Heavy trace elements in ancient Norwegian teeth

The present work was undertaken in order to determine the content of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in 26 teeth retrieved from burial-grounds in various parts of Norway, dated from A.D. 200 up to 1850. The analyses were made by differential pulse stripping voltammetry on hydrochloric acid digests of the teeth. High levels of lead were found in teeth dated from ca A.D. 1500 from Gimsøy Kloster and Tønsberg. Teeth originating from A.D. 200 showed a high content of Cd, Cu and Zn.