title: Lead in finger-bone analysed in vivo in active and retired lead workers.
abstract: In 75 active lead workers the median lead level in finger-bone (bone-Pb), as determined in vivo by an X-ray fluorescence method, was 43 micrograms/g (range less than 20-122). In 32 retired workers the median level was even higher, 59 micrograms/g (range less than 20-135), which indicates a slow turnover rate of lead in finger-bone. This was confirmed in 18 of the "active" workers, in whom bone-Pb was studied in connection with an exposure-free period. In spite of a significant decrease in blood-lead levels (B-Pb), no systematic change of bone-Pb occurred. There was an increase of bone-Pb with time of employment, but with a large interindividual variation. No association was found between bone-Pb and present B-Pb in the active lead workers. However, in the retired ones, B-Pb rose with increasing bone-Pb. The bone-lead pool thus causes an "internal" lead exposure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012179:Retirement; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead