Original scientific paper
Is the total concentration of lead in blood a significant test for lead poisoning?
Halka Bilinski
; Department of Physical Chemistry, Ruder Bošković Institute, Zagreb
Abstract
By the method of inverse polarography maximal concentration of soluble lead in blood plasma, at experimental conditions in vitro, 25°C. t = 48 h, pC02 = 10-3.5 atm was found to be 101.5 µg/l. It was compared with the concentration of lead in »normal« man, at 37° C to get an approximate relationship. Because of low solubility of Iead and of important time factor great care is necessary if the total lead concentration in blood is to be used as a significant test for lead poisoning. Using a model concept of heterogeneous mixture of dissolved and solid inorganic salts. preliminary information about the behaviour of lead and calcium in blood plasma regarding solubility, ionic state and interdependence was obtained. ln the examined model it was calculated that thermodynamically stable solid phases are Pb3(PO4)2 and Ca5(P04)30H. Predominance order of soluble lead and calcium complexes is PbSO4° > PbC03° > PbOH+ > PbCl+ > Pb(S0)4)22- > Pb2+, Ca(SO)4)22- > Ca2+ > CaSO4° > CaPO4-. The importance of an improved model concept as well as of such experimental technique which would enable direct determination of different ionic species of metal pollutants in blood is emphasized.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
167207
URI
Publication date:
18.9.1975.
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