Determination of Cu, Zn and Pb in scalp hair from a selected population in Penang using the XRF method

The state of Penang encompasses an industrial region with a potential for the existence of a variety of industrial pollutants. Such pollutants would certainly have a possible impact effect on the environment and the people. The determination of trace elements levels in hair which is well known as a method for environmental exposure monitoring, evaluation of heavy metal poisoning, assessment of nutrient levels and disease diagnoses, is chosen here as the method to determine the possible exposure to possible pollutants in the form of unwanted trace elements. The natural levels of trace elements in hair are hence monitored first as reference values for the assessment of the possible human contamination levels. In this work the concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb in human scalp hair of 50 residents of Penang were determined using XRF. The results of this study were compared with the results obtained in other cities where such measurements have also been carried out.