title: Hair copper concentration in healthy children, teenagers, and adults living in Szczecin, Poland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the hair copper concentration in a population of healthy children, teenagers, and adults living in a specific region of Poland. For this purpose, 840 healthy individuals aged 1-50 yr living in Szczecin, Poland were selected for the study. They were divided into subgroups according to age and sex and the hair was analyzed for copper using a standard atomic absorption spectrometric technique. The level of copper was highest for the group including 11-15 yr old. In the other subgroups, the concentration of copper was lower than the values considered normal, suggesting the possibility of endemic copper deficiency in the inhabitants of this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Pomeranian Academy of Medicine, ul Podgórna 22/23, 70-205 Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozielec
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pózniak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salacka
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hornowska
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kotkowiak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D003300:Copper