Hair copper concentration in healthy children, teenagers, and adults living in Szczecin, Poland.
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.
Kozielec
Tadeusz
T
Department of Family Medicine, Pomeranian Academy of Medicine, ul Podgórna 22/23, 70-205 Szczecin, Poland.
Pózniak
Jolanta
J
Salacka
Anna
A
Hornowska
Iwona
I
Kotkowiak
Lilia
L
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
D003300:Copper