Dental lead levels in residents from industrial and suburban areas of Kuwait

The present study describes lead concentrations in whole incisor teeth (non -carious) of 216 Kuwaiti resident's aged 3-74, collected from industrial an d suburban areas of Kuwait. The mean concentration of lead in all age group s (3-74) showed a significant correlation between both the sexes. Statistic al analysis showed a significant correlation between lead levels of males c ompared with industrial and suburban areas. A similar correlation was also noted in the case of females supporting that industrial residents were more exposed to lead levels than those in suburban areas. A further significant correlation was noted between males and females of industrial and suburban areas which showed that males accumulate more lead concentration than fema les. A significant correlation was not observed when each age group was com pared with that of the respective sexes representing industrial and suburba n areas. However, a significant correlation was noted when lead levels in e ach age group was compared with that of the other age groups except in age groups ranging 35-42. The mean lead levels of 216 teeth were in the range 2 .21-2.50 mu g/g which is less than the range indicated by other investigato rs in the recent past. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.