Trace-element concentrations in human hair measured by proton-induced x-ray emission

Proton-induced x-ray spectroscopy has been used to measure trace elements concentration ratios for 10 elements relative to Zn on a group of the population in the harbor city of Rijeka, Yugoslavia. The average biologic levels of elemental ratios for the inhabitants of this region have been established. The presence of pollutants has been confirmed by studying the variation of elemental concentration ratios along single samples of hair.