Differences in metal and metalloid content in the hair of normo- and hypertensive postmenopausal women.

This study was performed on scalp hair samples from postmenopausal women (n=26; 12 normotensives and 14 hypertensives) to determine the relationship between blood pressure and metal and metalloids in hair samples. Hair concentrations of Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr and V were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, whereas Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na and Zn concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Methods were optimized and then validated using certified reference material GBW 09101 human hair.