Atomic Emission Spectral Determination of Microelements in Human Hair Using MAES

Abstract

Biomonitoring of essential and toxic elements present in human is an urgent task of modern medicine. In that context, human hair is a promising matrix for the analysis. We present the results of atomic emission spectral analysis of hair mineralizates (obtained after acid digestion) with excitation of a dried residue spectrum from the end of carbon electrode in ac arc. Spectrum recording was carried out using a MFS-8 spectral device modernized by linear photodiode array MAES. The developed technique is used for determination of Al, B, Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, Fe, P, Pb, and Zn in 42 different hair samples. Using the obtained data we derived a law of the element distribution in the sample and compare the results with the literature data. Statistically significant influence of the donor gender on the content of several elements in human hair is revealed.