Influence of Gender and Smoking Habit on the Minor Elements Levels of Washed Scalp Hair from Karbala, Iraq

In recent years elemental analysis of human biological samples has become more advanced in terms of human health. This study has investigated the chemical analysis of Iraqi human hair samples in relation to differing forms of smoking (active and non-smokers) collected from Karbala, Iraq. Hair samples were obtained from 236 individuals (32 females, 204 males) aged between 3 to 70 years. Methods were developed and validated for the analysis of minor elements (namely Na, Ca, Mg and Fe) in human scalp hair samples. Different washing procedures and digestion methods were studied. The effect of gender and smoking habit on elemental levels was examined and the results compared with published values in the literature. Significant correlations were found between the gender and the levels of these elements in scalp hair samples at a probability level P of 0.05. In addition, significant differences were found between the Ca levels in smokers and non smokers at P of 0.05.