Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Gulnara Batyrova; Gulaim Taskozhina; Gulmira Umarova; Marina Morenko; Bakhtiyar Iriskulov; Yeskendir Umarov; Angsagan Uzipova; Asel Arginbaeva

doi:10.18678/dtfd.1879183

Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Aim: To establish reference intervals for chemical elements in hair samples of children and adolescents living in the Western region of Kazakhstan.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Western region of Kazakhstan, including the Aktobe, Mangistau, West Kazakhstan, and Atyrau regions. A total of 2,279 healthy children and adolescents (1,099 boys and 1,180 girls) aged 5 to <18 years participated in the study. Thirteen chemical elements were analyzed in hair samples: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). Hair element concentrations were determined using an Agilent 8900 ICP-MS. Reference intervals were established according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recommendations.

Results: Reference intervals (95% reference intervals with 90% confidence intervals for the lower and upper limits) were established for all analyzed chemical elements in hair samples of healthy children and adolescents. Significant sex differences were observed, with boys having higher concentrations of Ca, Zn, Se, Co, Mn, Fe, Al, As, Cd, and Pb than girls.

Conclusion: The reference intervals established in this study provide regional reference values for chemical element concentrations in children and adolescents living in Western Kazakhstan. The determined values may be used as a preliminary screening tool in assessing the impact of environmental factors, as well as in implementing preventive measures, providing necessary information and complementing other types of diagnostic procedures.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Project Number

Grant No. AP19677517

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Local Bioethics Committee of West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University (Meeting No. 6.02, June 16, 2023).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Paediatrics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gulnara Batyrova
0000-0001-7970-4059
Kazakhstan

Gulaim Taskozhina ^*
0009-0005-4412-6064
Kazakhstan

Gulmira Umarova
0000-0001-7637-113X
Kazakhstan

Marina Morenko
0000-0001-9553-3560
Kazakhstan

Bakhtiyar Iriskulov
0009-0003-4404-4486
Uzbekistan

Yeskendir Umarov
0000-0002-5661-4023
Kazakhstan

Angsagan Uzipova
0009-0002-9943-146X
Kazakhstan

Asel Arginbaeva
0009-0009-2166-1629
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

August 21, 2026

Submission Date

February 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1879183

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA45UW98TE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Batyrova, G., Taskozhina, G., Umarova, G., Morenko, M., Iriskulov, B., Umarov, Y., Uzipova, A., & Arginbaeva, A. (2026). Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duzce Medical Journal, 28(2), 212-220. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1879183

AMA

1.Batyrova G, Taskozhina G, Umarova G, et al. Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duzce Med J. 2026;28(2):212-220. doi:10.18678/dtfd.1879183

Chicago

Batyrova, Gulnara, Gulaim Taskozhina, Gulmira Umarova, et al. 2026. “Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. Duzce Medical Journal 28 (2): 212-20. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1879183.

EndNote

Batyrova G, Taskozhina G, Umarova G, Morenko M, Iriskulov B, Umarov Y, Uzipova A, Arginbaeva A (August 1, 2026) Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duzce Medical Journal 28 2 212–220.

IEEE

[1]G. Batyrova et al., “Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Duzce Med J, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 212–220, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.18678/dtfd.1879183.

ISNAD

Batyrova, Gulnara - Taskozhina, Gulaim - Umarova, Gulmira - Morenko, Marina - Iriskulov, Bakhtiyar - Umarov, Yeskendir - Uzipova, Angsagan - Arginbaeva, Asel. “Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. Duzce Medical Journal 28/2 (August 1, 2026): 212-220. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1879183.

JAMA

1.Batyrova G, Taskozhina G, Umarova G, Morenko M, Iriskulov B, Umarov Y, Uzipova A, Arginbaeva A. Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duzce Med J. 2026;28:212–220.

MLA

Batyrova, Gulnara, et al. “Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. Duzce Medical Journal, vol. 28, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 212-20, doi:10.18678/dtfd.1879183.

Vancouver

1.Gulnara Batyrova, Gulaim Taskozhina, Gulmira Umarova, Marina Morenko, Bakhtiyar Iriskulov, Yeskendir Umarov, Angsagan Uzipova, Asel Arginbaeva. Reference Values of Chemical Elements in the Hair of Children and Adolescents in the Western Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duzce Med J. 2026 Aug. 1;28(2):212-20. doi:10.18678/dtfd.1879183