United States
             Environmental Protection
             Agency
               Environmental Criteria and
               Assessment Office
               Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
EPA-600/8-83/028cF
June 1986
xvEPA
             Research and Development
Air Quality
Criteria for Lead
             Volume III of IV

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                                  ABSTRACT

      The  document evaluates and  assesses  scientific  information on the health
 and  welfare  effects  associated  with  exposure  to  various concentrations of lead
 in  ambient air.   The  literature  through 1985 has been reviewed thoroughly for
 information  relevant  to  air quality criteria,  although  the  document  is not
 intended  as  a  complete and detailed  review  of all  literature pertaining to
 lead.   An attempt has been made  to identify the  major  discrepancies  in our
 current knowledge and  understanding  of the effects of these pollutants.
      Although  this  document  is  principally  concerned  with  the health  and
 welfare effects  of  lead,  other scientific data are presented and evaluated in
 order  to  provide a  better understanding of this pollutant in the environment.
 To  this  end, the document  includes chapters that  discuss  the  chemistry and
 physics  of  the  pollutant;  analytical  techniques;   sources,  and  types  of
 emissions;  environmental   concentrations  and  exposure  levels;   atmospheric
 chemistry  and  dispersion  modeling;  effects  on  vegetation; and  respiratory,
 physiological,  toxicological,  clinical,  and  epidemiological aspects  of  human
exposure.
                                      m

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                                           CONTENTS
VOLUME I
  Chapter 1.   Executive Summary and Conclusions 	     1"!

VOLUME II
  Chapter 2.    Introduction 	     2-1
  Chapter 3.    Chemical and Physical Properties 	     3-1
  Chapter 4.    Sampling and Analytical  Methods for Environmental  Lead 	     4-1
  Chapter 5.    Sources and Emissions 	     5-1
  Chapter 6.    Transport and Transformation 	     6-1
  Chapter 7.    Environmental Concentrations and Potential  Pathways to Human Exposure ..     7-1
  Chapter 8.    Effects of Lead on Ecosystems 	     8-1

VOLUME III
  Chapter 9.    Quantitative Evaluation of Lead and Biochemical Indices of Lead
               Exposure in Physiological Media 	     9~1
  Chapter 10.  Metabolism of Lead 	•	    10"1
  Chapter 11.  Assessment of Lead Exposures and Absorption in Human Populations 	    11-1

Volume IV
  Chapter 12.  Biological Effects of Lead Exposure 	l"\'"*	
  Chapter 13.  Evaluation of Human Health Risk Associated with Exposure to Leaa
               and Its Compounds 	

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                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
9    QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF LEAD AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF LEAD EXPOSURE
     IN PHYSIOLOGICAL MEDIA 	      9-1
     9.1  INTRODUCTION 	      9-1
     9.2  DETERMINATIONS OF LEAD IN BIOLOGICAL MEDIA 	      9-2
          9.2.1  Sampling and Sample Handling Procedures for Lead
                 in Biological Media 	      9-2
                 9.2.1.1  Blood Sampling 	      9-3
                 9.2.1.2  Urine Sampling 	      9-4
                 9.2.1.3  Hair Sampling 	      9-4
                 9.2.1.4  Mineralized Tissue 	      9-5
                 9.2.1.5  Sample Handling in the Laboratory 	      9-5
          9.2.2  Methods of Lead Analysis 	      9-6
                 9.2.2.1  Lead Analysis in Whole Blood 	      9-7
                 9.2.2.2  Lead in Plasma 	      9-11
                 9.2.2.3  Lead in Teeth 	      9-12
                 9.2.2.4  Lead in Hair 	      9-13
                 9.2.2.5  Lead in Urine 	      9-14
                 9.2.2.6  Lead in Other Tissues 	      9-15
          9.2.3  Quality Assurance Procedures in Lead Analysis 	      9-16
     9.3  DETERMINATION OF ERYTHROCYTE PORPHYRIN (FREE ERYTHROCYTE
          PROTOPORPHYRIN, ZINC PROTOPORPHYRIN) 	      9-20
          9.3.1  Methods of Erythrocyte Porphyrin Analysis	      9-20
          9.3.2  Interlaboratory Testing of Accuracy and Precision in
                 EP Measurement 	      9-23
     9.4  MEASUREMENT OF URINARY COPROPORPHYRIN 	      9-25
     9.5  MEASUREMENT OF DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID DEHYDRASE ACTIVITY 	      9-25
     9.6  MEASUREMENT OF DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID IN URINE AND OTHER MEDIA 	      9-27
     9.7  MEASUREMENT OF PYRIMIDINE-5'-NUCLEOTIDASE ACTIVITY 	      9-29
     9.8  MEASUREMENT OF PLASMA 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D 	      9-30
     9.9  SUMMARY 	      9-31
          9.9.1  Determinations of Lead in Biological Media 	      9-32
          9.9.2  Determination of Erythrocyte Porphyrin (Free Erythrocyte
                 Protoporphyrin, Zinc Protoporphyrin) 	      9-35
          9.9.3  Measurement of Urinary Coproporphyrin 	      9-36
          9.9.4  Measurement of Delta-Ami no!evulinic Acid Dehydrase Activity 	      9-36
          9.9.5  Measurement of Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid in Urine and Other Media ...      9-37
          9.9.6  Measurement of Pyrimidine-5'-Nucleotidase Activity 	      9-38
          9.9.7  Measurement of Plasma 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 	      9-38
     9.10 REFERENCES 	      9-39

