Short communication, Note

Metabolism of inorganic lead in occupationally exposed humans

S. Skerfving ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
L. Ahlgren ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
J.-O. Christoffersson ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
B. Haeger-Aronsen ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
S. Mattsson ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
A. Schütz ; Department of Occupational Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Departments of Radiation Physics, Malmo General Hospital, Malmo, and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

Decay rates of blood lead levels in 29 lead workers after end of exposure were analysed mathematically with an exponential two-compartment model. The slow pool had a median half-time of about 5 years, the fast one about one month, but with a considerable inter-individual variation. Lead levels in finger-bone, as determined in 73 active and retired workers by an X-ray fluorescence method, ranged from less than 20 up to 135 mg/kg. There was an increase of finger-bone lead level with increasing exposure time (maximum about 10 mg/kg/year), but the variation between individuals was considerable. In retired workers there was an association between lead levels in finger-bone and blood; an increase of 100-150 mg/kg corresponded to about 1.5 µmol/l. Bone lead levels in biopsies from vertebral spinous processes of 28 lead workers were often lower or higher than in finger-bone, suggesting at least two bone lead pools. Lead level in bone may be practically useful to determine the extent of »internal« lead exposure by mobilization from the skeleton.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

157866

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/157866

Publication date:

3.10.1984.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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