Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the elderly living in institutionalized care in the Czech Republic.

Author: Rambousková J, Krsková A, Slavíková M, Cejchanová M, Cerná M

Source: Exp Gerontol.

Year: 2014

Comment:

The researchers conclude, "This study provides data on levels of heavy metals in a group of elderly people. Such information is very scarce. Associations with diseases should be the subject of further investigation."

Abstract / Excerpt:

“Geometric means (GM) of whole blood lead (B-Pb), cadmium (B-Cd) and mercury (B-Hg) levelswere 25.3μg/l, 0.55μg/l and 0.21μg/l, respectively. No age-related differences were found for B-Pb and B-Cd levels but a negative correlation with age was observed for B-Hg levels (p=0.04). B-Pb levels in men were significantly higher than in women (GM 29.9μg/l vs. 24.1μg/l). B-Cd was significantly higher in women (GM 0.57μg/l) than in men (0.50μg/l) (p=0.007) and in smokers (GM 1.29μg/l) than in nonsmokers (GM 0.53μg/l) (p=<0.001) and in seniors from Prague (GM 0.60μg/l) compared to those from Teplice (GM 0.43μg/l) (p=<0.001). Seniors with a history of chronic kidney disease, stroke and those using psycho-pharmaceuticals had higher B-Pb levels (p=0.008, 0.04 and 0.05, resp.), seniors diagnosed with atherosclerosis had higher B-Cd levels (p=0.002) and seniors using psycho-pharmaceuticals had higher B-Hg levels (p=0.07). B-Hg levels were also positively correlated with blood albumin levels (p=0.015).”

Citation:

Rambousková J, Krsková A, Slavíková M, Cejchanová M, Cerná M. Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury in the elderly living in institutionalized care in the Czech Republic. Exp Gerontol. 2014;58:8-13.