Evaluation of a New X-Ray Fluorescent Analysis Technique for the Creation of a Nordic Hair Database: Elemental Distributions Within the Root and the Virgin Segment of Hair Fibers

September 2001 in “ PubMed ”

B. Stocklassa, M Aransay-Vitores, Gert Nilsson, C Karlsson, D. Wiegleb, B Forslind

X-ray fluorescence elemental content biological tissues human hair fibers ITRAX X-ray spectrometer trace elements physiologically important elements

TLDR The new X-ray technique allows for precise and non-destructive measurement of elements in hair, creating the first database of its kind for a specific ethnic group.

In 2001, a new non-destructive X-ray fluorescence technique was developed for estimating elemental content in biological tissues, specifically human hair fibers. The ITRAX X-ray spectrometer was evaluated and found to allow for precise, fast, non-destructive, simultaneous, quantitative recording of detected elements and trace elements down to levels of 1 ppm (microg/g). The technique was used to assess normal values of physiologically important elements present in hair in a cohort of normal, healthy Swedish, Caucasian individuals. The results showed that concentrations of elements varied as functions of the diameter of the analyzed hair volume. This database, constructed from data retrieved from a homogeneous ethnic set of individuals, was the first of its kind.

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Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research Human Hair Form: Morphology Revealed by Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy and Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Reconstruction

27 citations , September 1988 in “PubMed”

Hair follicle shape determines hair type: curly, straight, or in-between.

research Elemental Content of Anagen Hairs in a Normal Caucasian Population Studied with Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE)

2 citations , January 1986 in “PubMed”

PIXE is an effective method to analyze hair's elemental composition.

research Copper in Green Hair: A Quantitative Investigation by Electron Probe X-Ray Microanalysis

10 citations , January 1980 in “Ultrastructural pathology”

Green hair has high copper levels due to contaminated water and damaged hair cuticles.

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