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D. K. Combs, R. D. Goodrich and J. C. Meiske
a Review
Mineral Concentrations in Hair as Indicators of Mineral Status:
1982, 54:391-398.J ANIM SCI
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MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS IN HAIR AS INDICATORS OF
MINERAL STATUS: A REVIEW
D. K. Combs, R. D. Goodrich and J. C. Meiske
University of Minnesota, St. Paul 551081'2
Summary
Mineral content of hair is affected by sea-
son, breed, hair color within and between
breeds, sire, age and body location. Seasonal
effects may be due to stage of growth of hair
and to changes caused by perspiration, surface
contamination and diet. Breed and sire effects
on mineral content of hair complicate predic-
tion of nutritional status based on hair analy-
ses because, in many commercial cattle, neither
breed nor sire is known. Hair from young
animals may be lower in Zn, Mn and Fe, but is
higher in Na, Ca, Cu and K than that from
older animals. Pigmented hair apparently is
higher in Ca, Mg, K and Na than white hair,
but trace mineral concentrations are similar in
hair of different colors. The effect of body
location on mineral content of hair may be due
to differences in surface contamination, differ-
ences in hair growth cycles and differences in
texture of the hair. Concentrations of Ca, P and
Cu in hair are not affected by dietary intake of
these minerals. Zn and Se contents of hair may
reflect dietary intake. Information on other
required minerals is lacking. Pb, As and, pos-
sibly, Cd levels in hair may be related to dietary
or environmental exposure. Because of the
many factors that cause variation in mineral
content of hair, hair analyses are not likely to
be precise indicators of the mineral status of
animals. Hair analyses may help to detect
severe deficiencies of some required minerals or
exposure to some heavy metals. However, if
hair analyses are to be conducted, care must be
taken to compare values from test animals with
those from animals of similar breed, sex, sea-
son, sire and color. In addition, new hair
growth should be analyzed, environmental con-
1 Dept. of Anim. Sci.
2Paper No. 11595 of the Scientific Journal Ser. of
the Minnesota Agr. Exp. Sta.
tamination should be minimized and the hair
samples should be cleaned before analyses.
(Key Words: Hair, Mineral Concentrations,
Mineral Status, Trace Minerals.)
Introduction
It
has been proposed that body stores of
minerals may be estimated from hair analyses,
because growing hair is metabolically active and
is a sequestering tissue. Thus, hair may reflect
concentrations of minerals that were in the hair
follicle at the time the hair was formed. Analy-
ses of hair for mineral content may also reflect
surface contamination by minerals in urine,
feces, sweat, feed and airborne matter. Because
of an interest by researchers and commercial
nutritionists in using hair as an indicator of
mineral status, we prepared this literature
review in an attempt to determine which fac-
tors influence hair analyses and, hence, to iden-
tify instances when mineral analyses of hair
may be useful in predicting mineral status.
Review
Hair Growth
The hair shaft is a keratinized filament that
develops from matrix cells of a hair follicle in
the epidermal epithelium. Each follicle is a
miniature organ that includes smooth muscle
and glandular components. The glands asso-
ciated with hair follicles are either sebaceous
or apocrine. Wysocki and Klett (1971) and
Hopps (1977) proposed that sweat secreted by
the sebaceous glands may be an important
source of minerals in hair and that fatty secre-
tions of apocrine glands may provide physical
or chemical means by which exogenous mineral
may bind to hair.
Hair is formed at a rate of .2 to 5 mm/d in
humans (Hopps, 1977) and, during its forma-
tion, is exposed to circulating blood, lymph and
extracellular fluid. As the hair shaft approaches
391
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, Vol. 54, No. 2, 1982
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392 COMBS ET AL.
the skin surface, it is removed from sites of
metabolic activity and undergoes keratiniza-
tion. Keratins contain disulfide bonds that may
be major binding sites of minerals in hair (Hin-
ners et al., 1974; Hopps, 1977).
Hair growth in most animals is cyclic, with a
period of active growth followed by a resting
phase. In cattle, hair growth cycles are regu-
lated by length of day (Hopps, 1977) and a
follicle normally produces two or three hairs/
year with a resting phase between each growth.
When the winter coat is being maintained, most
follicles are in a resting state. In Germany,
Anke (1965) found that the most suitable per-
iods for sampling hair were from December to
mid-February and from July to August. Mid-
February to mid-May and September to
November were not suitable periods because
hair was in the process of being shed and new
growth was being produced during these
periods.
