Lead levels in deciduous teeth of children in Bahrain.
To determine lead exposure among children in Bahrain, a total of 280 shed deciduous whole teeth were collected from 269 children. Teeth were analyzed for lead concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomization. Children were between 5 and 15 years old. The study period extended from July 1993 to April 1994. The study showed that the overall mean tooth-lead level was 4.3 micrograms/g dry weight with a range of 0.1-60.8 micrograms/g dry weight. The cumulative frequency distribution revealed that 35% of the teeth had a lead concentration of more than 4 micrograms/g dry weight. The tooth-lead concentrations differed according to the tooth type age. The child's sex, nationality, area of residence and socio-economic status had no impact on tooth-lead level. In conclusion, lead is present in toxic concentrations in 35% of the teeth of the children studied. Urgent measures are needed to eliminate lead from gasoline, paint and other sources in the environment.
al-Mahroos
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F
Department of Pediatrics, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain.
al-Saleh
F S
FS
D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001445:Bahrain; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000737:chemistry*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007854:Lead