The content of selected chemical elements in the hair of young men of the Bantu language group from Tanzania versus environmental and social conditioning.
Research works that would determine the content of chemical elements in black population organisms on the basis of hair analysis are not numerous. There are no studies referring to black populations living in indigenous environment, like the Mafinga region, Iringa District in Tanzania examined by us. The aim of the study performed was to analyse the content of chemical elements Fe, Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu in easily available biological media like hair. The material was collected in October 2005 and March 2006 during anthropological examination, which came from young males (n = 91), students of a secondary school. Large Ca concentration range was found for the total number of subjects (680.20 to 2,089.70 µg/g d.m.). Mean Fe content in hair for the total number of subjects was 11.19 ± 3.70 µg/g d.m., while that of Mg 6.84 ± 2.02 µg/g d.m. Mean Zn concentration for the total number of subjects was 91.06 ± 39.22 µg/g d.m., being significantly higher in younger group than in older one (p = 0.039). Mean Cu concentration in hair for the total number of subjects was 7.50 ± 2.90 µg/g d.m Body mass index (BMI = kg/m²) was calculated for the subjects showing that out of 91 men participating in the study 15.4% was characterised by mediocre nutrition. No statistically significant correlations were found between BMI and the analysed chemical elements. The analysis of the content of trace elements in the hair of the examined young males showed deficiencies in Zn, Cu, Fe and significantly in Mg.