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In Slovenia,several cross-sectional studies following the same protocol were conducted in recent years to assess the extent of exposure of the Slovenian population to environmental contaminants including mercury(Hg),lead(Pb),cadmium(Cd)and arsenic(As).Status of essential elements(selenium,zinc,copper)was also assessed,as they can interact with toxic metals and metalloids,influencing their absorption,distribution,metabolism and elimination in human body.The selected contaminants were measured in urine as well as in blood,and Hg also in hair,to demonstrate appropriateness of the selected biomarkers as an indicators of specific exposure.The exposure was compared between women(20-45 years),men(20-45 years)and children(6-11 years),as well as between different geographical regions including rural,urban and contaminated environments.In general,men had the highest exposure to Hg,Pb and As and children the lowest(p<0.001).In case of Cd,the highest exposure was observed in women and the lowest in children(p<0.001).Essential elements were the highest in fathers and the lowest in children(p<0.001).We demonstrated hair Hg as the best biomarker of organic Hg exposure through fish consumption.However,urinary Hg should be included in human biomonitoring surveys as well,as the best indicator of inorganic exposure through amalgam fillings and/or broken Hg containing thermometers.Cd in urine and blood was influenced the most by smoking,and by passive smoking in children.None of the food items examines did not influence Cd exposure significantly,neither in urine nor in blood.Pb in blood was related only to wine consumption in women and insignificantly to the type of water supply.As exposure was strongly associated with sea fish and shell fish consumption,stronger associations were found for urinary than for blood As.Educational level was related only with Hg exposure(positively)but not with the other contaminants.This work was supported by the EU 6th FP research project PHIME,National Human Biomonitoring programme financed by the Ministry of Health of Republic of Slovenia,the LIFE+ and the Slovenian Research Agency.In the future work,the existing cohorts will be included in the on-going 7th FP and LIFE+ projects HEALS and CROME,to examine the genes involved in absorption,metabolism,retention and elimination of the selected metals/metalloids in/from the body,aiming to identify gene variants responsible for individuals susceptibility to these contaminants.