-transparent.png){kind=logo}
In-vivo measurements of lead concentrations in calcaneus (mainly trabecular bone) and tibia (mainly cortical bone) were performed by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) in 70 active and 30 retired lead smelter workers who had long-term exposure to lead. Comparison was made with 31 active and 10 retired truck assembly workers who had no known occupational exposure to lead. After physical examination, all participants provided blood and urine samples and answered a computerized questionnaire. Since 1950, blood lead has been determined repeatedly in lead workers at the smelter, which made it possible to calculate a time-integrated blood lead index for each worker. Lead concentrations in blood, urine, calcaneus, and tibia in active and retired lead workers were significantly higher than in the corresponding control groups (p < .001). The highest bone lead concentrations were found among retired lead workers (p < .001), which was the result of considerably higher lead exposure during 1940 to 1960. Lead concentrations in calcaneus in active lead workers were significantly higher than in tibia when expressed in ug of lead per gram of bone mineral, which suggests a quicker absorption over time in this mainly trabecular bone. The estimated biological half-times were 16 y in calcaneus (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 11-29 y) and 27 y in tibia (95% CI = 16-98 y). A strong positive correlation was found between lead concentrations in calcaneus and tibia for all lead workers (r = 0.54; p < .001). A strong positive correlation was also found between the bone lead concentrations and the cumulative blood lead index. Blood lead, at the time of study, correlated well with bone lead concentrations in retired--but not in active--workers, reflecting the importance of the endogenous (skeletal) lead exposure. The findings in this study indicate that bone lead measurements by XRF can give a good index of long-term lead exposure. Tibia measurements offer a higher precision than calcaneus measurements. The method is of particular interest in epidemiologic studies of adverse health effects caused by long-term lead exposure.
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
March 1992,
British journal of industrial medicine,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
May 1982,
Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
May 2000,
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
April 1986,
The Science of the total environment,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
August 1999,
Neurotoxicology,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
October 1985,
American journal of epidemiology,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
June 2001,
The Science of the total environment,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
May 1995,
Toxicology letters,
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
October 1995,
Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS),
L Gerhardsson, and
R Attewell, and
D R Chettle, and
V Englyst, and
N G Lundström, and
G F Nordberg, and
H Nyhlin, and
M C Scott, and
A C Todd
August 1994,
Occupational and environmental medicine,
