4266.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 4:45 PM

Abstract #29039

U.S. population's exposure to thirteen toxic metals

Kathleen Caldwell, PhD1, Robert Jones, PhD1, Dayton Miller, PhD1, Dan Paschal, PhD1, Elaine Gunter, MS1, and Susan E. Schober, PhD2. (1) Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 770-488-4852, KCaldwell@cdc.gov, (2) National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD

Except for exposure to lead and cadmium, little information has been available about the exposure of the U.S. population to a multitude of toxic metals. Using specimens obtained from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, CDC has evaluated the exposure of the U.S. population to selected toxic metals. CDC scientists have measured levels of multiple metals in whole blood and urine using biomonitoring techniques. We are measuring lead, mercury, and cadmium in whole blood and antimony, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead , molybdenum, platinum, thallium, tungsten, and uranium in urine.

We discuss the advanced instrumentation used to measure these metals and the use of rapid screens to evaluate environmental and other nonoccupational exposures to metals. Additionally, we discuss research and development work that is under way to measure additional metals, including arsenic, manganese, nickel, chromium, and mercury in urine. Future work will also allow us to detect trends in the population's exposure to these toxic metals.

See www.cdc.gov/nceh/dls

Learning Objectives: 1. List toxic elements described in CDC's National Exposure Report. 2. Identify the issues related to blood and urine collection when multielement analyses are conducted. 3. Name the satea-of-the-art analytical technologies used for elemental analysis.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA