人體需要必需元素以維持正常的生理功能與生命活動，缺乏將導致疾病，而攝取過量毒性元素可能引起中毒。臨床血液尿液檢查通常僅涵蓋少數電解質與礦物質，但毛髮檢查同時檢測多樣生物元素，反映身體的累積儲量。本研究的目的在篩檢一群城市住民的毛髮，瞭解14項必需元素與11項毒性元素的分布型態。研究結果顯示國人的髮汞升高，可能與經常攝食受汙染海產有關。必需元素的缺乏以鈷、錳、碘、鉻、鐵為主，顯示精緻食物，食鹽停止加碘，以及不均衡飲食如素食的影響。研究結果與較大型研究一致，但異常型態與莫斯科民眾迴異。由於處理外部汙染，運用精密儀器，以及標準化分析方法各方面的進步，非侵襲性髮中生物元素分析可以作為營養攝取、環境汙染、以及職業暴露的生物偵測指標，提供營養介入與公共衛生次級預防的參考。

Human body requires essential elements to maintain physiological functions and life activities, the deficiency of which can cause diseases. Excessive intake of toxic elements may lead to intoxication. Clinically only few electrolytes and minerals are tested in blood and urine, while hair samples allow simultaneous analysis of multiple bioelements, reflecting their long-term accumulation in the body. The aim of this studyconsists in screening hair bioelements in a cohort of urban residents, in order to provide nutritional intervention guidance. Our results show that Taiwanese have elevated mercury in hairs, probably associated with high intake of contaminated seafoods. The deficiency of essential elements is focused on cobalt, manganese, iodine, chromium, and iron, indicating the influence of refined foods, non-iodized salts, and diet imbalance such as being vegetarian. The result is largely compatible with a bigger study on Taiwanese and Moscovites, though the latter population reveals a different bioelemental pattern. On account of improved methodology and standardized operation procedure, hair bioelemental analysis may qualify as a tool of biomonitoring in nutritional assessment, environmental pollution, as well asoccupational exposure.