Dental lead levels in residents from industrial and suburban areas of Kuwait

The present study describes lead concentrations in whole incisor teeth (non-carious) of 216 Kuwaiti residentʹs aged 3–74, collected from industrial and suburban areas of Kuwait. The mean concentration of lead in all age groups (3–74) showed a significant correlation between both the sexes. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between lead levels of males compared with industrial and suburban areas. A similar correlation was also noted in the case of females supporting that industrial residents were more exposed to lead levels than those in suburban areas. A further significant correlation was noted between males and females of industrial and suburban areas which showed that males accumulate more lead concentration than females. A significant correlation was not observed when each age group was compared with that of the respective sexes representing industrial and suburban areas. However, a significant correlation was noted when lead levels in each age group was compared with that of the other age groups except in age groups ranging 35–42. The mean lead levels of 216 teeth were in the range 2.21–2.50 μg/g which is less than the range indicated by other investigators in the recent past.