[Lead and cadmium content in deciduous teeth of children of Stolberg and other cities of North-Rhine-Westphalia: a chronological trend 1968-1993].

The levels of lead and cadmium were determined in deciduous teeth (incisors only) of children living in Stolberg and some other cities located in North-Rhine-Westfalia, Germany. The Stolberg children were born in 1968-1973 (group 1; n = 103) and 1982/1983 (group 2; n = 103). The other children (n = 109) were born between 1979 and 1986. All teeth were analysed within the same analytical series by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results show that the average levels of lead and cadmium in milk teeth have decreased significantly in the time period from 1970 to 1990. Considering the Stolberg children the fall of tooth lead was about 50% and the fall of tooth cadmium was about 60%. Children from other cities show a comparable decrease of tooth lead and tooth cadmium. The results indicate that a significant decrease of the lead body burden and cadmium body burden of children and probably also of the general population of Germany has occurred during the last years.