[The use of human dental enamel as an indicator of the extent of environmental pollution].
Roberto Cleymaeta, Peter Bottenbergb, D. Slopc
- aEenheid Prothetische Tandheelkunde, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette
- bDental Clinic
- cTandheelkundige Kliniek - Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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Abstract
Acid etch surface enamel microbiopsies were taken from permanent teeth of schoolchildren and analyzed for lead and cadmium using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. A comparison concerning these heavy metals was made between children (7 and 12 years) from a school close to a non-ferrous metal plant and children from the same age group from a school situated near the same plant but in a less polluted zone. The lead concentrations in enamel biopsies from the first group were significantly higher than those from the second group. Cadmium shows the same trend but on a much lower level. A significant correlation between lead and cadmium was also found in both groups.
TL;DRA significant correlation between lead and cadmium was also found in both groups, and lead concentrations in enamel biopsies from the first group were significantly higher than those from the second group. (Semantic Scholar)