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The Human Biological Monitoring (HBM) project was launched in the Czech Republic in 1994 as a part of the nation-wide Environmental Health Monitoring System to assess the exposure of the Czech general population to a broad spectrum of environmental contaminants. Over the years 2001-2003, the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) were determined in whole blood of 1188 adults (blood donors) and 333 children and in urine of 657 adults and 619 children. In adults, the median blood lead (B-Pb) level was 33microg/l. Men had higher B-Pb levels than women (medians 37microg/l vs. 25microg/l). Significantly higher B-Pb levels were observed in smokers compared to non-smokers (36microg/l vs. 31microg/l). In children, no sex-dependent differences were observed (median 31microg/l). In total, the median blood Cd level (B-Cd) in adults was 0.5microg/l. Smokers showed a median B-Cd level about 3 times as high as non-smokers (1.3microg/l vs. 0.40microg/l). Neither sex- nor age-related differences were observed in B-Cd levels. In 65% of children, B-Cd levels were below the limit of detection (LOD). The overall median urinary cadmium level (U-Cd) in adults was 0.31microg/g creatinine. Significantly higher U-Cd levels were found in women (median 0.39microg/g creatinine) compared to men (0.29microg/g creatinine). No significant differences were found between smokers and non-smokers. In more than 50% of children, the U-Cd level was below the LOD (=0.2microg/l). The median blood mercury (B-Hg) level in adults was 0.89microg/l. Significant differences were found between smokers (0.80microg/l) and non-smokers (0.92microg/l), and between men and women (0.86microg/l vs. 0.94microg/l). The median B-Hg level in children was 0.42microg/l and no sex-related differences were observed. The median urinary mercury (U-Hg) levels were 0.63microg/g creatinine in adults and 0.37microg/g creatinine in children. Significantly higher U-Hg levels were obtained in women and non-smokers compared to men and smokers, respectively. The B-Pb, B-Hg, U-Cd, and U-Hg levels significantly correlated with age. The following reference values were recommended for the period 2001-2003: 80, 65 and 55microg/l for B-Pb and 3.1, 4.0 and 1.5microg/l for B-Hg in men, women and children, respectively; 1.1microg/l and 1.2microg/g creatinine for B-Cd and U-Cd, respectively, in adult non-smokers; 5.4 and 12.0microg/g creatinine for U-Hg in men and women, respectively, and 3.7 and 5.5microg/g creatinine for U-Hg in boys and girls, respectively. The previous reference values for B-Pb and B-Cd needed revision and were reduced.

The retrospective study evolution of trends in concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Se in the population of the Czech Republic over 30 years period could be useful in design of regulations concerning health protection, prevention of diseases caused by deficiency of trace elements and have considerable economic importance. Concentrations of the named elements in the serum were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after mineralisation in a microwave digestion system. The 1433 samples of serum (730 males and 703 females, average age 48.7 and 49.1 years respectively) from a time period 1970-1995 were obtained from the Serum bank of National Institute of Public Health and volunteers (1999). Serum samples from the years 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 1999 were examined. The accuracy of the results was checked by means of the Control material Seronorm Whole Blood 404,107 and Seronorm Serum 704,121, Nycomed. The concentration of Cd had a decreasing trend for the years 1975-1999 (0.82 microgram Cd.l-1 vs 0.47 microgram Cd.l-1). The levels of Pb are falling in the interval 1970-1980 (15.6 micrograms Pb.l-1 vs. 6.6 micrograms Pb.l-1). In year 1985 concentration of Pb increased (10.7 micrograms Pb.l-1) but subsequently decreased again (1995--6.4 micrograms Pb.l-1). In year 1999, it was 8.9 micrograms.l-1. The concentration of Cu decreased in period 1970-1990 (1525 micrograms Cu.l-1 vs. 990 micrograms Cu.l-1). From 1990 to 1999 the levels of Cu had an increasing tendency (1999--1060 micrograms Cu.l-1). Levels of Se in the interval 1970-1985 were surprisingly equal (58.1 micrograms Se.l(-1)-54.4 micrograms Se.l-1). However in the interval 1986-1990 the level of Se sharp declined (38.3 micrograms Se.l-1). Since 1990 levels of Se in serum increased again, up to 67.1 micrograms Se.l-1 in 1999. Statistically significant differences between men and women were found only in Cu and Pb concentrations. Concentrations of under study elements corresponded to the published values concerning unexposed population.

This study aimed at determining blood concentrations of lead (B-Pb) and cadmium (B-Cd) in a group of 1215 healthy blood donors (895 males, 320 females) and 758 children (397 boys, 361 girls) aged 10 years, sampled in 1996-1998 in four districts of the Czech Republic. The analysis was performed using atomic absorption spectrometry. The median B-Pb values were lower in children (34 mg/L) than in adults. In the group of adults, the level was significantly higher in men (46 mg/L) than in women (29 mg/L). In none of the groups the 90th percentile exceeded the value of 100 mg/L. The B-Cd values in adults depended on smoking habit (median non-smokers: 0.5 mg/L, male smokers--1.2 mg/L, female smokers--1.0 mg/L). In children, more than 50% of values were under the limit of detection. The obtained values were used to propose reference values for the Czech population.

Knowledge of normal levels of concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Se) in the population serves, among others, in design of regulations concerning health protection, determination of exposure limits and prevention of diseases caused by deficiency of trace elements. Concentrations of the named elements in whole blood of the Czech population were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The blood was collected during 1996-1998 from 1,216 blood donors (896 males and 320 females, average age 33 years) and 758 children (397 boys and 361 girls, average age 9.9 years). Mineralisation in a microwave digestion system was used in sample preparation. The accuracy of results was checked by means of the Control material Seronorm Whole Blood 404107 and Seronorm Serum 704121, Nycomed. Values of concentrations of the trace elements in blood found for adult (medians) were 0.7 microgram Cd.l-1, 800 micrograms Cu.l-1, 0.78 microgram Hg.l-1, 41 micrograms Pb.l-1, 76 micrograms Se.l-1, and 5,800 micrograms Zn.l-1, respectively. Statistically significant differences between men and women have been found in the concentrations of Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn. In the juvenile population following medians of concentrations have been found: 0.15 microgram Cd.l-1, 1,047 micrograms Cu.l-1, 0.46 microgram Hg.l-1, 34 micrograms Pb.l-1, 69 micrograms Se.l-1, and 8,180 micrograms Zn.l-1. Statistically significant differences between boys and girls were found only in Pb and Zn concentrations. Concentrations of the studied elements correspond to the published values concerning population not exposed professionally.

The biological monitoring of toxic and essential metals in biological material is important for the study of influence of environmental conditions on the human body. In this work, the determination of Cd, Pb and Hg in blood, urine and hair of children has been performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The electrothermal atomisation with Zeeman background correction was used for Pb and Cd determination and mercury was determined using Trace Mercury Analyser TMA 254. Methylmercury in hair was determined simultaneously. To check the method, SRM Lyphochek Urine Metal control--Biorad, Seronorm Trace Elements--Nycomed and GWB Human Hair (China) were used. The group of more than 100 children were chosen for the study. Statistical tests were used for the evaluation of the obtained results. The concentrations of all elements in all types of samples correspond to the "normal contents" published for the non-exposed population.

In the framework of the system of monitoring the environmental impact on population health, the concentration of lead, cadmium and selenium in blood and cadmium in urine was measured in adults (n = 670), children (n = 599) and umbilical blood (n = 549) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Furthermore, cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes in all population groups under study was investigated. The median blood Pb level for the overall group of adults (47.8 micrograms/l, i.e. 0.23 mumol/1) was significantly higher in men (51.5 micrograms/l, i.e. 0.25 mumol/l). Smoking significantly influenced the blood Pb level in women. The 90th percentile in no group exceeded the value of 100 micrograms/l (0.48 mumol/l). The median blood Cd level in adults (0.9 microgram/l, i.e. 0.008 mumol/l) depends on smoking habit (1.25 micrograms/l, i.e. 0.01 mumol/l). The median urine Cd level was 0.585 microgram/g creatinine (0.59 mumol/mole creatinine) in adults and 0.37 microgram/g creatinine (0.37 mumol/mole creatinine) in children. The median blood Se level (53.5 micrograms/l, i.e. 0.68 mumol/l) was found to be higher in the group of non-smokers (57.5 micrograms/l, i.e 0.73 mumol/l). Lead and selenium level were significantly lower in the umbilical blood. Cytogenetic analysis results showed age-dependent average percentages of aberrant cells: 1.1% in umbilical blood, 1.27% in children and 1.71 in adults in line with the reference values for the Czech population.