Metal content in femoral head spongious bone of people living in regions of different degrees of environmental pollution in Southern and Middle Poland.

The content of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and silver was evaluated in femoral head spongious bone of inhabitants of southern (Silesia, n = 13; Cracow, n = 13) and middle Poland (Lodz, n = 12). A total of 38 persons (29 females and 9 males) were included in the study. The average age in the Silesian group was 68 +/- 9.9 years old, in the group from Cracow 69.2 +/- 9.6 years old, and 68.3 +/- 7.3 years old for the inhabitants of Lodz. The AAS method was used to determine the femoral heads metal content after microwave mineralization. A similar content of calcium (av 18.4% dry weight), phosphorus (av 6.8%), magnesium (av 1883.5 microg/g), potassium (av 598.1 microg/g), iron (av 59.5 microg/g), zinc (av 90.1 microg/g), copper (av 90.1 microg/g), arsenic (av 0.3 microg/g), and silver (av 0.03 microg/g) was found in every group. Specimens from different regions differed in lead and cadmium content, illustrating the differences in environmental pollution exposure. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Inc.