A comparison of trace-elemental composition of natural color and gray hair

Abstract

In order to get some information on the possible causes of graying of hair, we have used the technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for comparing the trace element contents of natural color and gray hair from a number of subjects. The technique of XRF was preferred to other analytical methods for this kind of comparative studies since it appeared to be simple, convenient, quick, and contamination free.

Natural color and gray hair from each subject were obtained from the same scalp region. The hair samples were washed in the recommended fashion. The natural color and gray hair from different subjects were mounted separately on hollow plastic cylindrical sample holders, assuring that the hair were parallel to, and not on top of one another. The samples were analyzed in a commercial wave length dispersive XRF system, with different X-ray tubes being used for obtaining maximum sensitivity for different elements. The scattered X-ray peak from each sample was also monitored and gave a measure of the sample volume being investigated. So far, hair samples from 10 subjects have been analyzed. Their results are presented in the paper, and advantages of XRF, for trace element analysis on hair are discussed.