Growth of hair occurs in four stages. The
anagen phase is the period when hair is actively
growing. The follicle matrix is fully differen-
tiated and is exposed to circulating blood,
lymph and extraeellular fluid. As the anagen
phase ends, the catagen phase begins. Cells of
the follicle matrix rapidly degenerate, causing
the follicle to shrink. This leaves only a small
group of undifferentiated cells, which form a
new follicle when the next growth phase begins.
The telogen phase is the resting stage of the
growth cycle. The hair shaft may be easily dis-
lodged during the telogen phase and often will
fall out.
Near the end of the telogen phase, an inter-
mediate phase begins and a new follicle forms
from the remainder of the follicle of the pre-
vious hair cycle. After this formation, a new
hair forms and the anagen phase starts again.
The new hair shaft normally will push out old
hair remaining from the previous cycle, but
occasionally two hairs (one from the previous
cycle and one from the current cycle)will pro-
trude from a single canal.
Growth of hair may be altered slighdy to
induce more hair growth. Plucking of hairs is
one of the most effective ways to increase hair
growth (Hopps, 1977). Cutting hairs, without
damaging the follicle, has little effect on growth
of hair. To stimulate hair growth, the follicle
must be damaged (Hopps, 1977). This causes an
increase in amount of hair growth because the
resting cycle is shortened. The actual rate of
hair synthesis is not altered. Several chemicals,
including barium sulfate, increase hair growth.
The binding of metals in hair is believed to
involve S (Hinners et al., 1974; Hopps, 1977).
Hair is composed principally of protein and, in
humans, between 11 and 18% of hair protein is
cysteine and cystine (Hinners et al., 1974).
Methionine-S is also present in small amounts.
Controversy exists over the stability of metal-S
bonds. Some investigators consider these bonds
highly stable and resistant to breakdown and
subsequent loss of the metal (Kopito et al.,
1967; Weiss et al., 1972). Others (Senning,
1972; Hinners et al., 1974) note that the metal-
S bonds are not particularly stable and may be
broken by dilute acids.
Carboxyl groups have also been proposed
(Hinners et al., 1974) as possible metal binding
sites in hair. It has been reported (Bate, 1966;
Hambidge et al., 1972) that hair will absorb
more metals at pH 6 than at pH 4. Unbound
carboxyl groups of proteins would be pro-
tonated to a high degree at a low pH and would
present fewer anions for binding with metal
cations.
Factors Affecting
Mineral Content of Hair
Hair has many properties that make it a
likely biopsy tissue. It may be collected easily
with little trauma and it can be stored until
analysis is convenient because it does not
deteriorate readily. Trace elements are accumu-
lated in hair at concentrations that are at least
10 times higher than those present in blood
serum and urine (Maugh, 1978). Hair acts as a
recording filament because elements are de-
posited in the hair matrix within a short time
and are removed from active metabolism as the
hair shaft grows from the follicle. The major
disadvantage of using hair as a biopsy material
is that many factors other than diet are known
to affect mineral content of hair. Factors that
have significant effects on mineral concentra-
tions in hair include season, breed, age, hair
color and body location.
Season. O'Mary et al. (1969) collected hair
from Hereford cattle in March and August and
found higher concentrations of Na, Ca, Cu, Mg,
Mn and K in the August samples. They reported
that Zn and P contents did not change between
seasons and that Fe concentration was lowest in
the samples obtained in August. Wysocki and
Klett (1971) found higher concentrations of Ca
and P in pony hair in the summer than in win-
ter. They speculated that this may have been
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HAIR AS AN INDICATOR OF MINERAL STATUS 393
due in part to increased perspiration during
summer months. Strain et al. (1966) also re-
ported that Zn content was higher in samples of
human hair collected during the summer than
in samples collected at any other time of the
year. Miller et al. (1965) reported a seasonal
pattern for Zn accumulations in hair of Hol-
stein cattle. Hair collected in November was
lower in Zn than hair collected at any other
time of year. Seasonal effects on mineral con-
tent of hair may also reflect dietary changes
unless care is taken to ensure a uniform feed
supply.
Breed. Few trials have been conducted com-
paring mineral content of hair from different
breeds of cattle. O'Mary et al. (1970) compared
white hair from Holstein and Hereford cattle
and found Holstein white hair to have more
Na, Ca and K than that from Hereford cattle.
Holstein black hair contained more Na, P, K,
Mg and Ca than red hair from Herefords.
