Scanning Electron Microscopes/Silicon Drift Detector-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy: An Analytical Tool to Identify Waterborne Microminerals Pickup in Human Scalp Hair Cuticle Due to Water Quality

In 2018, a study used Scanning Electron Microscopes/Silicon Drift Detector-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/SDD-EDS) to analyze the impact of water quality on the accumulation of microminerals in human scalp hair cuticles. The study involved volunteers from urban and rural areas who had been using treated or untreated water for hair washing for at least two years. The results showed that waterborne minerals, specifically calcium and aluminium, were distinctly identified in the scalp hair cuticle, reflecting the quality of water used. The study also found that the application of coconut oil or conditioners before washing hair can reduce the uptake of minerals like calcium. However, treated water supply brought in dissolved alum-based chemicals used in water treatment, which increased the aluminum concentration in the hair. The study suggested that water quality can affect hair health and growth, and that hair care products could help mitigate some of the damage caused by poor water quality.