Internal and external tetrachloroethene exposure of persons living in differently polluted areas of Northrhine-Westphalia (Germany).

An epidemiological study was performed to measure the internal and external tetrachloroethene exposure of persons living in two differently polluted areas of Northrhine-Westphalia (Germany). Tetrachloroethene concentrations were determined in venous blood samples of 5- to 7-year-old children (n = 81) and 55-year-old women (n = 91) living in Essen, an industrial city located in the Ruhr area. 103 children und 131 women of the same age living in Borken, a small town north of the Ruhr area, served as reference group.

[Lead and cadmium content in deciduous teeth of children of Stolberg and other cities of North-Rhine-Westphalia: a chronological trend 1968-1993].

The levels of lead and cadmium were determined in deciduous teeth (incisors only) of children living in Stolberg and some other cities located in North-Rhine-Westfalia, Germany. The Stolberg children were born in 1968-1973 (group 1; n = 103) and 1982/1983 (group 2; n = 103). The other children (n = 109) were born between 1979 and 1986.

Internal lead and cadmium exposure in 6-year-old children from western and eastern Germany.

Lead and cadmium levels in blood and deciduous teeth (shed incisors only) of 6-year-old German children were determined in 1991 in a large epidemiological study carried out in rural and urban areas of western Germany (Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Borken) and eastern Germany (Leipzig, Halle, Magdeburg, Osterburg, Gardelelegen, Salzwedel). In total, blood lead and cadmium levels of 2311 German children and tooth lead and cadmium levels of 790 German children were analyzed. Blood lead levels were generally low in all study areas with geometric means between 39.

Long-term mercury excretion in urine after removal of amalgam fillings.

The long-term urinary mercury excretion was determined in 17 28- to 55-year-old persons before and at varying times (up to 14 months) after removal of all (4-24) dental amalgam fillings. Before removal the urinary mercury excretion correlated with the number of amalgam fillings. In the immediate post-removal phase (up to 6 days after removal) a mean increase of 30% was observed.

[Heavy metal pollution of soil and garden products of Stolberg home gardens and lead and cadmium pollution of small farms in Stolberg].

Cadmium, lead and zinc were determined in garden soils and vegetable products from private gardens located in a lead/zinc smelter area (Stolberg, Germany). At the same time lead and cadmium were measured in blood and urine samples collected from 90 garden owners. Inspite of extraordinary high levels of cadmium and lead in garden soils and vegetables, blood lead, blood cadmium and urine cadmium levels were not or only slightly elevated in the gardeners when compared to a reference group of subjects from the same area who did not consume home-grown vegetables and fruits.