10.   METABOLISM OF LEAD 	     10-1
     10.1 INTRODUCTION 	     10-1
     10. 2 LEAD ABSORPTION IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS 	     10-1
          10.2.1  Respiratory Absorption of Lead 	     10-1
                  10.2.1.1  Human Studies 	     10-2
                  10.2.1.2  Animal Studies 	     10-6
          10.2.2  Gastrointestinal Absorption of Lead 	     10-6
                  10.2.2.1  Human Studies 	     10-6
                  10.2.2.2  Animal Studies 	     10-10
          10.2.3  Percutaneous Absorption of Lead 	     10-13
          10.2.4  Transplacental Transfer of Lead 	     10-14

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued).
10.3 DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS 	    10-14
     10.3.1  Lead in Blood 	    10-15
     10.3.2  Lead Levels in Tissues 	    10-19
             10.3.2.1  Soft Tissues 	    10-20
             10.3.2.2  Mineralizing Tissue 	    10-23
     10.3.3  Chelatable Lead 	    10-24
     10.3.4  Mathematical Descriptions of Physiological Lead Kinetics 	    10-26
     10.3.5  Animal Studies 	    10-31
10.4 LEAD EXCRETION AND RETENTION IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS 	    10-32
     10.4.1  Human Studies 	    10-32
     10.4.2  Animal Studies 	    10-38
10.5 INTERACTIONS OF LEAD WITH ESSENTIAL METALS AND OTHER FACTORS 	    10-41
     10.5.1  Human Studies 	    10-41
     10.5.2  Animal Studies 	    10-44
             10.5.2.1  Interactions of Lead with Calcium 	    10-44
             10.5.2.2  Interactions of Lead with Iron  	    10-48
             10.5.2.3  Lead Interactions with Phosphate 	    10-48
             10.5.2.4  Interactions of Lead with Vitamin D  	    10-49
             10. 5. 2. 5  Interactions of Lead with Lipids 	    10-49
             10.5.2.6  Lead Interaction with Protein 	    10-50
             10.5.2.7  Interactions of Lead with Milk  Components  	    10-50
             10.5.2.8  Lead Interactions with Zinc and Copper  	    10-50
10.6 INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LEAD EXPOSURE, EXPOSURE INDICATORS,
     AND  TISSUE LEAD BURDENS  	    10-51
     10.6.1  Temporal  Characteristics of Internal Indicators
             of Lead Exposure  	    10-52
     10.6.2  Biological Aspects of External Exposure/Internal
             Indicator Relationships  	    10-53
     10.6.3  Internal  Indicator/Tissue Lead Relationships  	    10-54
10. 7 METABOLISM OF  LEAD ALKYLS 	    10-57
     10.7.1  Absorption of Lead Alkyls in Humans and Animals  	    10-57
             10.7.1.1  Gastrointestinal Absorption	    10-57
             10.7.1.2  Percutaneous Absorption  of Lead Alkyls  	    10-58
     10.7.2  Biotransformation and Tissue Distribution of  Lead Alkyls  	    10-58
     10.7.3  Excreti on of  Lead Alky1s  	    10-59
10.8 SUMMARY 	    10-60
     10.8.1  Lead Absorption  in Humans and Animals 	    10-60
             10.8.1.1   Respiratory Absorption of Lead  	    10-60
             10.8.1.2  Gastrointestinal Absorption of  Lead 	    10-61
             10.8.1.3   Percutaneous Absorption  of Lead 	    10-62
             10.8.1.4   Transplacental  Transfer  of Lead 	    10-62
     10.8.2  Distribution  of  Lead in  Humans and Animals  	    10-62
             10.8.2.1   Lead  in Blood  	    10-62
             10.8.2.2   Lead  Levels  in Tissues  	        10-63
                        10.8.2.2.1 Soft Tissues 	!.    10-63
                        10.8.2.2.2 Mineralizing Tissue 	    10-64
                        10.8.2.2.3 Chelatable  Lead	    10-65
                        10.8.2.2.4 Animal Studies  	    10-65
     10.8.3  Lead Excretion  and Retention  in Humans  and  Animals 	    10-66
             10.8.3.1   Human  Studies  	    10-66

