Copper and zinc concentrations in human hair and popular foodstuffs in China

Concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were determined in 383 human hair samples and in 445 food samples purchased in 11 Chinese cities. The concentrations of Cu were 7.91, 5.39, 2.27 and 2.20 mg kg−1 and those of Zn were 47.2, 24.8, 52.8 and 30.2 mg kg−1 in vegetables, cereals, meat and fish, respectively. The overall mean concentrations of hair Cu and Zn were 8.97 and 128 mg kg−1, respectively. Hair Cu and Zn concentrations were higher in...