The influence of lead and cadmium environmental pollution on anthropometric health factors in children.

ABSTRACT

THE AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between environment pollution (lead and cadmium) and selected anthropological factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 267 children, aged 11 +/- 0.4. Blood sampling and anthropological measurements were carried out in Kraków (polluted area) and in the Krosno region (low polluted area) in 1995. The lead and cadmium concentrations in the whole blood were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace and automatic dosage. The anthropometric measurements were made at the same time as the blood collection. RESULTS: The blood lead content in boys and girls was 5.89 +/- 2.54, 5.01 +/- 1.62 micrograms/dl respectively, and the cadmium blood content was 0.65 +/- 0.30, 0.68 +/- 0.47 microgram/l. Body mass and height did not correlate with lead and cadmium concentrations in the children's blood. Smaller head circumferences, independently of gender, were associated with a higher cadmium level. The values of four skin-folds (on the arm biceps, triceps, under scapular bone and above iliac crest), as well as the percentage of fat content in the organism (PFDWB) calculated by the Slaughter-Lohman equation was higher in girls than in boys. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The relationships between cadmium and lead blood levels in children on the one hand and the degree of environmental pollution with these metals, and the gender of the children on the other were observed. The boys accumulated more lead, whereas the girls absorbed more cadmium. 2. Anthropometric analysis did not show a significant influence exerted by the polluted environment on the basic auxological parameters. In the group of children examined, the only differences observed were related to gender, head circumferences and indicators of obesity.