Combs et al. (1979) also showed that hair of
Angus calves produced by different sires dif-
fered significantly in K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn
content.
Age. Hambidge et al. (1972) reported that
Zn concentrations in human hair decline
sharply after birth, remain low for 2 or 3 yr
and then increase toward original values. Miller
et al. (1965) reported that Zn content of cattle
hair may be affected in a similar manner. They
found that Zn content of hair increased sub-
stantially as calves increased in age from 8 to 15
wk. Zn content of hair from 5-mo-old heifer
calves was also higher than that of mature cows;
however, diets of the two groups were differ-
ent. O'Mary et al. (1969) evaluated the effect
of age on mineral composition of hair from
Hereford cattle and reported that hair from
calves had higher concentrations of Na, Ca, Cu
and K, but lower concentrations of Mn and Fe
than hair from mature cows. O'Mary and co-
workers did not find significant differences in
Zn, P or Mg content of hair from cattle of
various ages. As is also true for effects of sea-
son on hair analyses, changes in mineral content
of hair may reflect change in age and diet.
Color. Davis (1958) observed that Cu defi-
ciency in cattle caused depigmentation of hair
and Stirn et al. (1935) found that Zn deficiency
caused depigmentation of black hair in rats.
These findings, along with the observation that
ash content of white hair is lower than that of
pigmented hair (Anke, 1965; O'Mary et al.,
1970; Hall et al., 1971), have led to the as-
sumption that mineral content of cattle hair
varies because of color. Mineral contents that
appear to be influenced most by color are Ca,
Mg, K and Na, all of which are higher in pig-
mented hair (Anke, 1965; O'Mary et al., 1970;
Hall et al., 1971). Data to date indicate that
trace dements are not greatly influenced by
hair color. Anke (1965) and Hall et al. (1971)
reported that Zn content of pigmented and
white hair from Holstein and Hereford cattle
did not differ significantly. However, Miller et
al. (1965) found a significant difference in Zn
content (124.1 vs 112.2 ppm) of black and
white hair from Holstein cattle.
Cu concentrations in hair apparently are not
affected by hair color. Cu contents of red and
white hair from Herefords (O'Mary et al., 1970;
Hall et al., 1971) and black and white hair from
Holsteins (Anke, 1965) were similar.
Body Location. Body location also influ-
ences mineral content of hair. Anke (1965)
found that black hair from the forehead of cat-
de contained higher concentrations of Fe, Zn,
Mn and Cu than black body hair. Miller et al.
(1965) reported that Zn concentrations in hair
from various parts of the body were similar,
except that hair from legs contained less Zn.
Miller et al. (I965) emphasized that body loca-
tion may not influence mineral content of hair
as much as the fact that hair on different parts
of the body may be in different cycles of
growth at the time of sampling.
Miller et al. (1965) found higher concentra-
tions of Zn in white tail switch hair than in
black or white body hair. Miller et al. (1965)
cited literature indicating that Zn contributes
to stiffness of hair in rats and humans. Tail
switch hairs of cattle are stiff and coarse in
comparison to body hair.
Hair as an
Indicator of Mineral Status
The effect of diet on mineral concentrations
in hair is of considerable interest. Several
laboratories conduct hair analyses and make
dietary recommendations for livestock based on
these analyses. Utilization of hair as a biopsy
material for this purpose is controversial. Re-
search to date indicates that concentrations of
certain trace elements in hair may be related to
dietary intake.
Ca and P. Ca and P are important elements
that are frequently deficient in livestock diets.
The use of hair analyses to monitor intake of
these elements has generally been unsuccessful.
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394 COMBS ET AL.
Cohen (1973a) found no correlation between P
concentrations in pasture and concentrations of
P in hair from grazing steers. Later, Cohen
(1973b) found that drenching growing steers
with P did not change hair P or Ca concentra-
tions. Wysocki and Klett (1971) reported low
correlations between intakes of Ca and P by
ponies and Ca and P contents of their hair.
Anke (1966) reported that dietary supplemen-
tation with Ca and P significantly increased
concentrations of Ca and P in pigmented hair of
dairy cattle. He also reported that dietary Ca
had an antagonistic effect on P content of hair.
Because the major site of mineral deposition in
hair is thought to be the follicle, it appears that
changes in Ca content of the diet should not be
discernible by hair analysis. Ca concentration in
blood is homeostatically controlled and concen-
tration of this element in blood is elevated or
depressed for only short periods of time by
changes in diet.
