Scalp hair as a screening tool for detecting trace elements concentration

Abstract

Abstract Health issues associated with critical trace elements that arise from insufficient (i.e. poor intake) and over-exposure. Measuring sensitivity is also a major problem for geneticists. Among noninvasive assays designed to quantify long-standing exposure to critical trace elements, scalp hair could be the most theoretically biological network. This analysis collects recent information relating to the safety of the scalp as a critical predictor of sensitivity to trace minerals such as cobalt, copper, boron, manganese, iron, selenium, molybdenum, silicon, zinc and vanadium. Particular consideration has been given to the exposure period through which the hair of the scalp is represented, and to the human variation of exposure rates over time in this matrix and the association between scalp hair and other essential markers, human characteristics and environmental influences. Where conventional and contemporary methods of washing and digesting scalp samples have been tested to train models for the measuring of trace metals in the scalp hair. The emergence of different approaches and new analytical procedures has made the usage of other less intrusive or noninvasive matrixes, for example hair. The existence of a chemical in these matrices indicates toxicity; however, associations between blood and the levels of non-invasive media must be established in order to insure that these quantities are associated to the total body load. The development of unique biomarkers which can be tested in this matrix would enhance non-invasive bio monitoring. Common spectral techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry "ICP-MS", plasma spectroscopy laser ablation "LA-ICP-MS", atomic absorption spectroscopy, etc. They have very good analytical performance, but the samples in them are subject to significant damage or are destroyed in addition to being environmentally hazardous because they require the use of hazardous chemicals and take a relatively long time. Compared to the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy "LIBS" process we find that this process has several advantages, such as the flexibility and smallness of the device and the convenience of sample preparation, as well as the ability to analyze samples from a distance, particularly in hazardous and inaccessible places.