Analysis of macro and trace elements status in the population of Buryat children based on chemical composition of hair

Objective: Comparative study of the state of essential and toxic chemical elements exchange through multi-element analysis of hair in the bodies of Buryat children attending pre-primary schools in the Republic of Buryatia was performed. Materials and methods: The analysis of elemental composition of the hair of 50 Buryat children living in Ulan-Ude was carried out by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) in the accredited laboratory of the Center for Biotic Medicine ANO, Moscow. Results: Low Co concentrations were most common in children (80%, median (Me) (q25 - q75) = 0.010 mg/kg (0.007 - 0.014)), less spread were low Cu (Me (q25 - q75) = 7.10 mg/kg (6.28 - 7.93)) and low I (Me (q25 - q75) = < 0.2 mg/kg (< 0.2 - 0.55)) levels, which was observed in 70% to 84% of cases, respectively. Decreased Zn (Me (q25 - q75) = 70.0 mg/kg (38.1 - 110.6)), Mn (Me (q25 - q75) = 0.336 mg/kg (0.223 - 0.513)), and silicon (Me (q25 - q75) = 10.4 mg/kg (4.6 - 20.5)) levels were found in 28 - 48% of children. Elevated Na (Me (q25 - q75) = 793.1 mg/kg (349.6 - 1,756.0)) and К (Me (q25 - q75) = 1,902 mg/kg (534 - 3,247)) concentrations were found in 60% of preschoolers. Among toxic elements, Pb was found to exceed the maximum permissible concentrations, in 6.8% of the children. Conclusion: Buryat children seem to be at higher risk of being deficient in essential trace elements, as low hair trace elements concentrations are widespread. At the same time, it is unlikely that toxic elements would be accumulated in their hair. However, this needs to be confirmed in larger studies with a deeper investigation of the chemical elements' metabolism.