Concentrations of some Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu, Pb Se and Sn) in Human Teeth at Different Ages and the Correlation to Caries

Abstract

The present study aims to measure the concentrations of some heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and tin (Sn) in human teeth using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Forty one Teeth specimens were collected from people living in the Capital of Jordan Amman. Teeth specimens of different classes were analyzed like incisors, molars, and premolars. There are relationships between the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Se and Sn and gender, age and smoking with caries degree. In addition, the concentrations of the studied metals in teeth of males were higher in smokers than those from nonsmokers, but the concentrations of these heavy metals were approximately the same for smoker and nonsmoker females. Also, Caries doesn’t affect the concentrations of Cu, Pb and Se in human teeth, but it increases the concentrations of Cd and Sn. Furthermore, no brushing the teeth daily but randomly through the week and rareness of the frequent visits to the dentist clinic are the main reasons for inducing caries. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Se and Sn are found to increase with age due to accumulation.