[Evaluating the intake of heavy metals].

An environmental hygienic test model has been developed with Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cr as examples, which allows to investigate the distribution and behaviour of the elements in biological cycles and to estimate the metal reception by humans. The model enables to calculate the mean reception of heavy metal per person for differently contaminated areas. The results demonstrate that the maximum tolerable intake, proposed by FAO/WHO, fell short of concerning Cd and Pb and that the supply with the other elements was sufficient in the population investigated.