RE: Uranium in hair

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Jim --

Heavy metals (eg Hg) are typically excreted in the hair.  There have been a
number of papers and symposia devoted to trace metals in hair analysis.
Following an acute intake, the concentration in the hair goes up and then
drops off.  It is possible using appropriate analytical methods to determine
the variation in concentration of a heavy metal along the length of a hair.
This can provide an indication of when an exposure occurred if the ratge of
hair growth is known or can be reasonably estimated.  There are many
interferences and contaminants, notably Se which is present in many dandruff
shampoos.  U, which is ubiquitous in our environment is another possible
contaminant.  U in human tissues normally runs from a few tenth of a ng/g to
several ng/g. 

Ron Kathren, Director
US Transuranium and Uranium Registries


 The amount of m At 11:40 AM 4/14/98 -0500, James G. Barnes wrote:
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>Good morning,
>
>We had a spate of "uranium in hair" events here, also.
>
>The other postings summarize what we were able to determine about the =
>issue.  However, one of the toxicologists mentioned that they frequently =
>use hair analysis in order to determine any "historical" exposure to =
>heavy metals.
>
>To expand the discussion a bit, does anyone know how reliable this =
>testing is?
>
>Jim Barnes, CHP
>Radiation Safety Officer
>Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power / Boeing
>mail15077@pop.net
>