Melketenner som biomarkører i epidemiologisk forskning

Abstract

Human primary teeth can give important information about trace element exposure prenatally and in early childhood – the period of tooth formation and the most vulnerable period in life. Trace elements from the environment and from nutrition are built into the tooth tissues during the period of tooth formation. As tooth tissues develop incrementally, according to a known pattern, and are very stable, teeth may function as recorders or biomarkers of different exposures during the period of tooth formation. In this paper the use of primary teeth as biomarkers of exposure is presented with a special focus on the use within epidemiology