Variation in Lead Concentration along Single Hairs as Measured by Non-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

MEASUREMENT of trace elements in human hair has been used to give, indirectly, answers to several important problems. The detection of clinical poisoning is often indicated by heavy metal buildup, such as Pb, Se, Hg and Tl, in the growing hair 1 . Kopito et al. 2 have shown that the detection of lead in hair is a particularly useful diagnostic aid for even mild plumbism. Hair grows at a rate of approximately 1 cm per month, accumulates lead, and thus forms a permanent record of lead content in the body which may be used to estimate the time and length of exposure to lead.