ORIGINAL RESEARCH
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry in
Multielemental Analysis of Hair and Teeth
I. Baranowska 1*, L. Barchański 1, M. Bąk 1, B. Smolec 2, Z. Mzyk 3
More details
Hide details
1 Department of Analytical and General Chemistry, Silesian Technical University, Strzody 7,
44-100 Gliwice, Poland
2 Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy, Karola Miarki 12-14, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
3 Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Sowińskiego 5, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2004;13(6):639-646
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
During our study a procedure of hair (62 samples) and teeth (38 samples) preparation for the XRF
analysis was worked out. The samples were collected from the inhabitants of Katowice, Gliwice, Pyskowice
and Tychy (Silesia, Poland). In hair samples S, Ca, Na, Mg, P, K, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Pb content was
determined and in teeth samples Ca, P, Na, Mg, Al, S, K, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Pb content was determined.
Conformity between the XRF and ICP results was obtained. Several correlations between the concentration
of some elements and personal features (sex, age, smoking related) and environmental contamination
were indicated. There were differences in the content of Al, Pb and Fe in women’s teeth and men’s teeth. A
positive correlation between age and Mg, Fe, Cu, Sr and Pb content in teeth samples was noticed. Zn, S and
Pb content depended on the level of pollution in the environment the samples came from. There were high
levels of Zn and Pb concentration in teeth samples from smokers.
In hair, positive correlations between the content of Ca, Fe and P and age were observed. Differences
in Na, K and S content between women’s and men’s hair were noticed. Ca and Pb levels were different in
samples obtained from different cities in Silesia. No correlation for Ba, Zn, Cu, Mn, Si was observed.