Elemental mapping of human hair may gain new insights for studying effects of mining environmental pollution on human health.SRXRF micro-analyses were conducted for longitudinal and transversal mapping of Pb

Fe

Cu and Zn relative intensities in hair sample collected from an inhabitant in Qixia lead-zinc mining area

Nanjing

Jiangsu province

China.The Pb relative intensity was low in hair follicle and root

but it increased with the hair growth.The longitudinal Pb accumulation in the hair shaft revealed a strong dependence on continuous exposure to the environment

while Fe

Cu and Zn relative intensities in the hair shaft were comparatively stable.The cortical proteins contributed to a high retention of Pb

Fe

Cu and Zn

while small quantities of all the elements but Zn were distributed in the cuticle.Medullar proteins were confirmed to contribute to slightly lower retention of Zn and Cu than cortical

but Pb and Fe were not detected in medulla.The sources of Pb in the hair were mostly exogenous contamination

and Fe

Cu and Zn were related to endogenous uptake.Zn and Cu participated in the entire metabolic process of hair growth.The study shows that SRXRF is of significance for biogeochemistry research.