LEVELS OF LEAD AND CADMIUM IN MILK TEETH OF CHILDREN FROM STOLBERG AND SOME OTHER CITIES OF WEST-GERMANY - CHRONOLOGICAL TREND 1968-1993

The levels of lead and cadmium were determined in deciduous teeth (inc isors only) of children living in Stolberg and some other cities locat ed 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 1973 and 1986. All teeth we re analysed within the same analytical series by atomic absorption spe ctrometry (AAS). The results show that the average levels of lead and cadmium in milk teeth have decreased significantly in the time period from 1970 to 1990. Considering the Stolberg children thr fall of tooth lead was about 50% and the fall of tooth cadmium was about 60%. Child ren from other cities show a comparable decrease of tooth lead and too th cadmium. The results indicate that a significant decrease of the le ad body burden and cadmium body burden of children and probably also o f the general population of Germany has occurred during the last years .