Developing reference material for validation of hair spectral analysis reliability

Abstract

Mineral analysis of human hair is increasingly proposed as a estimation method for the human contamination with environmental mineral pollutants and even as a diagnostic tool for related health problems. It offers a good way of investigating long-term variation in trace element concentration. Many minor and trace elements can be determined in hair samples with good precision and sensitivity by a variety of analytical techniques. An important requirement in such work is the application of suitable analytical quality control, for which the availability of a hair reference material is important. In paper the preparation of the human hair reference material and the initial stages which were taken to confirm its certification are described