Hair Analysis: Applications in the Biomedical and Environmental Sciences

This book reviews the theory and practice of using hair as a biopsy tissue for trace elements and discusses the pros and cons of this methodology. The authors examine in detail past and present use of hair trace-element levels as indicators of nutritional status, disease, heavy-metal poisoning and environmental exposure. This book also describes methods for collecting and preparing hair samples for determining their trace-element content. The authors also discuss the various theories explaining the biological incorporation of trace elements into hair and the external factors that may affect trace-element absorption.