Lead and fluoride content in human bone and hair in the Gdańsk region

The post-mortem lead and fluoride content in the rib bone and hair of 59 persons from the Gdańsk region was determined. Fluoride was estimated potentiometrically using a fluoride-specific electrode. Lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean lead concentration in bone was 3.0 μg/g and 5.2 μg/g in hair. The mean fluoride concentrations were 625.7 μg/g and 1.4 μg/g in bone and hair respectively. A positive correlation between the lead content in bone and hair was found in this study (r=0.308, P<0.05), no such correlation was observed between the fluoride content in bone and hair. A positive correlation between the fluoride and lead contents in bones and the age of the investigated persons was found. The results obtained correspond well with the comparably moderate exposure to lead and fluoride in the Gdańsk region.