Elemental composition of human hair in different territories of the Crimean peninsula

The chemical homeostasis of humans has changed due to global and local anthropogenic impacts on biogeochemical cycles. Their degree is mediated by natural geochemical character of local environments. The elemental composition of human hair and quantitative relation between elements is summary characteristic of biogeochemical environmental conditions. To determine the biogeochemical situation 78 inhabitants from different geographic regions across the Crimean peninsula, cities and rural areas were investigated through the analysis of 28 elements by neutron activation analysis and determination of mercury by atomic absorption spectroscopy. High variety of elemental composition in inhabitants' hair on different types of territories in the Crimean peninsula was revealed. Comparison with different territories of Russian Federation and Belarus shows both common and specific features. On most part of Russian and the Crimean territories a deficiency of essential elements (Zn, Cu) in human hair is characteristic. At the same time there are significant differences in content of some essential elements (Ca, Fe) and other ones (Th, Ce, Au, U, Ag, Cs) even in the limited Crimean territory. It requires further investigation of factors, which determine the revealed variability.