Copper and zinc concentrations of serum samples of healthy people living in Tokat, Turkey

Abstract

Copper and zinc concentrations of blood serum of 96 healthy people aged between 19 - 65 living in Tokat-Turkey were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of zinc and copper were found as 0.54 +/- 0.21 mg/l and 0.86 +/- 0.24 mg/l, respectively. The mean concentration of zinc and copper were found in the lower limits of the world values. The influences of variables such as sex, age groups, smoking habits on the serum copper and zinc levels were also examined. There are no significant differences between copper and zinc levels in serum according to either sex or age.