DENTAL LEAD LEVELS IN THE GALICIAN POPULATION, SPAIN

The aim of this study was to investigate tooth lead concentrations in a Spanish population living in Coruna, Spain. A total of 220 teeth wer e analysed using a microwave oven digestion procedure and lead content was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were classifi ed according to age, sex, type of tooth, cause of extraction and place of residence. Tooth lead levels followed a logarithmic-normal distrib ution. The general geometric mean was 10.36 mug/g of tooth. There was a significant increase in teeth lead levels with advancing age. Perman ent teeth showed higher values (13.09 +/- 1.07 mug/g, mean +/- S.E.M.) than deciduous teeth (3.96 +/- 1.07 mug/g). However, no differences w ere found between sexes. High lead concentrations were detected in pat hological teeth, particularly in those with periodontal pathology, sug gesting a relation between lead levels and dental disease. Nevertheles s, teeth with caries did not show any significant lead increase. Peopl e living in urban areas of the coast had the highest lead teeth contam ination. This is the first study in Spain which describes the tooth le ad levels as a marker of lead exposure.