Heavy metal concentration in hair of students in Rome.

The levels of five heavy metals (As, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb) in scalp hair were measured in 20 male and 20 female biology students of Rome. Female levels were generally higher except for arsenic and chromium. Sex and smoking resulted most important for heavy metal concentration in hair. Thus smokers show significantly higher levels of lead and slightly increased levels of cadmium, cobalt and nickel.