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued).
                  10.8.3.2  Animal Studies 	     10-67
          10.8.4  Interactions of Lead with Essential Metals and Other Factors 	     10-67
                  10.8.4.1  Human Studies 	     10-67
                  10.8.4.2  Animal Studies 	     10-67
          10.8.5  Interrelationships of Lead Exposure with Exposure Indicators
                  and Tissue Lead Burdens 	     10-68
                  10.8.5.1  Temporal Characteristics of Internal Indicators of
                            Lead Exposure 	     10-69
                  10.8.5.2  Biological Aspects of External Exposure/Internal
                            Indicator Relationships 	     10-69
                  10.8.5.3  Internal Indicator/Tissue Lead Relationships 	     10-69
          10.8.6  Metabolism of Lead Alkyls 	     10-70
                  10.8.6.1  Absorption of Lead Alkyls in Humans and Animals 	     10-70
                  10.8.6.2  Biotransformation and Tissue Distribution of
                            Lead Alkyls 	     10-71
                  10.8.6.3  Excretion of Lead Alkyls 	     10-71
     10. 9 REFERENCES	     10-72

11.   ASSESSMENT OF LEAD EXPOSURES AND ABSORPTION IN HUMAN POPULATIONS 	     11-1
     11.1 INTRODUCTION 	     11-1
     11.2 METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 	     11-4
          11.2.1  Analytical Problems 	     11-4
          11.2.2  Statistical Approaches 	     11-5
          11.2.3  Confounding of Relevant Variables 	     11-6
     11. 3 LEAD IN HUMAN POPULATIONS 	     11-8
          11.3.1  Introduction 	     11-8
          11.3.2  Ancient and Remote Populations 	     11-8
                  11.3.2.1  Ancient Populations 	     11-10
                  11.3.2.2  Remote Populations 	     11-13
          11.3.3  Levels of Lead and Demographic Covariates in U.S.  and Other
                  Populations 	     11-14
                  11.3.3.1  The NHANES II Study 	     11-14
                  11.3.3.2  The Childhood Blood Lead Screening Programs 	     11-20
                  11.3.3.3  Levels of Lead and Demographic Covariates Worldwide 	     11-24
          11.3.4  Distributional  Aspects of Population Blood Lead Levels 	     11-24
          11 3 5  Time Trends in Blood Lead Levels Since 1970 	     11-31
                  11.3.5.1  Time Trends in NHANES II Study Data 	     11-31
                  11.3.5.2  Time Trends in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Screening
                            Programs 	     11-34
                  11.3.5.3  Newark 	     11-37
                  11.3.5.4  Boston 	     11-37
                  11.3.5.5  Lead Studies in the United Kingdom 	     11-40
                  11.3.5.6  Other Studies 	     11-41
          11 3.6  Gasoline Lead as an Important Determinant of Trends in Blood
                  Lead Levels 	     11-42
                  11.3.6.1  NHANES II Study Data	     11-42
                  11.3.6.2  Isotope Studies 	     11-45
                            11.3.6.2.1  Italy	     11-45
                            11.3.6.2.2  United States	     11-52
                  11.3.6.3  Studies of Childhood Blood Lead Poisoning Control
                            Programs 	     11-55
                  11.3.6.4  Frankfurt, West Germany 	     11-60

