Determination of 33 elements in scalp hair samples from inhabitants of a mountain village of Tonglu city, China

• Our study present new data regarding 33 elements in Chinese hair samples.
• Gender and age-related changes in the contents of elements were observed.
• Both trace and major elements were included.

Hair samples from 190 relatively healthy 20- to 98-year-old volunteers from a mountain village of Tonglu city (Zhejiang province, China) were analyzed to determine the contents of 33 chemical elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn, and Zr) with the aim of assessing preliminary reference values. Mean values, median values, ranges and selected percentiles of all element concentrations in scalp hair are presented. By comparing data from different countries, it was determined that the mean concentrations of the majority of elements in our study clearly differed from the mean levels reported in the literature. The effects of gender and age on element concentrations were also investigated. Significant differences that were correlated with age and gender were determined for certain elements. For example, Fe exhibited a mean value of 11.26 mg/kg for males and 4.37 mg/kg for females. An age-dependent pattern for Fe was also apparent when the two age subgroups of 20–59 and 60–98 years were compared.