X-ray fluorescence analysis of lead in teeth of urban children in situ: Correlation between the tooth lead level and the concentration of blood lead and free erythroporphyrins

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Environmental Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(78)90059-2· OSTI ID:5345579

Shapiro, I M; Burke, A; Mitchell, G; Bloch, P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (USA)

The tooth lead level of 30 lead-exposed children was measured in situ using an X-ray fluorescence technique. The tooth lead concentration divided by the child's age correlated with the free erythroporphyrin (FEP) (r = 0.51) and the blood lead levels (r = 0.31). The mean tooth lead concentrations of 10 Class IV children (FEP greater than or equal to 190 micrograms/100 ml; blood lead 30-80 micrograms/ml) was 14.5 {plus minus} 5.5 ppm/year. Reexamination of the histories of children who had been classified as Class II or III, but who had tooth lead concentrations within 1 SD of the Class IV level, indicated that many of these children could also be considered to be Class IV children. When the x-ray fluorescence technique was used to screen an urban population of 300 children, the tooth lead values indicated that 72% of the children had been exposed to low levels of environmental lead. Six percent of the children were found to have tooth lead concentrations in excess of 9 ppm/year and within 1 SD of the mean value exhibited by Class IV children. These children were considered to have a high body lead burden. The percentage of children having an elevated tooth lead level is similar to the number previously reported using exfoliated deciduous teeth.

• OSTI ID: 5345579
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (USA) Vol. 17:1; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BODY BURDEN
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHILDREN
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LEAD
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
ORAL CAVITY
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PORPHYRINS
TEETH
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS