MAGNITUDE OF LEAD INTAKE FROM RESPIRATION BY NORMAL MAN

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 90  (2) , 238-248
Abstract
Pb metabolism of 5 normal men was studied in a hospital metabolic unit in order to measure the daily intake of Pb by respiration in urban adults. Subjects ingested a constant diet, and samples of blood, urine, feces and diet were analyzed periodically for Pb isotopic abundances by mass spectrometry. Three men were fed a stable isotope tracer of Pb daily for 83-124 days in order to distinguish ingested from respired Pb. Also, 3 men lived in rooms with filtered, low-Pb air for 25-50 days to examine the response of blood Pb levels to a change in airborne Pb exposure. The quantity of respired Pb intake was determined from the Pb balance data, labeling of blood Pb with a dietary Pb tracer and the response of blood Pb levels and Pb balances to exposure to low-Pb air. These men probably absorbed a mean of 14 .+-. 4 (SD) .mu.g/day of Pb while exposed to the ambient levels of about 2 .mu.g/m3 of airborne Pb. About twice this amount was absorbed from the diet.

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