Mg. Mg deficiency in ruminants is asso~
ciated with grass tetany. Cattle suffering from
grass tetany are commonly observed to have
blood serum Mg levels below 1.0 mg/lO0 ml,
compared with a normal level of 2.1 mg/lO0
ml. Because blood Mg levels are low, hair may
have low Mg levels following a Mg deficiency.
Anke (1966) reported that Mg levels were
higher in hair from cattle when the diet was
supplemented with Mg. Hall et al. (1971) com-
pared Mg content in hair from cows that had
grass tetany in previous years with that in hair
from cows that had no history of grass tetany.
Samples were taken five times during the year
and no significant differences were found be-
tween the two groups. No cows in either group
suffered from grass tetany during the trial, and,
to date, little information is available to indi-
cate how hair responds to a Mg deficiency.
Cu. Cu deficiency in ruminants is often
associated with depigmentation and impaired
keratinization of hair. Cu content of hair from
mammals has been studied as a potential index
of Cu status. O'Mary et al. (1970) reported
that level of dietary Cu affected concentration
of Cu in hair of Holstein and Hereford cattle.
White hair from both breeds was affected more
than pigmented hair, and Cu content of black
Holstein hair was not consistent with increasing
levels of dietary Cu. Anke (1966) reported that
pigmented hair of dairy cattle was not in-
fluenced by dietary supplementation with Cu.
Van Koestveld (1958) observed that hair Cu
concentrations below 8 ppm were associated
with Cu deficiency, but Cunningham and
Hogan (1958) found little relationship between
Cu content of hair and that in the diet or liver.
Anke (1966) concluded that Cu status was best
indicated by Cu levels in the liver. Also, Cu
content of hair may be affected by dietary S
and Mo concentrations. This interrelationship
may complicate the use of hair analyses to indi-
cate Cu intake.
Zn. Zn contents of feeds may vary con-
siderably due to production factors, but, in
general, concentrations are higher in protein-
rich feeds than in cereal grains. Cattle fed diets
composed largely of cereal grains and supple-
mented with urea may be marginally deficient
in Zn (Miller, 1970). The reduced use of gal-
vanized water pipes and pens has also decreased
the amount of Zn in the environment of cattle.
Many trace mineralized salt mixtures contribute
insignificant amounts of Zn in relation to the
animals' requirements (Miller, 1970). Severe Zn
deficiencies in cattle have been reported to Fin-
land, Guyana and other areas. Borderline Zn
deficiencies are difficult to diagnose (Miller,
1970).
Several researchers have attempted to deter-
mine the relationship between hair and tissue
levels of Zn and nutritional status. Strain et al.
(1966) found that levels of Zn in hair from men
with severe Zn deficiencies were significantly
lower than those in hair from normal men (54.1
vs 103.1 ppm). Zn content of hair also in-
creased (54.1 vs 121.1 ppm) when the deficient
men were treated with oral ZnSO4. Hambidge
et al. (1972) found that preschool children
suffering from Zn deficiency, diagnosed by
lower growth percentiles, had lower hair and
blood serum Zn levels. Controlled experiments
conducted with animals indicate that hair Zn
may reflect dietary Zn intake, but it does not
adequately assess the status of Zn nutrition as
measured by growth and feed consumption.
Reinhold et al. (1968) and Deeming and Weber
(1977) reported that rats fed diets severely
deficient in Zn (2 or 3 ppm) had substantially
lower concentrations of Zn in hair than rats fed
Zn-adequate diets (12 to 20 ppm). Deeming
and Weber (1977) reported that Zn additions to
an adequate diet resulted in increased amounts
of Zn in hair from rats. Reinhold et al. (1968)
and Deeming and Weber (1977) concluded that
Zn levels in hair are related to dietary Zn levels
but do not necessarily reflect the severity of Zn
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HAIR AS AN INDICATOR OF MINERAL STATUS 395
deficiency, as manifested by impaired growth
rates.
In resear~:h with ruminants, Miller et al.
(1966) and Miller (1970) reported that Zn con-
centrations in hair reflected dietary Zn levels of
cattle and goats more consistently than concen-
trations in any other tissue. Miller et al. (1966)
noted, however, that because of variation
among animals, Zn deficiency could not be ade-
quately diagnosed by hair analyses. Similar
results were reported by Beeson et al. (1977)
who conducted a series of trials in which basal
diets that contained approximately 20 ppm Zn
were supplemented with 0 to 620 ppm of Zn.
