Levels of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Se and Zn in bovine kidneys and livers in Jamaica.

Paired liver and kidney samples from 100 free-range cattle in different parts of Jamaica were analyzed for essential and non-essential trace elements. We found significant enrichment of elements in the kidney (K) compared to the liver (L) with the K/L concentration ratios being 5.2 for Cd, 4.

Blood lead levels of Jamaican children island-wide.

An island-wide survey of 1081 basic school children, mainly in the age group 2-6 years, is reported. The range of blood lead levels (BLLs) was 1.4 to 202 microg/dL with arithmetic and geometric means of 7.

Elemental composition of Jamaican foods 1: a survey of five food crop categories.

The concentrations of 27 elements in Jamaican food categories consisting of fruit, legumes, leafy and root vegetables and other root crops are reported. The main analytical techniques used were neutron activation analysis and flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results are compared, where possible, with values from Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States and Nigeria, and with some regulatory limits.