The effect of age and gender on 59 trace-element contents in human rib bone investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The effect of age and gender on 59 trace-element contents in rib bone of 80 apparently healthy 15-55-year-old women (n = 38) and men (n = 42) was investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fraction (milligrams per kilogram, on dry-weight basis) of Ba, Bi, Cd, Ce, Cu, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Nd, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sm, Sr, Tb, Tl, U, Yb, and Zn for both female and male taken together were: Ba 2.5 ± 0.