title: Exposure to lead and cadmium of the general population of Malta.
abstract: The blood levels of lead (PbB), cadmium (CdB), and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) were determined in 538 Maltese adult subjects. A relatively high level exposure to both metals was discovered. For lead, the median value is 274 micrograms/l with percentile 90 and 98 respectively 564 and 863 micrograms/l. These values are to be compared with the reference values proposed by a directive of the European Community, respectively 200, 300 and 350 micrograms/l. For cadmium, the median value is 2.2 micrograms/l with percentile 90 and 98 respectively 3.8 and 5.7 micrograms/l. These values are compared with those of a Belgian population which are respectively 1.7, 2.6 and 4.3 micrograms/l. The causes of this relatively high exposure are not known. A few tentative hypotheses, which are to be investigated, are made.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001530:Belgium; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D007854:Lead