Zn content of hair of beef cattle increased sig-
nificantly in only a few trials and was generally
an inconsistent indicator of increased dietary
Zn.
Se. Se deficiencies in domestic livestock have
been reported in many areas of the world
(Gardiner, 1966). Hidiroglou et al. (1968) re-
ported that cows with hair Se concentrations
between .06 and .23 ppm produced calves with
white muscle disease, while no white muscle
disease was found in calves from cows with hair
Se greater than .25 ppm. In a study with feed-
lot cattle, Perry et al. (1976) found that con-
centrations of Se increased from .3 ppm in hair
from cattle fed no supplemental Se to .49,
.58 and .60 ppm in hair from steers fed diets
supplemented with .1, .2 and .4 ppm Se. Olson
(1969) reported that continuous intake of 5
ppm Se by cattle may result in selenosis and
that concentrations of 5 to 10 ppm Se in the
hair of cattle may indicate Se toxicity.
Hair as an
Indicator of Hea~y Metal Status
Hair analyses have been proposed as a meth-
od of assessing exposure of humans and ani-
mals to Cd, Pb and As. Hammer ct al. (1972),
Petering et al. (1973), Klevay (1973), Orheim
et al. (1974) and Dorn et al. (1974) reported
significant correlations between Cd, Pb and As
contents of human and animal hair and ex-
posure of humans and animals to these ele-
ments. Hammer et al. (1972), Klevay (1973)
and Petering et al. (1973) emphasized, how-
ever, that the extent to which hair predicts
environmental exposure to heavy metals de-
pends on factors such as age, sex, length of hair
and chemical treatment of hair. These factors
influence heavy metal concentrations of hair to
such an extent that only individuals or groups
that are similar in age, sex and place of resi-
dence may be compared.
It is well documented that Pb and As con-
tents of hair are useful as indicators of dietary
Pb and As intake and as a diagnostic aid in Pb
and As toxicity (Kopito et al., 1967; Under-
wood, 1977). Cd content of hair appears to be
poorly related to dietary intake of Cd.
Cd. Cd is widely distributed because of its
use in industry and as a contaminant in phos-
phate fertilizers and sewage sludges (Friberg
et al., 1971). It is toxic to nearly every system
in the body and is considered a serious health
hazard to humans and animals. Cd interacts
with divalent cations, most notably Zn, Se, Cu
and Fe (Neathery and Miller, 1976a), and it
appears that this is a major cause of Cd toxi-
city. Symptoms of Cd toxicity include anemia,
retarded testicular development or degenera-
tion, enlarged joints, scaly skin, liver and kid-
ney damage, reduced growth and increased
mortality (Neathery and Miller, 1976a).
The deposition of Cd in hair may occur via
dietary, pulmonary or surface routes. Under-
wood (1977) reported that pulmonary absorp-
tion is a relatively unimportant route of Cd in-
take in animals and nonsmoking humans. Fri-
berg et al. (1971) indicated that the intake of
Cd in nonsmoking humans is less than 5 ug/d
from pulmonary routes. Underwood (1977)
reported that the average dietary intake of Cd
by humans is between 26 and 96 ug/d.
Several researchers have proposed that hair
may be a useful tissue with which to monitor
environmental exposure of humans and cattle
to Cd. Hammer et al. (1972) and Petering et al.
(1973) reported that significant correlations
existed between Cd content of human hair and
exposure to Cd. Dorn et al. (1974) examined
Cd content of hair from cattle grazing on a
farm located within 800 m of a Pb smelter and
compared them with Cd content in hair from
cattle grazing on a farm that was free of indus-
trial Cd exposure. The authors found signifi-
cantly higher Cd levels in hair of cattle on the
farm located near the smelter than in hair of
cattle on the control farm. Cd content of hair
was affected by season. Hair collected from
cattle near the smelter had the highest levels of
Cd in the spring, while hair collected from
control cattle had the highest Cd concentra-
tions in the winter. In both groups of cattle,
hair collected during the summer had the low-
est levels of Cd. The higher Cd in hair of cattle
located near the lead smelter may have been
due in part to exogenous airborne contamina-
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396 COMBS ET AL.
tion. Nishiyama and Nordberg (1972) found
that they could not differentiate exogenous
from endogenous Cd once the exogenous Cd
had been adsorbed onto hair. They reported
that various treatments could remove Cd from
hair, but found no treatment that would
separate exogenously from endogenously de-
posited Cd.
