Levels of cadmium and lead in blood in relation to smoking, sex, occupation, and other factors in an adult population of the FRG

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Abstract
Levels of cadmium (CdB) and lead (PbB) were determined in the blood of 579 60–65 year-old residents of Cologne and two small cities near Cologne. CdB-levels in cigarette smokers are on the average 3–4 times higher than in non-smokers (geometric means: non-smokers, 0.44 μg/1; ≤ 10 cigaretrettes/d, 1.16 μg/l; > 10 cigarettes/d, 1.85 μg/1). The results indicate that, with regard to the internal dose, cadmium exposure via smoking may contribute even more than does exposure via food. PbB-levels (geometric mean: 8.49 μg/100 ml; range: 2.9–30.3 μg/100 ml) are in the acceptable range as defined by the CEC reference values. Male smokers have on the average slightly higher PbB-levels than male non-smokers. In women PbB-levels are on the average lower than in men.