Lead in teeth of a sample population of Baghdad

Teeth from 245 randomly selected inhabitans of Baghdad, all without any known exposure to lead, were analysed for lead content. In the City of Baghdad the geometric mean level of lead was 34.119 ppm in permanent teeth and 32.139 ppm in deciduous teeth; in a rural area the levels were 32.809 ppm and 23.442 ppm respectively. There were significant differences in the lead content of deciduous teeth derived from children living in different areas, but no such differences in permanent teeth. It is concluded that, in so far as tooth-lead reflects urbanization, this effect is demonstrated much more readily in deciduous teeth than in permaner teeth