Comparison of lead bioavailability in F344 rats fed lead acetate, lead oxide, lead sulfide, or lead ore concentrate from Skagway, Alaska

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287399309531737· OSTI ID:7033631

Dieter, M P; Matthews, H B ^[1]; Jeffcoat, R A ^[2]; Moseman, R F ^[3]

---

1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
2. Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
3. Radian Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)

An animal model using rats was developed to initiate investigations on the bioavailability of different sources of environmental lead. Lead must be absorbed and transported to target organs like brain, liver, kidney, and bone, before susceptible cells can be harmed. The bioavailability and therefore the toxicity of lead are dependent upon the route of exposure, dose, chemical structure solubility, particle size, matrix incorporation, and other physiological and physicochemical factors. In the present study male F344 rats were fed [<=] 38 [mu]m size particles of lead sulfide, lead oxide, lead acetate, and a lead ore concentrate from Skagway, Alaska, mixed into the diet at doses of 0, 10, 30, an 100 ppm as lead for 30 d. No morality or overt symptoms of lead toxicity were observed during the course of the study. Maximum blood lead concentrations attained in the 100 ppm groups were [approximately]80 [mu]g/dl in rats fed lead acetate and lead oxide and were [approximately]10 [mu]g/dl in those fed lead sulfide and lead ore concentrate. Maximum bone lead levels in rats fed soluble lead oxide and lead acetate were much higher ([approximately] 200 [mu]g/g) that those seen in rats fed the less soluble lead sulfide and lead ore ([approximately]10 [mu]g); kidney lead concentrations were also about 10-fold greater in rats fed the more soluble compared to the less soluble lead compounds. However, strong correlations between dose and tissue lead concentrations were observed in rats fed each of the four different lead compounds. Kidney lesions graded as minimal occurred in 7/10 rats fed 30 ppm and in 10/10 rats fed 100 ppm lead acetate, but not at lower doses or from other lead compounds. Similarly, urinary aminolevulinic acid excretion, a biomarker for lead toxicity, was increased in rats fed 100 ppm lead acetate or lead oxide, but was unaffected at lower doses or by the less soluble lead compounds. 25 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7033631
• Journal Information: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 39:1; ISSN 0098-4108; ISSN JTEHD6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
LEAD
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METALS
RATS
RODENTS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES