Exposure assessment of male recruits in Slovenia to cadmium and lead due to biological monitoring

Abstract

In Slovenia, there were no data available for an assessment of cadmium and lead levels in the population till 2001. The present study was conducted to evaluate the cadmium and lead burden from all sources (air, food, water) with the aim of obtaining initial information on cadmium and lead levels in blood of healthy and occupationally unexposed young males. There were 464 participants included in the analysis of blood cadmium and lead levels, aged between 18 and 27 years, the median age being 20 years. Blood samples of maximum 2 ml were taken from the cubital vein for analysis of cadmium and lead levels. There were 463 blood samples analyzed for cadmium and 464 for lead. Of all tested persons, 38.2% had less than 0.5 microg/l of cadmium in their blood and 28.2% up to 1 microg/l. The median level of blood cadmium was 0.5 microg/l. The percentage of recruits with blood lead level over 100 microg was 3.1%. The median level of blood lead was 35 microg/l. The differences in blood levels of both pollutants were statistically significant with regard to the region of permanent residence (P<0.001). The results of the study give a good assessment of cadmium and lead burdening of young Slovene male population. The information obtained provides a foundation for further comparative research at the international level as well as for further study and risk assessment of individual population groups exposed to greater risk due to their lifestyle and eating habits.