Cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations and their influence on morphological parameters in blood donors from different age groups from southern Poland

•Levels of Hg and Pb varied between age groups.•Blood concentrations of Cd and Pb in older donors were significantly correlated.•Correlation between RBC and Hg concentration in the older group was observed.

Due to industrial development, environmental contamination with metals increases which leads to higher human exposure via air, water and food. In order to evaluate the level of the present exposition, the concentrations of metals can be measured in such biological materials as human blood. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) in blood samples from male blood donors from southern Poland (Europe) born in 1994 (n = 30) and between 1947 and 1955 (n = 30). Higher levels of Pb were seen in the group of older men (4.48 vs 2.48 μg/L), whereas the Hg levels were lower (1.78 vs 4.28 μg/L). Cd concentrations did not differ between age groups (0.56 μg/L). The levels of Cd and Pb in older donors were significantly correlated (Spearman R 0.5135). We also observed a positive correlation between the number of red blood cells (RBC) and Hg concentrations in the older group (Spearman R 0.4271). Additionally, we noted numerous correlations among morphological parameters. Based on our results, we can state that metals influence the blood morphology and their concentrations in blood vary among age groups.