title: Decrease of skeletal lead levels in man after end of occupational exposure.
abstract: Lead levels in finger bone were monitored using an in vivo X-ray fluorescence technique in retired lead workers. Eight subjects followed for 2-5 yr directly after end of exposure all displayed a decrease. Their average half-time was 7 (range 3-15) yr. In a second group of six persons, followed from year 7 to year 13 after finishing lead work, a decrease was seen in all but one. The average half-time for this group was 8 (range 2 infinity) yr. The mean value for both groups was 7 yr. The results show that there is a decrease of lead in bone after the end of exposure and that it is considerably faster than estimated earlier from various data on lead metabolism.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D007854:Lead