US EPA

1358750 

Technical Report 

A comparison of 5 toxic metals among rural and urban children 

Foli, MR; Hennigan, C; Errera, J 

1982 

HEEP/83/09250 

29 

4 

261-270 

HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Five toxic metals among populations of urban and rural children sampled from Middle Tennessee (USA) were compared. Children were asked to submit a small sample of hair for toxic metal analysis. Hair samples were collected and analyzed by 3 procedures: plasma torch, graphite furnace and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Pb and Cd levels were significantly higher in the urban group, while the rural group demonstrated a significantly higher mean As level. No significant difference existed between the 2 groups for Ni and Hg. Wider ranges of Pb and Cd concentrations were exhibited in the urban group, while the ranges for As, Hg and Ni were greater in the rural group. Combinations of metals were found in both groups. The most frequent combinations were a 13% occurrence of Cd and Pb in the urban group and a 7% occurrence of As and Pb in the rural group. Sources of exposure for rural and urban groups were discussed. Metals could be elevated in combinations, possibly increasing their harmful effects. When screening children for toxic substances, other metals such as Cd and As must be considered as accompanying Pb.