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Lead concentrations of enamel and dentine of deciduous teeth of children from two Finnish towns

Journal Article · · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)
The proton-induced x-ray emission method was used to analyze lead concentrations in enamel and dentine of deciduous teeth of 105 6- and 9-year-old children living in two Finnish towns. Helsinki, the capital city, was assumed to represent high lead exposure and Kuopio, a country town in the middle of Finland, low or moderate lead exposure. In all but two teeth the enamel contained higher lead concentrations than dentine. The individual enamel-dentine lead concentration ratio was not stable but varied greatly. The median dentine lead concentration for 9-year-old children in Helsinki and Kuopio was 2.0 ppm and 2.9 ppm, repsectively, and for 6-year-old children was 2.5 ppm and 2.7 ppm, respectively. The enamel lead concentrations found in 9-year-olds in Helsinki and Kuopio were 4.2 and 4.5 ppm, and in 6-year-old were 9.1 and 4.4 ppm, respectively. The results reveal low or moderate lead concentrations. Nevertheless, a twofold and statistically significant increase was found in the enamel of Helsinki children born in 1974 compared with those born in 1971.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Helsinki, Finland
OSTI ID:
6198425
Journal Information:
Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 39:2; ISSN AEHLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English