tap water pipes, tinned food, PVC foil, photocopier, amalgam filling). These outcomes were reached by linking the results of nickel level in hair with the results of questionnaire survey. Basing on the results it can be concluded that exposure to nickel ions can occur from different sources: lifestyle, eating habits and environmental exposure., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present article was to assess the effect of wearing silver jewelry on mineral composition of human scalp hair. To investigate the possible effect of gender, a group of females and males was distinguished. Subjects, who declared in the questionnaire wearing silver jewelry, constituted 55% of the whole population. It was found that individuals wearing jewelry had increased levels of Ag (~3 times), Ba (30%), Ca (33%), La (40%), Li (25%), and Zn (27%) in hair and lowered level of: Al (34%), K (79%), and Na (32.5%) in comparison with the group that did not wear jewelry. Those differences were statistically significant. Lower levels of K and Na in hair of subjects wearing jewelry was probably related with an antagonism between Ag-K and Ag-Na found in the present work. Analyzing the effect of two grouping variables-gender and wearing silver jewelry-on hair composition, it was observed that statistically significant differences were determined for the following elements: As, Ba, Ca, and Se. Female hair contained two times more Ca, four times Ba, 36% less As, and five times less Se. It was found that 34% of the population wearing silver jewelry had higher Ag content in hair than the upper value of the reference range (0.567 mg/kg) determined for subjects who did not wear jewelry. Ag and other metals (especially Cu and Zn) from jewelry could be absorbed through the skin and therefore hair mineral analysis is useful in the assessment of this exposure. The study was carried out on Poles, among which silver jewelry is particularly popular. The population can be thus considered as exposed., (© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011)

The aim of the present work was to investigate the exposure of patients to metals released from orthodontic appliances in situ. The paper reports the results of biocompatibility studies of orthodontic appliances by an in vivo method using hair sampled from the group of patients (N = 28) and a control group (N = 18). The mean content of metals (Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe) in hair that were hypothesized to be systemically absorbed from stainless steel, was provided. The highest difference between the groups was found for Ni (39% higher level in hair of patients), Mn (18%), Fe (4.1%), Cr (2.5%), as calculated by a new dimensionless metal release coefficient (α). The second coefficient defined in the present work (β) corresponded to the difference in the mean content of elements between the groups. The coefficient was the highest for Fe, subsequently Ni, Mn and Cr. None of the differences was statistically significant. For each group and a given element, ranges between 10th and 90th percentile were determined. The upper value of the range differed the mostly between the groups for Ni (82.5%) showing that stainless steel of orthodontic appliance can be the source of exposure to this element. The difference was also identified for Mn (26.5%). For Cr and Fe, the lower value of the range was elevated. It was noted that 22% of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment had elevated levels of Ni in hair. A correlation matrix between the content of the elements in hair was calculated. Statistically significant correlations were found between Cr and Fe, showing similar sources of exposure. Multiple regression analysis showed the dependence of Ni content (dependent variable) on the level of Co and Mg (synergism) and V (antagonism)., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present work was to examine the inter-relationship between elements in human hair depending on gender. In the whole population, the following groups of correlated elements were identified: alkaline earth metals (Ba, Ca, Mg, Sr), major microelements (Cu, Mn, Si, Zn) and La, Ti. In the subpopulation of males, the (Ag, Al, As, Fe) group was additionally included, whereas in the group of females (Ag, Al, Fe, Zr) was included. The group of alkali metals (Li, Na, K) and P was particularly visible in the group of males. In the group of females correlations among (Al, Co, Fe, K, Ti) were stronger than in males. In both sexes correlations between Mo, B and V (in females additionally Bi was present) and Bi-Co were found. Only in hair of males (Cd, Fe, Mn) and (Cu, Na, P) were detected, and the group of (As, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Ti) was detected only in females., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This paper reports the results of a biomonitoring study of exposure to elements released by water pipes by hair mineral analysis with the consideration of gender. Hair of a population of 117 students living in an urban area in Poland was analyzed for the content of elements by ICP-OES (macroelements) and ICP-MS (micro-, toxic and other trace elements). The participants were grouped according to the material of which water pipes in their households were made (steel, copper, plastic). The population was of uniform age (21-22 years). The mean values and standard deviations of the content of 34 elements were reported for the whole population as well as for other populations and the subgroups. The mean level of the following elements was higher: As, Ba, Bi, Ca, Na, and lower: Hg. Statistically significant differences between the subpopulations for which the grouping variable was the type of tap water pipes were found for the following elements: Fe, Mn, Na, Ti (release order: plastic>steel>copper), Mg (copper>plastic>steel), Ni (plastic>copper>steel). The composition of water (from the same water purification station), from pipes made of different materials: steel, copper and plastic was determined. The release of elements to water was confirmed. The results of biomonitoring study by hair mineral analysis were compared with multielemental analysis of water. Plastic pipes were found to release the highest quantities of elements, which was confirmed by both a biomonitoring study and direct analysis of water: Ni, Ti, Al, Hg, Sn, Mo, Li, Ag, Cu, Sr, B. For copper pipelines both types of analyses showed release of: Ag, Cu, Si, As, and in steel: Zr and Zn. Elements, the level of which depended on sex, were indicated. The content of elements in hair and also the effect of gender were compared with other populations reported in the literature. Additionally, ratios between elements in the present and in various groups were investigated. It was found that the content of alkaline earth metals (Ba, Ca, and Mg) was statistically significantly higher in hair of females than males in almost all the groups. The release of elements with gender as additional grouping variable was confirmed for Ag and As, which were eluted in the highest amounts from copper plumbing, Mn and Si from plastic pipes. Hair of males seemed more appropriate for a biomonitoring study since more statistically significant differences were confirmed. This can be explained with the cosmetic treatment of hair by females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present work, reference values for the content of elements in human hair were elaborated. The population chosen for the study was a group of students in Polish urban area, which served as a representative group of a population of 20 years old individuals living in Europe. The content of 36 elements (essential (B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn), toxic (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl) elements and others (Ag, Ba, Bi, Ce, La, Li, Rb, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr)) was determined in hair sampled from 117 subjects. Hair were digested with nitric acid in microwave oven in closed Teflon bombs and underwent multielemental analysis for the content of macroelements by ICP-OES and for micro- and trace elements by ICP-MS. Reference ranges were determined and considered as the values between 10th and 90th percentile. It was assumed that the values of the extreme low and high 10% in the population reflected mineral imbalance. In the population, a group of females and males was distinguished, and also a group of women which tinted their hair was separated. This enabled to point out the differences in hair mineral content between genders and for tinted and non-tinted hair. Statistical significance of differences was found for several elements, for which separate reference values were elaborated. This concerned the following elements: Ba, Ca, Cu, K, La, Mg, Mn, Si, Sr and Ti. In the interpretation of the level of these elements it is necessary to take into consideration both sex and artificial coloring. Also ratios between elements were evaluated – between nutritive (Ca/Mg, Ca/P, Na/K, Zn/Cu) and nutritive vs. toxic (Zn/Cd, Zn/Pb). In this case the differences were detected only for Ca/P ratio. This shows that perhaps in the future, inter-element ratios rather than the absolute levels of elements would be considered for the interpretation of the results of mineral analysis of hair. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]