Abstract
Since 1986 airborne dustfall has been recorded over the Kraków District area (KDA) by a 53 test sites located on the grid basis. Dust samples were analyzed quarterly by an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for cadmium, nickel, copper, lead and chromium concentration in a fallout. Congenital malformations (1300 cases) were ascertained by multiple source registration during the period of 4 years ( 1986 - 1989) over KDA. Neural tube defects - NTD (68 cases) facial clefts - FC (66 cases), heart defects - HD (279 cases), and limb malformations - LM (429 cases) were assigned to ihe measure grid areas according to the place of inhabitance. The number of inhabitants in grid areas were calculated using a planimelric method on the basis of the City Council population density records. The number of congenital malformations correlated well with the number of inhabitants in analyzed subareas (R = 0.64 to R = 0.78 p < 0.01, checked for each class of malformation). For further calculations a standarized malformation distribution was used. Simple regression tesls were performed for the malformation distribution (dependent variable) and the listed metals means distribution in the air fallout (independent variable).
Results and discussion: Most of regression tests revealed no relationship between the variables. The correlation coeficient values were insignificant for Pb, Cu and Cr (-0.2 < R < 0.2). A weak negative correlation between LM and NI (R= -0.32 n = 0.1) was found. There was correlation between NTD and Cd (R = 0.47 p = 0.07). The results reject the hypothesis about the influence of airborne heaw metal pollution on selected congenital malformations incidence. A positive correlation between the cadmium fallout and the incidence of NTD needs further elucidation.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sanak, M., Pietrzyk, J., Czarnowieska, A. et al. 96 HEAVY METALS AIRBORNE POLLUTION INFLOUENCE ON SELECTED CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS IN THE KRAKOW DISTRICT AREA. Pediatr Res 30, 644 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199112000-00126
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199112000-00126