Contents of bioelements and toxic metals in the Polish population determined by hair analysis. Part 1. Children aged 1 to 10 years.

The aim of this study is to define referential values of 5 basic bioelements (Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe) and toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in the hair of Polish children aged 1 to 10 years, based on the research conducted from 1991 to 2004 on a group of over 4000 formally healthy children. Significant differences between girls' and boys' hair Ca, Mg and Zn were observed, particularly in those aged 7 to 10 years (p = 0.0000). We noticed that boys have less concentration of hair Ca, Mg and Zn than girls do. Maximum concentration of hair Fe in children of both sexes was observed in 3 to 5 years old, diminishing subsequently. No significant differences were observed between concentrations of Cu in the hair of girls and boys of the same age, in the tested period from 1 to 10 years of age. The greatest amounts of Pb and Cd characterize the youngest children aged 1 to 5 years; while the boys possess a tendency to have higher contents of toxic elements than do girls. Children whose concentrations of hair bioelements have shown values outlying from reference ranges and who have higher concentrations of toxic metals should undergo further diagnostic tests since the results of previous tests could be a sign of disturbances in their organism leading to various diseases. The analysis of concentrations of bioelements and toxic metals in organisms based on hair analysis can be useful as a convenient, non-invasive and painless method of diagnosis of pathological states. In combination with other analytical data, this method is a complementary diagnostic procedure for practicing physicians.