Multivariate statistical analysis of metal concentrations in teeth of residents of Silesian region, southern Poland

Concentrations of 11 metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Na, K, Ca, and Mg) were assayed in the teeth of two populations of the Silesian region. The first group (n = 83) comprised the residents of Katowice-Szopienice, a town located in the center of the Upper Silesian industrial region, in close proximity to a Pb plant, whereas the other was a group of residents of the agricultural community Strumień (n = 44). The concentrations of all the trace metals were found to be higher in the teeth of Katowice-Szopienice residents. The methods of cluster analysis distinguished two clusters of metals in the teeth: essential (Ca, Na, Mg, Zn, and K) and trace (Cd, Mn, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb) elements. Euclidean distances reflected the differences in concentrations between the two groups. The results obtained were analyzed using principal component analysis. Four principal factors accounted for 68.1% of the total variance for Katowice-Szopienice residents and for 80.1% for Strumień residents. The first factor showed high contributions of Cu and Cr, elements present in humans as a result of diet, and also Mn for Katowice-Szopienice residents because of environmental contamination. The second factor was characterized by large Zn and Cd fractions and, for Katowice-Szopienice residents, Pb and K as well. The diversified exposure of both populations was reflected by the differences in Euclidean distances and contribution of particular elements with respect of principal components.

The cadmium contents in the femoral head in inhabitants of Upper Silesia

The cadmium content was analyzed in tissue samples from the femoral head, obtained perioperatively from 45 patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at the Voivodeship Hospital No. 5 in Sosnowiec. The average cadmium concentration was 0,06 ug/g in the cancellous and cortical bone, and 0,09 ug/g onm the articular surface. No differences were found in the cadmium content between males and females, nor were age a differentiating factor. Increased cadmium content was observed, however, in the cancellous and cortical bone from patients smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Increased cadmium content in the femoral head was found to exert a negative impact on the concentrations of calcium and magnesium.

The femur capitulum as a biomarker of contamination due to indicating lead content in the air by participation of the other metals

The occurrence of nine elements in the coxarthrosis human femoral capitula is described. The atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) method was used to determine Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni and Co concentrations in the three kinds of tissues: spongious and cortical bone and joint surface cartilage. Based on the Pb bone concentrations, an ecotoxicological Pb contamination risk for the industrial region can be predicted.