Atomic absorption spectrometric evidence of relationships between some cationic elements in human dentine

Dentine samples were prepared from 123 permanent teeth and Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn concentrations were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Relations between the cations were evaluated using the correlation matrix and multiple linear regression analysis. When the simultaneous variation of the concentrations of all determined elements was taken into consideration, the following statistically significant positive correlations were found: Cu-Mn, Mn-Co, Ni-Mn and Sr-Ni. A weaker correlation was obtained between Ni and Mg and between Ni and Pb. The only negative correlation was between Sr and Pb, but the explanation percentage in the regression model was low. The results indicated that the chemically and physically related elements Co, Cu, Mn and Ni formed positive correlations. Sr-Ni and Mn-Cu relationships were similar to those reported for human cancellous bone.