[Lead contents in liver and kidney of inhabitants of the city of Białystok and vicinity]

Abstract

The material comprised liver and kidney samples collected from inhabitants of the city of Białystok and of its vicinity during anatomopathological examination at the Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical Academy in Białystok. In age groups: 2 days-8 years, 29-65 years, 66-84 years, the mean liver lead content was 0.220, 0.211 and 0.233 mg/kg, respectively. The mean kidney lead content amounted to 0.272, 0.038 and 0.125 mg/kg, respectively. When compared with the literature data for subjects not exposed to lead, the present results have to be regarded as low. The newborn displayed a higher kidney lead level than adults. In contrast to adults, in the newborn the content of lead in the kidney exceeded that in the liver. Adults showing a higher lead level in the liver than in the kidney exhibited a correlation between Pb level in the liver and kidney (r = 0.671).