[Heavy metal content of the children's hair].

In the framework of the epidemiological group-diagnostic studies in the industrial areas Rhine-Main (Wiesbaden and Frankfurt) with a relatively high air pollution as well as in two control areas (Freiburg and Starnberg) with lower air pollution, hair samples from more than 2500 ten-year-old children were taken. After an appropriate washing process (removal of the exogenic load) and wet incineration, the hair samples were examined by AAS- for their heavy metal content (Cd, Pb, Fe and Zn). The evaluation of the results over the time of the examination from 1982 until 1986 shows that the hair samples from children in the burdened area Rhine-Main with high air pollution have higher lead as well as cadmium values than those of the control area Freiburg with the bordering region of the Black Forest. Furthermore it can be clearly recognized in the five years of the examination of children's hair that the contamination or the content of toxic heavy metals such as Cd and Pb in the polluted region of Wiesbaden is distinctly decreasing over the years. Surprisingly, increased zinc, cadmium and also, during the last two years, increased lead values in children's hair were detected in the Starnberg area. During the five years of examination there was a correlation between the heavy metal content in children's hair and the heavy metal content in airborne dust of the burdened area; this is particularly true for cadmium.