                                              vii

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued).
11.4 STUDIES RELATING EXTERNAL DOSE TO INTERNAL EXPOSURE 	     11-63
     11.4.1  Air Studies 	     11-66
             11.4.1.1  The Griffin et al.  Study 	     11-67
             11.4.1.2  The Rabinowitz et al.  Study 	     11-71
             11.4.1.3  The Chamberlain et al. Study 	     11-74
             11.4.1.4  The Kehoe Study 	     11-76
             11.4.1.5  The Azar et al. Study 	     11-78
             11.4.1.6  Silver Valley/Kellogg, Idaho Study	     11-81
             11.4.1.7  Omaha, Nebraska Studies 	     11-89
             11.4.1.8  Roels et al. Studies  	     11-91
             11.4.1.9  Other Studies Relating Blood Lead Levels to
                       Ai r Exposure 	     11-94
             11.4.1.10 Summary of Blood Lead versus Inhaled Air Lead Relations ..     11-99
     11.4.2  Dietary Lead Exposures Including Water 	     11-106
             11.4.2.1  Lead Ingestion from Typical Diets 	     11-108
                       11.4.2.1.1  Ryu Study on Infants and Toddlers 	     11-108
                       11.4.2.1.2  Rabinowitz Infant Study	     11-110
                       11.4.2.1.3  Rabinowitz Adult Study	     11-111
                       11.4.2.1.4  Hubermont Study 	     11-111
                       11.4.2.1.5  Sherlock  Studies	     11-111
                       11.4.2.1.6  Central Directorate on Environmental
                                   Pollution Study 	     11-114
                       11.4.2.1.7  Pocock Study 	     11-115
                       11.4.2.1.8  Thomas Study	     11-119
                       11.4.2.1.9  Elwood Study	     11-119
             11.4.2.2   Lead  Ingestion from Experimental Dietary Supplements          11-119
                       11.4.2.2.1  Kehoe Study	  '"     11-119
                       11.4.2.2.2  Stuik Study	     11-120
                        11.4.2.2.3  Cools Study	     11-122
                       11.4.2.2.4  Schlegel  Study	 '     11-122
                        11.4.2.2.5  Chamberlain Study  	'/.    11-122
             11.4.2.3   Inadvertent Lead  Ingestion  From  Lead  Plumbing  	    11-122
                        11.4.2.3.1  Early Studies  	''"'    H-122
                        11.4.2.3.2  Moore Studies  	'.['/.    H-124
                        11.4.2.3.3  Thomas  Study 	    11-126
                        11.4.2.3.4  Worth Study 	','.'.    11-127
             11.4.2.4   Summary  of  Dietary  Lead Exposures, Including Water  	    11-127
      11.4.3 Studies Relating Lead in Soil and Dust to  Blood Lead	    11-134
             11.4.3.1   Omaha, Nebraska  Studies  	     11-134
             11.4.3.2   Stark Study 	    11-134
             11.4.3.3   The Silver  Valley/Kellogg  Idaho  Study 	    11-137
             11.4.3.4   Blood Lead  Levels of  Dutch  City  Children  	    11-137
             11.4.3.5   Charney  Study 	    11-138
             11.4.3.6   Charleston  Studies  	    11-141
             11.4.3.7   Barltrop Studies  	    11-142
             11.4.3.8   The British Columbia  Studies  	    11-143
             11.4.3.9   The Baltimore Charney Study:   A  Controlled Trial  of
                        Household Dust Lead Reduction  	    11-145
             11.4.3.10 Gallacher Study  	    11-146
             11.4.3.11 Other Studies of  Soil and  Dusts  	    11-147
             11.4. 3.12 Summary of Soi 1  and Dust  Lead  	    11-151
      11.4.4  Paint Lead Exposures  	    11-151

                                         viii

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued).
11.5 SPECIFIC SOURCE STUDIES 	     11-161
     11 5.1  Primary Smelter Populations 	     11-161
             11.5.1.1  El Paso, Texas 	     11-161
             11.5.1.2  CDC-EPA Study 	     11-163
             11.5.1.3  Meza Valley, Yugoslavia 	     11-163
             11.5.1.4  Kosovo Province,  Yugoslavia 	     11-165
             11.5.1.5  The Cavalleri Study 	     11-165
             11.5.1.6  Hartwel1 Study 	     11-166
     11.5.2   Battery Plants 	     11-166
     11.5.3   Secondary Smelters 	     11-166
     11.5.4   Secondary Exposure of Children 	     11-170
     11.5.5   Miscellaneous Studies 	     11-177
              11.5.5.1 Studies Using Indirect Measures of Air Exposure 	     11-177
                       11.5.5.1.1  Studies in the United States	     11-177
                       11.5.5.1.2  British Studies 	     11-179
              11.5.5.2 Miscellaneous Sources of Lead 	     11-181
11.6 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 	     11-183
11.7 REFERENCES 	     11-193
APPENDIX 11A 	    11A-1
APPENDIX 11B 	    11B-1
APPENDIX 11C 	    11C-1
                                         IX

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                                        LIST  OF  FIGURES

Figure                                                                                    Page

