Human exposure to metals: some factors influencing the metal concentration

The concentrations of aluminum, chromium, manganese and lead were determined in 200 healthy subjects (22 - 79 years, 110 men and 90 women) and in 105 patients (20 - 77 years, 54 men and 51 women) with chronic renal failure who had undergone regular dialysis treatment residing in Barcelona, Spain, to assess normal range and to investigate its relationships to age, sex and renal function. Serum and whole blood elements were performed by means of a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (FLAAS). The objective of this study was to measure the concentration of the 4 elements in blood and to investigate the affecting factors. Results showed that the chronic hemodialysis patients had a marked elevation of blood aluminum concentrations. The blood levels of chromium and aluminum were significantly higher in HD patients than in the control group, whereas lead was similar in both groups and manganese was lower among renal patients.