Element status of people living in the Middle East territory

Element status of 581 subjects (345 women and 86 men 25 - 50 years old; 64 girls and 86 boys 3 - 15 years old) living in the Middle East was estimated using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry . (24 chemical elements). The obtained data were compared to available data on the content of chemical elements in human hair reported in literature from other regions of the world. The results showed that Middle East inhabitants are characterized by relatively low levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic (all groups), silicon, chromium, manganese (adults), aluminum, nickel, cobalt (adult women); high levels of iron (all groups except adult women), sodium, potassium (all groups). and an extreme hair content of boron (all groups, up to 5.02 mu g/g median value). The above-mentioned features may occur due to geochemical characteristics of the territory, though contribution of other factors, such as local peculiarities of industry. agriculture. nutrition, and lifestyle. may also be significant.