TRACE-METALS IN URINE OF UNITED-STATES RESIDENTS - REFERENCE RANGE CONCENTRATIONS

We measured 13 metals in the urine of 496 United States residents to e stablish reference range concentrations using inductively coupled argo n plasma mass spectrometry and Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorpti on spectrometry. We frequently found 8 of these analytes at detectable concentrations in urine specimens: molybdenum (in 99.8%); lead (98.8% ); tin (89%); thallium (77%); antimony (73.5%); manganese (73%); cesiu m (71%); tungsten (70%); and platinum (69.7%). The 95th percentile con centration for molybdenum was 168 mu g/L; concentrations ranged up to 688 mu g/L. Lead concentrations ranged up to 67 mu g/L, and the 95th u pper percentile was 6.4 mu g/L. Tin had 95th upper percentile of 20.1 mu g/L. Other analytes measured at detectable concentrations included barium (in 67% of the specimens); beryllium (67%); chromium (54%); tho rium (44%); and cobalt (43%). In almost every case, the 95th upper per centiles of these analytes were less than 15 mu g/L. (C) 1998 Academic Press.