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Lead in finger‐bone analysed in vivo in active and retired lead workers
Author(s) -
Christoffersson J. O.,
Schütz A.,
Ahlgren L.,
HaegerAronsen B.,
Mattsson S.,
Skerfving S.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700060608
Subject(s) - lead (geology) , medicine , lead exposure , in vivo , bone remodeling , lead poisoning , biology , cats , psychiatry , paleontology , microbiology and biotechnology
In 75 active lead workers the median lead level in finger‐bone (bone‐Pb), as determined in vivo by an X‐ray fluorescence method, was 43 μg/g (range < 20–122). In 32 retired workers the median level was even higher, 59 μg/g (range < 20–135), which indicates a slow turnover rate of lead in finger‐bone. This was confirmed in 18 of the “active” workers, in whom bone‐Pb was studied in connection with an exposure‐free period. In spite of a significant decrease in blood‐lead levels (B‐Pb), no systematic change of bone‐Pb occurred. There was an increase of bone‐Pb with time of employment, but with a large interindividual variation. No association was found between bone‐Pb and present B‐Pb in the active lead workers. However, in the retired ones, B‐Pb rose with increasing bone‐Pb. The bone‐lead pool thus causes an “internal” lead exposure.