10-1   Effect of particle size on lead deposition rate in the lung 	      10-4
10-2   The curvilinear relationship of serum  lead to blood lead 	      10-18
10-3   Schematic model of lead metabolism in  infant baboons,  with compartmental
       transfer coefficients 	      10-28
10-4   A compartmental model for lead biokinetics with multiple pools for blood
       lead 	      10-29
10-5   Fitting of nonlinear blood lead model  to data of DeSilva (1981).   Broken
       line incorporates an intercept term of 0.25; solid line does not
       incorporate intercept term 	      10-30
10-6   Renal clearance (ratio of urinary lead to blood lead) from (A) King et al.,
       1979; (B) Williams et al., 1969; (C) Gross, 1981; (D) DeVoto and
       Spinazzola, 1973; (E) Azar et al., 1975; (G) Chamberlain et al., 1978 	      10-35
11-1   Pathways of lead from the environment to and within man 	      11-3
11-2   Estimated lead concentrations in bones (ug/g) from 5500 years before
       present  (BP) to the  present time 	      11-12
11-3   Geometric mean blood lead levels by race and age  for younger children in
       the  NHANES II  study.  EPA calculations from data  furnished by the National
       Center for Health Statistics  	      11-19
11-4   Geometric mean blood lead values by race and age  for younger children in
       the  New  York City screening program (1970-1976)  	      11-23
11-5   Unweighted geometric mean blood  lead  level  for male and female nonsmoking
       teachers (ug/dl)  for several  countries  	      11-25
11-6   Histograms of  blood  lead  levels with  fitted  lognormal curves for the
       NHANES  II  study.  All  subgroups  are white  non-SMSA residents with family
        incomes  over $6000/year  	      11-28
11-7   Average  blood  lead  levels of  U.S. population aged 6 months-74 years,
       United  States  February 1976-February  1980,  based  on dates  of examination
       of NHANES II examinees with blood lead determinations  	      11-32
11-8    Reduction in mean blood  lead  levels,  according to race, sex, and age.
        Data on  sex  and  age  are  for whites  	      11-33
11-9    Time-dependence  of  blood  lead levels  for blacks,  aged  25  to 36 months, in
        New York City  and Chicago 	      11-35
11-10  Modeled umbilical cord blood  lead  levels by date  of  sample collection for
        i nfants  i n Boston 	      11-38
11-11  Parallel decreases  in  blood  lead values  observed in  the NHANES  II study
        and amounts  of lead used in  gasoline  during 1976-1980  	     11-43
 11-12  Change  in 206Pb/207Pb  ratios  in petrol,  airborne particulate and blood
        from 1974 to 1984 	     1;L_47
 11-13  Estimated direct and indirect contributions of lead  in  gasoline to  blood
        lead in Italian men based on  EPA analysis of ILE data  (Table  11-16)  	     11-51
 11-14  Geometric mean blood lead levels of New York City children (aged 25-36	
        months) by ethnic group,  and  ambient  air lead  concentration versus
        quarterly sampling  period,  1970-1976  	     11-58
 11-15  Geometric mean blood lead levels of New York City children (aged 25-36	
        months) by ethnic group,  and  estimated  amount  of lead present  in gasoline
        sold in New York, New Jersey  and Connecticut versus  quarterly  samplinq
        period,  1970-1976	 	     11-59
 11-16  Geometric mean blood levels for blacks  and Hispanics  in the 25- to  36-month
        age group and  rooftop  quarterly averages for ambient city-wide lead
        levels  	'	     11-61

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                                 LIST OF FIGURES (continued).
                                                                                          Page
11-17  Time dependence of blood lead and gas lead for blacks, aged 25 to 36
       months, in New York 	      11-62
11-18  Data plots for individual subjects as a function of time for Kehoe
       subjects, as presented by Gross (1979) 	      11-77
11-19  Blood lead versus air lead relationships derived from Kehoe inhalation
       studies:  Linear relationship holds for low exposures, quadratic for high
       exposures.  95 percent confidence bands are also shown 	      11-79
11-20  Monthly ambient air lead concentrations in Kellogg, Idaho, 1971
       through 1975 	      11-83
11-21  Fitted equations to the Kellogg Idaho/Silver Valley, adjusted blood lead
       data 	      11-88
11-22  Blood lead concentrations versus weekly lead intake for bottle-fed
       infants 	      11-116
11-23  Mean blood lead for men grouped by first draw water concentration 	      11-118
11-24  Average blood lead levels, Phase I 	      11-121
11-25  Average blood lead levels, Phase II 	      11-121
11-26  Lead in blood (mean values and range) in volunteers.  In the lower curve
       the average daily lead dose of the exposed group is shown 	      11-123
11-27  Cube root regression of blood lead on first flush water lead.   This shows
       mean ± S.D.  of blood lead for pregnant women grouped in 7 intervals of
       first flush water lead 	      11-125
11-28  Relation of blood lead (adult female) to first flush water lead in combined
       estates.  (Numbers are coincidental points; 9 = 9 or more.)  Curve a,
       present data; curve b, data of Moore et al. (1979) 	      11-128
11-29  Cumulative distribution of lead levels in dwelling units 	      11-155
11-30  Correlations of children's blood lead levels with fractions of surfaces
       within a dwelling having lead concentrations J2 mg/cm2 	      11-157
11-31  Arithmetic mean air lead levels by traffic volume, Dallas, 1976 	      11-178
11-32  Blood lead concentration and traffic density by sex and age, Dallas,
       1976 	      11-180
11-33  Geometric  mean blood lead levels by race and age for younger children
       in the NHANES II  study,  and the Kellogg/Silver Valley and New York
       Childhood Screening Studies 		      11-184
11B-1  Residual sum of squares  for nonlinear regression models for Azar data
       (N=149) 	      11B-2
11C-1  Individual values of blood Pb-206/207 ratio for subjects follow-up in  Turin
       (12 subjects) 	      11C-2
11C-2  Individual values of blood Pb-206/207 ratio for subjects follow-up in
       Costagneto (4 subjects)	      11C-3
11C-3  Individual values of blood Pb-206/207 ratio for subjects follow-up in
       Duento and Fiano  (6 subjects) 	      11C-3
11C-4  Individual values of blood Pb-206/207 ratio for subjects follow-up in  Nole
       and Santeno (9 subjects) 	      11C-4
11C-5  Individual values of blood Pb-206/207 ratio for subjects follow-up in  Viu
       (4 subjects) 	      11C-4

