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Activity concentration of the 222 Rn radionuclide was determined in drinking water samples from the Sothern Greater Poland region by liquid scintillation technique. The measured values ranged from 0.42 to 10.52 Bq/dm 3 with the geometric mean value of 1.92 Bq/dm 3 . The calculated average annual effective doses from ingestion with water and inhalation of this radionuclide escaping from water were 1.15 and 11.8 μSv, respectively. Therefore, it should be underlined that, generally, it's not the ingestion of natural radionuclides with water but inhalation of the radon escaping from water which is a substantial part of the radiological hazard due to the presence of the natural radionuclides from the uranium and thorium series in the drinking water.

Plastic PicoRad detectors with activated charcoal have been used for radon monitoring in local kindergartens and schools in two cities, Kalisz and Ostrów Wielkopolski, in the region of Greater Poland. Detectors were exposed for a standard time of 48 h during the autumn and winter of 2011 in 103 rooms (Kalisz) and 55 rooms (Ostrów Wlkp), respectively. The detectors were calibrated in the certified radon chamber of the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection in Warsaw, Poland. The arithmetic and geometric means of indoor radon concentrations in the examined rooms were 46.0 and 30.3 Bq/m 3 for Kalisz and 48.9 and 29.8 Bq/m 3 for Ostrów Wlkp, respectively. The measured levels of the indoor radon concentrations were relatively low, since the main source of indoor radon for these low storey (max. three storeys) buildings is radon escaping from the underlying soil with a low 226 Ra concentration (~15 Bq/m 3 ). Therefore, the calculated annual effective doses from that source for the children in Kalisz and Ostrów Wlkp were also low 0.35 mSv.

A simple mathematical equation linking the activity of adsorbed radon in the vials to the time and temperature of its exposure is discussed. The calibration coefficient--Ks, defined as activity measured in cpm after saturation time, corresponding to radon air concentration of 1 Bq m-3, was determined for four temperatures: 284, 291, 294 and 298 K. A linear relationship of ln Ks values versus T-1 was found. The relatively high difference in Ks values: 2.12 and 1.24 cpm/Bq m-3 for the temperatures of 284 and 298 K, respectively, was observed. It indicates that temperature fluctuations during Pico-Rad vial exposure may lead to erroneous results if the constant average temperature of exposure is introduced into a commonly used computer programme for calculating Rn concentration.

Cadmium, zinc and copper levels were determined in the renal cortex and liver of 60 inhabitants of Cracow, Poland. Cadmium levels in the renal cortex were contained in broad limits of 5-176 μg/g, mean 50.6 μg/g (wet weight). Maximum levels were found in the age group of about 50-60 years. The levels were slightly higher in men (53 μg/g) than in women (45 μg/g), with no effect of location within the region. The levels in smokers (62 μg/g) were much higher than in non-smokers (32 μg/g). The above relations were less pronounced for cadmium levels in the liver. Whole body retention of cadmium followed the pattern of cadmium in renal cortex. The level of zinc in renal cortex reflected those of cadmium. A significant proportion of the population (54% in smokers, 9% in non-smokers) showed cadmium levels in renal cortex exceeding the reference level of 50 μg/g recently accepted for general population. In the view of the authors the exposure to cadmium of the population of Cracow is excessive and calls for attention.

Cd, Zn, Cu, and metallothionein (MT) levels have been determined in the renal cortex and liver of 70 persons who died in Lodz and its surroundings in the years 1985-1989. The mean concentrations were: 44.9±28.6 µg Cd/g, 52.0±16.7 µg Zn/g, 2.4±1.0 µg Cu/g, 0.79±0.40 µmol Hg/g, and 3.5±1.8 µg Cd/g, 66.7±30.5 µg Zn/g, 4.9±2.1 µg Cu/g, 0.50±0.38 µmol Hg/g wet tissue in renal cortex and liver, respectively, with mean age 54.0±13.8. Smokers showed 2.4 times higher levels of Cd in the renal cortex than non-smokers. The mean body burden of Cd was 33.4±17.3 mg. Smoking increases it twofold from 22.0 mg in non-smokers to 41.8 mg in smokers.

Concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Cu were determined in the renal cortex and the liver of 79 persons who died in 1991 in Białystok and its vicinity. The mean concentrations were: 30.5 +/- 27.7 micrograms Cd/g, 37.6 +/- 18.5 micrograms Zn/g, 2.6 +/- 2.5 micrograms Cu/g, and 2.1 +/- 2.2 micrograms Cd/g, 52.4 +/- 20.5 micrograms Zn/g, 4.0 +/- 2.1 micrograms Cu/g, respectively, in the renal cortex and the liver, at the mean age of 51.1 +/- 19.1 years. Smokers showed almost twice higher Cd levels in the cortex than non-smokers. The mean whole body retention calculated for cadmium was 18.9 +/- 15.9 mg. Smoking increases it by about 60%--from 13.7 mg in non-smokers to 22.8 mg in smokers. In the inhabitants of the investigated region cadmium levels (kidney, liver, whole body retention) were lower than in persons from Lodz and Katowice regions.

The levels of Cd, Zn, Cu and metallothionein (MT) were determined in renal cortex and liver of 75 subjects decreased in the period 1986-1989 in the area of Upper Silesia (Katowice). The mean age of the population studied was 53.6 +/- 14.6 years. The determined levels (mean +/- SD) were: 43.1 +/- 23.5 micrograms Cd/g; 52.5 +/- 17.4 micrograms Zn/g; 2.2 +/- 0.7 microgram Cu/g; 0.80 +/- 0.36 mumol Hg/g in renal cortex and 3.5 +/- 2.5 micrograms Cd/g; 82.8 +/- 34.3 micrograms Zn/g; 4.5 +/- 2.6 micrograms Cu/g; 0.69 +/- 0.44 mumol Hg/g in the liver. The level of Cd in renal cortex was 40% higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers and was independent of the gender. Whole-body retention of Cd was 34.1 +/- 18.5 mg; smoking elevated the value from 27.1 to 38.2 mg. Compared with a similar study made in central Poland (Lódź), a significant difference was found only regarding the level of Zn and MT in the liver, pointing to the possibility that exposure to this element in the region of Upper Silesia may be higher.

The area of Upper Silesia is the most industrialized region in Poland. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and metallothionein (MT) in autopsy samples (n = 29) of liver from the inhabitants of that area were determined. The metal levels varied in the ranges of 0.5-11.9 micrograms Cd/g, 45.3-221.6 micrograms Zn/g, 1.4-10.3 micrograms Cu/g. The concentration of MT determined by the Hg-method was high: 0.38-2.86 mumol Hg/g. A positive linear relationship was observed between Zn and MT levels.

Three groups of rats were given sodium selenite (Se), sodium selenite and cadmium chloride (Se + Cd), or sodium selenite, cadmium chloride, and mercuric chloride (Se + Cd + Hg), respectively. All animals received subcutaneous doses of 115CdCl2 (0.3 mg Cd/kg) every other day for a fortnight. Mercuric chloride was administered intravenously at doses of 0.5 mg Hg/kg every other day and Na2 75SeO3 intragastrically at doses of 0.1 mg Se/kg every other day for 2 weeks. The whole-body retention of selenium was slightly elevated by cadmium and increased threefold by cadmium with mercury (mainly blood, liver, and kidneys). Cadmium did not affect subcellular levels of selenium in the kidneys and slightly increased the selenium content in the soluble fraction of the liver. On the other hand, combined administration of mercury and cadmium induced a significant elevation of the selenium content in all subcellular fraction of the kidneys and in the nuclear and mitochondrial fractions of the liver. In all animal groups selenium was bound in the soluble fractions of both the liver and kidneys by high-molecular-weight proteins.

The effect of phenylmercury and methylmercury on rat liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH X Px) is investigated and compared with that of Hg(II) and with some previously reported results for Cd(II). Analysis of the kinetics of metal binding to the enzyme gives apparent inhibition rate constants: kc = 9.7 mM-1 min-1 for all three mercury compounds and 75 mM-1 min-1 for CdCl2. Glutathione (0.2 mM) protects the enzyme from metal inhibition, decreasing the apparent inhibition rate constants (kc) by 3.6 times for mercury compounds and 4.4 times for CdCl2. KI for the three mercury compounds is found to be 53 microM. It is unexpected that the same value of KI exists for all three forms of mercury studied and that inhibition of the enzyme by the metals is a relatively slow process. For Cd(II) the value of KI is 8.5 microM. It is suggested that inhibition of GSH X Px enzyme activity by cadmium, mercury, and organic mercury salts may not be due to simple complexation of the active site selenium moiety but may be due to a slower process, e.g., an alteration of the enzyme tertiary or quaternary structure.

