In Vivo X-Ray Fluorescence of Bone Lead in the Study of Human Lead Metabolism: Serum Lead, Whole Blood Lead, Bone Lead, and Cumulative Exposure Journal Articles uri icon

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abstract

  • Traditionally, clinical studies of lead's effect on health have relied on blood lead levels to indicate lead exposure. However, this is unsatisfactory because blood lead levels have a half-life of approximately 5 weeks (Rabinowitz et al., 1976), and thus reflect recent exposure. Over 90% of the lead body burden is in bone, and it is thought to have a long residence time, thus implying that measurements of bone lead reflect cumulative exposure (Barry, 1975). So, measurements of bone lead are useful m understanding the long-term health effects of lead.

publication date

  • 1994