* Corresponding author. E-mail address: alhemiry1000@yahoo.com (N.A.F. Alhemiary) Anodic stripping voltammetry determination of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu in blood samples of children in some areas of Ibb governorate Nabil A.F. Alhemiary a,* , Mohamad A.H. Al-Duais a , Ali A. Mutair b , Anwar A. Wassel a Bassam M. Alshrabi a , Bilal A. Albadany a a Department of Chemistry,, Faculty of Science , University of Ibb, Ibb, Yemen b Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, University of Taiz, Ibb, Yemen Received 10 October 2010; received in revised form 25 February 2011; accepted 27 February 2011 Abstract Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu in blood samples of 132 children was developed. The children's ages range was between 6 months and 6 years and the samples were collected from different areas of Ibb governorate (Yemen). We used anodic stripping voltammetry for analyzing and determination of cited metals in the blood of all children. Large variation in the results have been correlated to the area inhabited, age differences and other factors. It was found that areas, which have environmental struts such as waste solid and waste water, had more quantities of these metals in blood samples in comparison with other safer sites. This is may be due to the lower concentration of Cd and Pb in samples. Also the results indicate that both Pb, Cd found in high mean concentration in blood samples of males children than in females children similarly the effect of age indicate that all younger children (between 6 months and 1 year) had shown comparatively lesser quantity of these metals in comparison with elder children (between 4 – 6 yeas). Keywords: Anodic stripping voltammtery; Determination; Heavy metals; Children; Blood. 1. Introduction The increasing pollution with many heavy metals which are harmful for the growth of the living organisms has been the subject of considerable interest [1]. The development of the industry and expansion of the chemical compounds used in different branches of industry are leading to the environmental spread of heavy metals [2]. To many people, heavy metal pollution is a problem associated with areas of intensive industry. However, roadways and automobiles now are considered to be one of the largest sources of heavy metals [3]. The population of women exposed to lead either at work or in their environment show a correlation between high lead content in the blood and the low birth weight of their children [4]. It was also shown that lead toxicity may cause mental and psychomotor retardation of children without encephalopathy [5, 6]. Cadmium toxicity may cause premature birth, low birth weight and even disturb production of chronic gonadotrophin by the placenta and impair development of the near born vascular system [7]. It was demonstrated that Cadmium effects on the genes were involved with growth regulation of initiated cells [8]. Journal of the Iranian Chemical Research www.iau-jicr.com IAU-ARAK J. Iran. Chem. Res. 4 (2011) 9-16