Hair has generally been found to be a less
accurate indicator of dietary Cd intake than of
exogenous Cd. Several experiments showed that
kidney, liver and small intestine are good indi-
cators of dietary Cd intake in ruminants (Miller
et al., 1968, 1969; Neathery et al., 1974; Doyle
et al., 1974). Miller et al. (1969) reported that
only .0165% of a single oral dose of radioactive
Cd was deposited in hair. Doyle et al. (1974)
reported that Cd levels in kidney and livers
from lambs increased as levels of dietary Cd
increased from 0 to 60 ppm. Cd concentrations
in wool from lambs fed various amounts of
dietary Cd were similar. Cd levels in wool from
lambs were similar to Cd levels found in human
hair (Friberg et al., 1971) and were slightly
higher than concentrations in hair from calves
fed normal diets (Powell et al., 1964).
Pb.
Pb toxicity is one of the most frequently
reported causes of acute poisoning in farm ani-
mals, especially cattle (Neathery and Miller,
1976b). Major sources of Pb are Pb-based
paints, waste motor oils and Pb-arsenate pesti-
cides. It is also possible for domestic livestock
to become chronically poisoned from environ-
mental Pb exposure. Cattle grazing on land
treated with sewage sludge or located near Pb
mines or smelters may inhale significant
amounts of airborne Pb or ingest high levels of
Pb deposited on grasses (Neathery and Miller,
1976b).
Human and animal data indicate that en-
vironmental Pb exposure is positively correla-
ted with concentrations of Pb in hair. Hammer
et al. (1971, 1972), Petering et al. (1973) and
Klevay (1973) reported that humans have hair
Pb levels that corresponded to environmental
Pb exposure. Dorn et al. (1974) reported that
cows grazing within 800 m of a Pb smelter had
higher concentrations of Pb in their hair than
cows grazing on a farm that was free of Pb ex-
posure. It appears that the major source of Pb
in the hair of cows grazing near the smelter
was exogenous contamination. Blood Pb levels
were low and not correlated with hair Pb levels
of cattle grazing near the Pb smelter. Riissel
and Schoberl (1970), however, found a signifi-
cant correlation between hair and liver concen-
trations of Pb in cattle with chronic Pb poison-
ing. Suzuki et al. (1958) reported a positive
correlation between Pb in hair and Pb in blood
and urine of workers with acute Pb poisoning.
Jaworowski et al. (1966) also reported that
radioactive Pb injected subcutaneously was
taken up by hair of rabbits.
As.
Exposure of livestock and humans to As
can occur via arsenical sprays that are used for
insect control and by the burning of coal that
releases large amounts of As into the air.
Arsenic is also widely distributed naturally in
the environment. It is found in soils at levels
between 1 and 40 ppm and certain plants are
known to accumulate As (Porter and Peterson,
1975). Arsenic has also been used as a growth
stimulant for swine and poultry. It does not ap-
pear to accumulate in internal organs (Under-
wood, 1977) and the best tissue and fluid with
which to assess As status may be hair and urine,
respectively.
Arsenic is distributed throughout the body
in low, but variable, concentrations. Peoples
(1964) reported that cattle fed .05 to 1.25 mg
of As/kg body weight for 8 wk had no detect-
able quantities of the element in blood or bone.
Wagner and Weswig (1974) also reported that
blood As levels were not good indicators of As
exposure in humans. Hair and urine As contents
are currently used for assessing the exposure of
individuals to As. Browning (1961)' and Peoples
(1964) reported that urinary As levels increased
with increasing As intake and that total As
excretion is a good indicator of As exposure.
Hammer et al. (1971), Chattopadhyay and
Jervis (1974) and Orheim et al. (1974) reported
that As levels in hair from humans and cattle
are positively correlated with As exposure.
However, Hammer et al. (1971) noted that
levels of As in hair are affected by many fac-
tors, including sex, age and hair length of the
individual.
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as an indicator of Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn,
Cu, Mo and Co. 2. Relationship to cutting depth,
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tion state and pregnancy. Arch. Tierzucht. 15:
469.
Anke, M. 1966. Major and trace elements in cattle hair
as an indicator of Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn,
Cu, Mo and Co. 3. Effect of additional supple-
ments on mineral composition of cattle hair.
Arch. Tierzucht.16: 57.
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Beeson, W. M., T. W. Perry and T. D. Zurcher. 1977.
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Browning, E. 1961. Toxicology of Industrial Metals.
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Chattopadhyay, A. and R. E. Jervis. 1974. Hair as an
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