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                                        LIST OF  TABLES

Table                                                                                     Page

10-1   Deposition of lead in the human respiratory tract 	      10-3
10-2   Distribution of lead in brain regions of  humans  and animals 	      10-21
10-3   Daily lead excretion and retention data for adults and infants 	      10-34
10-4   Effect of nutritional factors on lead uptake in  animals 	      10-45
11-1   Summary of Representative Studies of Past Exposures to Lead 	      11-11
11-2   NHANES II blood lead levels of persons 6 months-74 years,  with weighted
       arithmetic mean, standard error of the mean, weighted geometric mean,
       median, and percent distribution, by race and age, United States,
       1976-80 	      11-16
11-3   NHANES II blood lead levels of males 6 months-74 years, with weighted
       arithmetic mean, standard  error  of  the mean, weighted geometric mean,
       median, and percent  distribution, by race and age, United States,
       1976-80 	      11-17
11-4   NHANES II blood lead levels of females 6 months-74 years, with weighted
       arithmetic mean, standard  error  of  the mean, weighted geometric mean,
       median, and percent  distribution, by race and age, United States,
       1976-80 	      11-18
11-5   Weighted  geometric mean  blood  lead  levels from NHANES  II survey by
       degree of urbanization of  place  of  residence in  the  U.S. by age
       and race, United  States  1976-80  	      11-21
11-6   Annual geometric  mean  blood  lead levels  from the New York  blood  lead
       screening studies  of Billick  et  al.  (1979).  Annual  geometric means
       are calculated from  quarterly  geometric  means estimated by the method  of
       Hasselblad  et al.  (1980) 	     11-22
 11-7    Summary  of  unweighted  blood  lead levels  in  whites not  living  in  an
        SMSA, with  family income greater than  $6,000  	     11-26
 11-8   Summary  of  fits to NHANES II  blood  lead  levels  of whites  not
        living in an SMSA, with  income greater than $6,000,  for  five
        different two-parameter  distributions  	     11-27
 11-9   Estimated mean square  errors resulting from analysis of  variance on
        various  subpopulations of the NHANES II  data using unweighted data  	     11-30
 11-10  Characteristics of childhood lead poisoning screening data 	     11-36
 11-11  Distribution of blood lead levels for 13- to 48-month-old blacks
        by season and year for New York screening data   	     11-36
 11-12  Comparison of median blood lead levels (ug/dl)   in several  countries  from
        studies of Goldwater and Hoover (1967) and Friberg and Vahter (1983)  	     11-42
 11-13  Pearson correlation coefficients between the average blood lead levels for
        six-month periods and the total lead used in gasoline production per six
        months, according to race, sex, and age 	      11-44
 11-14  Estimated contribution of leaded gasoline to blood  lead by inhalation and
        non-inhalation pathways 	      11-49
 11-15  Assumed air  lead concentrations for model 	      11-50
 11-16  Regression model for blood lead attributable to  gasoline 	      11-51
 11-17  Rate of change of 206pb/204P|? and  2oePb/207pb in air and blood, and
        percentage of  airborne  lead in  blood of subjects 1, 3, 5, 6  and 9 	      11-54
 11-18  Calculated blood  lead uptake  from  air lead using Manton isotope study 	      11-54
 11-19  Respired and other  inputs of  airborne Pb to blood for some Dallas residents
        i n  1975  	      H'56
 11-20  Mean air lead  concentrations  during the various blood sampling periods at
        the  measurement  sites described in the  text (ug/m3) 	      11-63
 11-21  Griffin  et al. (1975) experiment inhalation slope estimates  	      11-70
 11-22  Griffin  et al. (1975) experiment mean residence time  in blood 	      11-70

                                                xii

-------
                                  LIST OF TABLES (continued).


