RESUMEN
Men aged 40-59 years (325 subjects) from 4 districts, 6 populations, 3 nationalities were investigated to explore the relationship between element and blood pressure (BP) . Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg -were measured by ion coupled plasma spectroscopy, Se by catalytic pulse polarography. Results showed; (1) The element levels were different among districts and nationalities. (2) The correlation coefficients among serum Pb, Ni, Si, Sn, V, Cd, Cr were rather high, while Sr behaved relatively independently. (3)Using multivariant stepwise regression and discrimination analysis, serum Sr was found to associate positively with BP in normotensive and hypertensive and total pooled groups without exce-piton. (4) Serum Ca (Ca/Mg), Fe, Co were positively associated, while Cr, Sn inversely associated with BP. (5) The harmful element Cd was unexpectedly found to be inversely associated with BP and it was lower in those populations with high BP levels, which might be ascribed to the non-parallel distribution of certain elements in body tissues and blood. Results also indicated; (1) The levels of essential element Ni, V, Co, Cr were lower in hypertensive group. (2) Serum Ca and urinary Ca were non-parallel, and the former could not accurately reflect Ca-intake. In short, the relationship between element and BP still remains to be elucidated.