The content of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and silver was evaluated in femoral head spongious bone of inhabitants of southern (Silesia, n = 13; Cracow, n = 13) and middle Poland (Lodz, n = 12). A total of 38 persons (29 females and 9 males) were included in the study. The average age in the Silesian group was 68 +/- 9.9 years old, in the group from Cracow 69.2 +/- 9.6 years old, and 68.3 +/- 7.3 years old for the inhabitants of Lodz. The AAS method was used to determine the femoral heads metal content after microwave mineralization. A similar content of calcium (av 18.4% dry weight), phosphorus (av 6.8%), magnesium (av 1883.5 microg/g), potassium (av 598.1 microg/g), iron (av 59.5 microg/g), zinc (av 90.1 microg/g), copper (av 90.1 microg/g), arsenic (av 0.3 microg/g), and silver (av 0.03 microg/g) was found in every group. Specimens from different regions differed in lead and cadmium content, illustrating the differences in environmental pollution exposure.
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