Four groups of rats were given: cadmium chloride (Cd), cadmium chloride and mercuric chloride (Cd + Hg), cadmium chloride and sodium selenite (Cd + Se), or cadmium chloride, mercuric chloride, and sodium selenite (Cd + Hg + Se). All animals received subcutaneous doses of 115mCdCl2 (0.3 mg Cd/kg) every other day for 2 weeks. Mercuric chloride was administered intravenously at doses of 0.5 mg Hg/kg every other day, and Na2 75SeO3 intragastrically at doses of 0.1 mg Se/kg every day for a fortnight. The whole-body and organ retention of cadmium changed slightly with the type of exposure. A significant interaction effect of the examined elements was noted in the nuclear and soluble fractions of the liver and kidneys. Mercury decreased the cadmium concentration in both the nuclear and soluble fractions of the kidneys and diminished the effect of selenium on the cadmium level in the soluble fraction of the kidneys. In the liver the presence of mercury contrary to selenium, lowered the cadmium level in the nuclear fraction. The pattern of cadmium binding to proteins of the soluble fraction of the kidneys and liver remained the same in all groups of animals.

A new method for the activity measurement of 115mCd in biological samples was proposed. After tissues mineralization with 60% perchloric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide (I) or with 0.5 M ethanolic sodium hydroxide (II) the solutions were measured in automatic liquid scintillation counter SL-30 by CERENKOV technique. The channels ratio method was successfully applied for standardization. The recoveries of 115mCd varied in the ranges: 93.6-102% and 82.7-99.3% for method I and II, respectively.

Renal binding of cadmium was compared in groups of rats administered cadmium intragastrically or subcutaneously in doses resulting in similar renal cadmium concentrations. In rats administered cadmium intragastrically the renal concentrations of copper and metallothionein were lower, suggesting disturbance in copper metabolism. These changes were alleviated gradually in the post-exposure period. In experiments with 64Cu it has been shown that intragastric exposure to cadmium reduced copper absorption to about 21% of that in the control rats, thus explaining the poor copper availability for renal binding of cadmium in the form of Cd,Cu-metallothionein. Changes in zinc uptake were less strongly marked and were limited to slight decrease of zinc content in the kidneys.

Female rats were divided into four groups of five rats each including one control group (C). The animals were administered Na2SeO3 (Se), (CdCl2 Cd), and Na2SeO3 + CdCl2 (Cd + Se). Sodium selenite was given intragastrically at a dose of 0.5 mg Se/kg every day and cadmium chloride was injected subcutaneously every other day at a dose of 0.3 mg Cd/kg for 2 weeks. Exposure of rats to Cd caused an increase in the concentration of copper in the kidneys, blood, and liver and a decrease in the lung, but increased the concentration of zinc in the liver and brain and diminished it in the muscles and bones. In animals exposed to Se an increase in the copper concentration was observed in blood and brain; zinc was increased in the blood, heart, brain, and stomach, but decreased in the kidneys. Exposure of rats to Cd + Se resulted in an increase of copper in the kidneys and a decrease in the spleen, lungs, stomach, muscles and bones. Se prevented the cadmium-induced diminution of the zinc levels in the muscles and bones.

This paper reviews the following problems, sampling, decomposition procedures and most important analytical methods used for selenium determination, e.g., neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry, gas-liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, and x-ray fluorescence. This review covers the literature mainly from 1975 to 1977.

The concentrations of cadmium, zinc, copper and metallothionein in the autopsy samples of liver among the inhabitants of Lódź (Poland) were determined. The cadmium levels were low in the range of 1.5 to 5.8 micrograms/g. The concentration of metallothionein determined by the Hg-method was high (0.160-1.665 mumol Hg/g); it was mainly a Zn-thionein. The percentage of hepatic zinc bound in the MT-fraction increased with the overall content of zinc in the liver. The elevation of zinc in the liver occurs in the proportion required for the saturation of metal-binding ligands of metallothionein. The role of cadmium remains less clear. Our results suggest that the metallothionein level in the liver increase significantly in response to elevated cadmium concentrations. This response, however, is in high excess to the demand which is justified stoichiometrically.