lead-radioisotopes and Lead-Poisoning

Lead poisoning can, in some cases, be traced to a specific route or source of exposure on the basis of the individual's blood lead isotope ratio. To assess the major source of lead exposure among women residing in Mexico City, we compared blood, ceramic, and gasoline lead isotope ratios.. The study population, randomly selected from participants of a large trial, (1/1996-12/1996) comprised of 16 women whose lead levels exceeded 10 micrograms/dl and who reported using lead-glazed ceramics. Lead isotope ratios were performed on a Perkin Elmer 5000 Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) interfaced with a Perkin Elmer HGA-600MS Electrothermal Vaporization System (ETV).. The isotope ratios (206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb) of both the blood specimens and their corresponding ceramic specimens were highly correlated, with r = 0.9979, r2 = 0.9958, r = 0.9957, r2 = 0.9915 and r = 0.9945, r2 = 0.9890 values for the three isotope ratios, respectively, suggesting that the lead exposure most likely resulted from the use of these ceramic. Measurements of lead isotope ratios from leaded gasoline in use at the time of blood sampling, differed from those in blood and ceramics.. Determining lead isotope ratios can be an efficient tool to identify a major source of lead exposure and to support the implementation of public health prevention and control measures. This paper is available too at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.

Topics: Ceramics; Double-Blind Method; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Gasoline; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes; Mass Spectrometry; Mexico

Lead (Pb) poisoning is most commonly linked amongst anthropogenically-caused deaths in waterfowl and this is often associated with hunting and fishing activities. However, the exact identification of the source may be difficult with commonly-used techniques. We have studied isotope ratios using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate the source of Pb in the blood of Mute swans (n = 49) wintering in northern Poland. We compared the values of isotopic ratios from blood and ammunition pellets available on the Polish market. The mean Pb concentrations found was 0.241 μg/g (w/w) and nearly half of the blood specimens had elevated Pb levels (higher than the cited 0.23 μg/g w/w threshold of poisoning). Only the mean 208/206 Pb isotope ratio was similar in blood and pellet samples. Mean ratios of isotopes 206/204, 206/207 and 208/207 in swans' blood and in pellets differed significantly. Moreover, coefficients of variation were higher in blood samples than in pellets. These discrepancies and significant differences in abundance of

Topics: Animals; Anseriformes; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes; Poland

The effects of thiamin on the whole body retention of led were evaluated in CD-1 mice treated intragastrically or intraperitoneally while exposed to a single dose of lead acetate (100 micrograms) containing 100 mu Ci lead-203. They were administered thiamin (25 or 50 mg/kg body wt.), calcium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (CaEDTA) (50 mg/kg body wt.) or their combination in pretreatment or posttreatment regimens for 13 days. Both pre- and posttreatment with thiamin reduced the lead retention compared to the untreated lead-exposed mice, although the different patterns of lead retention were observed. The combined pretreatment (thiamin 50 mg/kg and CaEDTA) and the CaEDTA treatment alone reduced the whole body retention of lead most effectively. Thiamin, CaEDTA and the combined treatments decreased the absorption of lead-203 and the biological half-life of retained lead-203 following oral or intraperitoneal lead exposure. The reduced absorption and enhanced excretion of lead associated with thiamin administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment of lead poisoning.

Topics: Absorption; Administration, Oral; Animals; Edetic Acid; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Thiamine

EDTA-fluorocarbon microspheres (EDTAFM), calcium disodium ethylene diaminetetraacetate (CaNa2EDTA), calcium- or zinc-diethylene triamine pentaacetate (Ca- or Zn-DTPA) were investigated for their ability to treat experimental lead intoxication in mice. The 48 ICR mice were divided into six groups. Group I = no treatment; The other groups were injected with single ip doses of 210Pb (10 mg Pb2+ +555 kBq/kg). After 24 h they were injected in the tail vein with the chelating agents (20 mg/kg) or an equal volume of 10% glucose (10 mg/kg). Each mouse was housed in one metabolic cage, and urine was collected daily for 3 d. After 3 d, the mice were sacrificed for comparison of lead distribution within the liver, kidney, femur and the entire carcass as measured by 0.047 Mev gamma emission from 210Pb. The results reveal that injection of EDTA-FM to lead poisoned mice pretreated with 210Pb was more effective than Zn- or Ca-DTPA and CaNa2EDTA in reducing the lead induced inhibition in the activity of blood ALAD, and that it increased the excretion of 210Pb into the urine. The hepatic, renal and femur 210Pb contents after treatment with EDTAFM were much more decreased than Zn- or Ca-DTPA and CaNa2-EDTA. The order of effectiveness was EDTAFM greater than Zn-DTPA greater than Ca-DTPA greater than CaNa2-EDTA.

Topics: Animals; Chelating Agents; Edetic Acid; Female; Fluorocarbons; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Microspheres

Topics: Animals; Body Fluids; Dogs; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes; Radioisotopes; Radon

Topics: Animals; Genitalia; Lead Poisoning; Lead Radioisotopes