Twenty-eight element concentrations in mane hair samples of adult riding horses determined by particle-induced X-ray emission.

This research paper investigates the concentrations of 28 different elements present in the mane hair of adult horses using the particle-induced X-ray emission method. The results are not influenced by the horse’s age, breed or sex and can therefore be used to gauge the health and nutritional status of equines.

Research Methodology

• The research examined mane hair samples from riding horses to measure the concentrations of 28 elements, namely Aluminium (Al), Bromine (Br), Calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Gallium (Ga), Mercury (Hg), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Sodium (Na), Niobium (Nb), Nickel (Ni), Phosphorus (P), Lead (Pb), Rubidium (Rb), Sulphur (S), Selenium (Se), Silicone (Si), Strontium (Sr), Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V), Yttrium (Y), and Zinc (Zn).
• The method used for this research was particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), a technique that is primarily used for the elemental analysis of materials.

Research Findings

• With the exception of Bromine (Br), Chloride (Cl), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), and Phosphorus (P), the researchers found that the trace element concentrations in horse mane hair were in line with values seen in human hair according to existing literature.
• The research found that the concentrations of these trace elements in the hair samples were independent of the horse’s age, breed, and sex.

Implications of the Research

• On the basis of these findings, the research proposes that the identified values could serve as a point of reference in the diagnosis of diseases and the assessment of nutritional status in horses.
• The study offers a new way to utilize mane hair samples of horses as a repository of significant information about the animal’s overall health and nutritional status.