Table

11-28  foomtrlc mean blood lead levels by age and area for subjects  living  near
11-37                   cenan
11-23  Air lead concentrations (pgA.3) for two subjects in the Rabinowitz  studies  ...      11-72
11-24  Estimates of inhalation slope, p, for Rabinowitz studies   ...........  .......      11-73
11-25  Linear sloSe for blood lead versus air lead at low air lead exposures  in
11-29  Agtspedf                                                                         ,. R,

11-30  E^iiateS coe> nctn^anT sSffiri' errors' for' the' Idaho' s.el ter' study' ! ! ! ! ! .' !      ll^
U-31  A r  d slfan anS Mood lead concentrations  in Omaha  NE   study   1970-1977 . . .      11-90
ii-5?  SI™ airborne and blood lead levels recorded during five  distinct surveys
11 32  ??S?4 Jo 1978) for study populations of 11-year old children  living less
       than l km or 2 5 km from a lead smelter,  or  living in a  rural  or urban  area ..      11-93
11-33  Geomelic mean air lead and adjusted blood lead levels for 11 communities
                of Tepper and Levin (1975) as reported by Hasselblad and
n 14   pirndooea.      11-96
11-35  6?ood !ead-air lead slopes for several  population studies  as  calculated

11-36  cLracLrUtics'of'studUs^n'the' relationship between'air'Uad'and'biood'''^
11-38  Cross-sectional observational 'study with measured individual  air lead              ^^

11-39  c^-sectiona'l'observationai' studies' on' chi idren' with' estimated ....... '"""      ^^

11-40  LoSgifSdinal 'experimental 'studies with^measured individual  air lead                ^^

n-41  HoEsehold consumption' of 'canned foods,  pounds per week .......................      11-109
llll  Slood lead ?!IelS and lead intake values for infants  in the study                  ^^

11-43  Inf?uence of level of lead in  water on blood lead level  in  biood and
        ^    *^                .»,*••••••••••••••••«•••*••*••*•••«*••••••••••••*••*•*      i. j.  H.c.
11-44  Distributions' of 'observed  blood lead values in Ayr ...........................      11-113
11-45  Blood lead and kettle water lead concentrations for adult women living
       .   *                ..... .....* ........... * ........... .......,*....... ........      1.1.— XJ.J
11-46  Relationship of blood lead and water lead in 910 men  aged 40-59 from
       24 British towns [[[      11-117
11-47  Dose-response analysis for blood lead levels in the Kehoe study as
       analyzed by Gross (1981) ........ : ....... . ...... ...................... ........      11-120
11-48  Blood lead levels of 771 persons in relation to lead  content  of drinking
       water  Boston,  MA [[[      11-129

-------
                                  LIST  OF  TABLES  (continued).

Table

11-50  Studies involving blood lead levels (pg/dl) and experimental  dietary
       i ntakes 	      11-131
11-51  Studies relating blood lead levels (ug/dl) to first-flush water lead (pg/1) ..      11-132
11-52  Studies relating blood lead levels (pg/dl) to running water lead (yg/1) 	      11-133
11-53  Coefficients and standard errors for Omaha study model 	      11-135
11-54  Multiple regression models for blood lead of children in New Haven,
       Connecticut, September 1974 - February 1977 	      11-136
11-55  Air  Lead Levels  in the Rotterdam Area 	      11-139
11-56  Blood  lead  levels in ug/lOG ml for children who participated in blood
       survey and  environmental  survey  	      11-139
11-57  School variables (arithmetic means) for measured lead concentrations 	      11-139
11-58  Results of  lead measurements reported by  Brunekreef et al. (1983)  	      11-140
11-59  Coefficients and standard errors from model of  Charleston  study  	      11-142
11-60  Mean blood  and soil  lead concentrations in English study  	      11-143
11-61   Lead concentration  of  surface soil and children's blood by residential
        area of trail, British Columbia 	      11-145
 11-62   Analysis of relationship between soil  lead and blood  lead in children  	     11-150
 11-63   Estimates  of the contribution of soil  lead to blood  lead  	     11-152
 11-64   Estimates  of the contribution of housedust to blood  lead  in  children 	     11-153
 11-65   Results of screening and housing inspection in childhood  lead  poisoning
        control project by fi seal year	-	     11-161
 11-66  Mean  blood lead levels in selected Yugoslavian populations,  by estimated
        weekly time-weighted air lead exposure 	      11-164
 11-67  Levels of  lead recorded  in Hartwell  et al. (1983)  study 	      11-167
 11-68  Spearman correlations of lead in air, water, dust,  soil,  and paint with
        lead  levels in blood:   by site and age groups, 1978-1979 	      11-167
 11-69  Environmental  parameters and methods:  Arnhem lead study, 1978 	      11-169
 11-70  Geometric  mean blood  lead  levels for children based on reported
        occupation of father, history of pica, and distance of residence
        from  smelter  (micrograms per deciliter)  	      11-171
 11-71  Sources of lead 	•••••-.••:	'*""*'.	      11-182
 11-72  Summary of blood lead pooled geometric standard deviations  and estimated
        analytic  errors  	• •	•••• •• ••• ••• •••.••••••;	      11-185
  11-73  Estimated contribution  of leaded  gasoline to blood  lead  by  inhalation
         and non-inhalation pathways  	•••	     11-187
  11-74   Summary of blood  inhalation slopes,  (p)  ug/dl  per pg/m-*  	     11-188
                                                  xiv

