RESUMEN
In the present work the background burden of arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was determined in blood (B) and hair (H) samples of male and female adults. The results were combined with personal data like food consumption habits and other confounding factors, and were evaluated by correlation analyses. As, Pb, and Cd determination was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), using graphite-furnace AAS for the determination of Pb and Cd, and fluid injection AAS for the determination of As, respectively. All persons participating in this study were not unusually exposed to these elements, neither in their working places nor at home. As, Pb and Cd concentration in the B- and H-samples were in a very low range corresponding to similar data presented in the literature. Although the number of samples was too small for definite conclusions, the following significant correlations between the element concentration in B- and H-samples as well as between the other confounding factors should be considered: H-As depends on B-As; H-Pb depends on B-Pb; H-Pb corresponds to H-Cd; H-Cd, H-Pb distal > proximal; H-As distal < proximal; B-Cd, B-As, H-Pb in smokers > non smokers; H-As, B-Pb, H-Pb males > females; B-Pb positively correlated to wine drinking: B-Pb negatively correlated to daily consumption of mineral water; B-Pb positively correlated to daily consumption of vegetables; B-As positively correlated to fish consumption; B-Pb, H-Pb increase with increasing age of houses. Due to the low concentration of As, Pb and Cd found in the B- and H-samples contamination must be regarded as high risk. The application of AAS for the metal determination in blood is generally accepted and has become a routine method for this purpose. The possibilities of contamination are well known and can be avoided. However, the element determination in hair samples by AAS bares a great risk of falsification by contamination, especially, when the determination is performed only in one or two hair samples of normally exposed individuals with very low element concentrations. On the other hand, when element determination is performed in sufficiently large numbers of hair samples (with the chance to neglect occasionally extreme values). AAS may be applied for element analysis in hair samples, too. It may be a vulnerable analytical method in research programmes of epidemiology and environmental toxicology.