Trace elements in the environment and in human organs: analysis according to domicile and sex.

Abstract

Copper, zinc, lead and cadmium content of the kidney, liver and lung derived from 1072 autopsies has been determined. The content of lead and cadmium in liver, the content of copper, cadmium and zinc in lung of the rural population (541 cases) was higher than those of the urban population (531 cases). The cadmium content difference of the lung was found to be significant (p less than 0.05). In the lung of the urban population the Zn/Cu relation was better (0.80) than in rural population (0.39). In the kidney and lung of the urban males (297 cases) the cadmium content was significantly higher than in females (234 cases). In the liver the differences were not significant. The Zn/Cu relation was found to be high in both sexes in kidney and in lung respectively (r = 0.90-0.87). In the rural population the sex difference are characteristic: The lead and cadmium content are significantly lower in the kidney and lung of the women. The lead content in the women's liver is lower (p less than 0.05).