Knowledge of normal levels of concentrations of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Se) in the population serves, among others, in design of regulations concerning health protection, determination of exposure limits and prevention of diseases caused by deficiency of trace elements. Concentrations of the named elements in whole blood of the Czech population were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The blood was collected during 1996–1998 from 1 216 blood donors (896 males and 320 females, average age 33 years) and 758 children (397 boys and 361 girls, average age 9.9 years). Mineralisation in a microwave digestion system was used in sample preparation. The accuracy of results was checked by means of the Control material Seronorm Whole Blood 404107 and Seronorm Serum 704121, Nycomed. Values of concentrations of the trace elements in blood found for adult (medians) were 0.7 mg Cd.l -1 , 800 mg Cu.l -1 , 0.78 mg Hg.l -1 , 41 mg Pb.l -1 , 76 mg Se.l -1 , and 5 800 mg Zn.l -1 , respectively. Statistically significant differences between men and women have been found in the concentrations of Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn. In the juvenile population following medians of concentrations have been found: 0.15 mg Cd.l -1 , 1 047 mg Cu.l -1 , 0.46 mg Hg.l -1 , 34 mg Pb.l -1 , 69 mg Se.l -1 , and 8 180 mg Zn.l -1. Statistically significant differences between boys and girls were found only in Pb and Zn concentrations. Concentrations of the studied elements correspond to the published values concerning population not exposed professionally.

        Key words: trace elements, whole blood, reference values, non-occupational exposure