title: The analysis of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel content in human bones from the upper Silesian industrial district.
abstract: The concentration of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and nickel in autopsy samples of bones from adults living in the Upper Silesian industrial district (Poland)--an ecological disaster region--was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (flame and flameless GF AAS). Lead concentrations ranged from 20 micrograms/g to 200 micrograms/g bone wet weight, cadmium from 0.4 microgram/g to 1.5 micrograms/g bone wet weight. About one-fourth of the bones examined from Silesia, contained lead in the range from 100 micrograms/g to 200 micrograms/g. The were no significant differences in zinc, copper and nickel concentration between the control groups. The samples were mineralized in a microwave digestion system. To avoid anomalous results caused by the influence of the matrix Ca3 (PO4)2--the procedure of lead determination was carried out at a temperature of 2000 degrees C, the cadmium determination at a temperature of about 1200 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and General Chemistry Silesian Technical University, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baranowska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czernicki
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aleksandrowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D013249:Sternum / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead