Cadmium exposure pathways in the Czech urban population.

The article describes the exposure pathways of cadmium in the Czech urban population. The data on Cd concentrations originated from the Environmental Health Monitoring System, which has been realized in 30 cities since 1994. The data on cadmium content in particular exposure pathways - diet, drinking water, ambient air and soil -were processed for the period 1994-2003. The estimate of the daily dietary intake for an average adult population amounted to 11-19 microg/d, i.e. 0.17-0.30 microg/kg bw/d, which represents 17%-30% of the PTWI (provisional tolerable weekly intake). The contribution from drinking water to the oral exposure is low; on average 0.5 microg/d. Potential exposure to airborne Cd was estimated at about 0.02 microg/d. The additional Cd intake from urban soil ingestion probable in small children was found to be insignificant based on Cd concentrations in the soil of kindergarten playgrounds. Biomonitoring outputs characterize the recent and life-long cadmium burden of the Czech population from general environment In 1994-2003, the median blood Cd levels ranged in the interval 0.9-0.4 microg/l blood, in smokers being more than double that in non-smokers. Blood Cd levels detected indicate slightly decreasing trend as well as urine Cd levels (range of median values 0.44-0.28 microg/g creatinine). Since 1996 the levels in children have been found in more than 50% cases below the detection limit of the methods used. The estimated total cadmium intake in the Czech urban population does not signalize any increased risk of health impairment considering non-carcinogenic effects.

Effects of age, BMI, smoking and contraception on levels of Cu, Se and Zn in the blood of the population in the Czech Republic.

Variations in the levels of Cu, Se and Zn in blood were analyzed in relation to gender, age, BMI, smoking and hormonal contraception. The blood samples were collected from 3,207 blood donors (2,362 men, 845 women) during years 1996-2003. Blood concentrations of these elements were in the same range as those found for populations of other European countries. Significant differences exist between men and women, in blood concentration, for Cu (840 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 970 microg Cu.l(-1), p<0.01) and Zn (6,780 microg Zn.l(-1) vs. 6,235 microg Zn.l(-1), p<0.01) only. The level of Cu in relation to age is increasing in men, but decreasing in women. The level of Se in relation to age increases regardless of sex. Concentrations of Zn rise with age in women group, only. Positive correlation was found between BMI and level of Cu only for group of men. For Se levels and BMI differences exist only in men namely between groups <20 and >35 (82 microg Se.l(-1) vs. 92 microg Se.l(-1)). Slight positive correlations exist between Zn concentration and BMI in women only. The significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers for Cu in men (850 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 830 microg Cu.l(-1)) and Se (81 microg Se.l(-1) vs. 84 microg Se.l(-1)). The smoking has not significant influence on concentration of Zn in the blood. The hormonal contraception significantly increases the concentration of Cu in blood (920 microg Cu.l(-1) vs. 1,270 microg Cu.l(-1), p<0.01). The levels of Se and Zn in blood are not influenced using hormonal contraception.