Measurement of lead content of children's teeth in situ by x-ray fluorescence.
The central nervous system of young children is particularly sensitive to neurological damage due to excessive lead exposure. The lead stored in a tooth is permanent and related to the quantity of ingested lead. The lead is assayed by measuring the characterisitc radiation from lead in a tooth in situ irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-57 source. The sensitivity of the method is adequate to measure lead levels commonly associated with environmental background. The X-ray exposure to the tooth necessary for this determination is approximately one tenth of that required for a routine dental examination.
D002648:Child; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008433:Mathematics; D011859:Radiography; D014070:Tooth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000032:analysis; D014965:X-Rays
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007854:Lead