Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper concentration in the hair of tobacco smokers.

In the research, the content of bioelements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Cu) in the hair of individuals who reside in similar environmental conditions was spectrometrically determined with the use of AES-ICP spectrophotometer. The relation to their tobacco-smoking habit, age, and sex was established. It was observed that the results obtained were in the range of the content identified for the Polish population. Tobacco smokers had a decreased content of all the bioelements in question, compared to non-smokers, which apparently resulted from a decreased supply (lesser appetite) and reduced absorption caused by disturbances in the digestive system functions. Also, it has been observed that in the group of elderly people, over 50 years old, there was a fall in the content of calcium, magnesium, and iron both in smokers and non-smokers, irrespective of their sex. The sex-related differences in the content of the investigated elements were not unidirectional and only in few cases did they reveal statistical significance.