[10-year comparison of deposits of heavy metals in the human placenta]

The environmental influence on the heavy metal's (trace elements) content of the human placenta was determined in tissues from three different regions of the FRG by different analytical techniques. Besides the mean values and the standard deviation the frequency distribution curves of the elements cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese and nickel are given. Comparing the results with our findings from ten years ago it seems that cadmium concentrations in the placenta have reached an approximately equal level both in rural and in industrial districts. This is equally true for lead.