Zinc and copper status was examined in 19 healthy and 43 atopic children (22 asthmatics and 21 eczematous) 2-14 years old. Dietary intakes for energy, protein, zinc and copper and some nutritional indices (height, weight, serum protein, albumin, ceruloplasmin) were similar in the allergic and in the control group. The proton-induced X-ray fluorescence technique was used to assess zinc and copper concentrations in serum and hair. No difference was detected in serum zinc concentration between allergic and healthy children. In contrast, mean hair zinc level was lower (p less than 0.05) in allergic than in healthy children (99 +/- 6 vs. 147 +/- 9 micrograms/g). Mean serum copper content was higher in asthmatic than in control children while mean hair copper was higher (p less than 0.05) in asthmatic and eczematous children than in the control group. These findings suggest a different zinc and copper nutritional status between allergic and healthy subjects. Allergic children, in particular, seem to be a risk of zinc deficiency.