-------
                                     tSST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AAS
Ach
ACTH
A0CC
ADP/0 ratio
AIOS
All
ALA
AU-D
ALA-S
ALA-U
APDC
APHA
ASTM
ASV
ATP
B-cells
8a
BAL
BAP
6SA
BUN
BW
C.V.
Ca8P
CaEDTA
CaNa,EOTA
CBD *
Cd
COC
C£C
CEH
CFR
CMP
CNS
CO
COHb
CP8
CP-U

cBal)
D.F.
DA
6-ALA
OCMU
DPP
ONft
DTH
E£€
E£G
EMC
Atomic absorption spectrometry
Acetylcholine
Adrenocorticctrophic hormone
Antibody-dependent eel 1 -medi ated cytotox1C1 ty
Adenosine diphosphate/oxygen «•**'«
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Angiotensin II
Amim>1evuHnic acio
AmiRolevulinic acid dehydrase
AminolevuHnic acid synthetase
        ulinic acid in urine
         pyrrol idine-dithiocarbamate
         Wlc Health Association    _
    can Society for Testing and Hatenals
Anodic stripping voltawetry
Adenosine triphosphate
Bone marrow-derived ly^hocytes

BrHish anti-lewisite (AKA dimercaprol)
benio{a)pyrene
Bovine serum albw"
glood serum urea nitrogen
Body weight
Coefficient of vacation
Calciuw binding protein
fal ci urn ethy lenedi ami netetraacetate
Calcitffl! sodiuffl ethy lenedi ami netetraacetate
Central business district
 aflt                ,,  .   ,
Centers for Disease Control
Cation exchange capacity
Center for Environmental  Health
reference method
Cytidine monophosphate
Central nervous system
Carbon monoxide
CarboxyhemogloiJi n
Cawpetitfve protein binding
Urinary coproporphyrin
plasma clearance of p-asinohippuric acid
Copper
Degrees of freedom
Dopamine
delta-aminolevulinic acid
[3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea
Differential pulse polarography
Oeoxyribonucleic acid
Oelayed-type hypersensitivity
European Economic Community
E 1 ec troencepha 1 ograro
Encephalomyocardi ti s

-------
                              LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS  (continued).


EP                       Erythrocyte protoporphyrin
EPA                      U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency
FA                       Fulvic acid
FDA                      Food and Drug Administration
Fe                       Iron
FEP                      Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin
FY                       Fiscal year
G.M.                     Grand mean
G-6-PD                   Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
GABA                     Gamma-aminobutyric acid
GALT                     Gut-associated lymphoid tissue
GC                       Gas chromatography
GFR                      Glomerular  filtration rate
GI                       Gastrointestinal
HA                       Humic acid
HANES I                  Health Assessment and Nutrition Evaluation Survey
Hb                       Hemoglobin
Hg                       Mercury
hi-vol                   High-volume air sampler
HPLC                     High-performance liquid chromatography
i.m.                     Intramuscular (method of injection)
i.p.                     Intraperitoneally (method of  injection)
i.v.                     Intravenously (method of injection)
IAA                      Indol-3-ylacetic acid
IARC                     International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICD                      International classification  of diseases
ICP                      Inductively coupled plasma  emission spectroscopy
IDMS                     Isotope  dilution mass spectrometry
IP                       Interferon
                         Isotopic Lead Experiment (Italy)
                         International Radiological  Protection  Commission
                         Potassium
                         Lactate  dehydrogenase isoenzyme x
                         Lethyl  concentration (50 percent)
                         Lethal  dose (50 percent)
                         Luteinizing hormone
                         Laboratory Improvement  Program Office
 In                       Natural  logarithm
                         Lipopolysaccharide
                          Long range transport
                         Messenger ribonucleic  acid
ME                       Mercaptoethanol
                         Miniature end-plate  potential
                         Maximal  electroshock seizure
                         Mega-electron volts
MLC                     Mixed lymphocyte culture
                         Mass median diameter
                          Mass median aerodynamic diameter
                          Manganese
                          Motor neuron disease
                          Moloney sarcoma virus
                          Maximum tolerated dose


                                               xvi

-------
                                LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (continued).
  n
  N/A
  NA
  NAAQS
  NAD
  NADB
  NAMS
  NAS
  NASN
  NBS
  NE
  NFAN
  NFR-82
  NHANES II
  Ni
  NTA
 OSHA
 P
 P
 PAH
 Pb
 PBA
 Pb(Ac)2
 PbB
 PbBrCl
 PBG
 PFC
 pH
 PHA
 PHZ
 PIXE
 PMN
 PND
 PNS
 P.O.
 ppm
 PRA
 PRS
 PWM
 Py5N
 RBC
 RBF
 RCR
 redox
 RES
 RLV
 RNA
 S-HT
 SA-7
S.C.
 son
S.D.
  Number  of subjects  or observations
  Not Available
  Not Applicable
  National  ambient air  quality  standards
  Nicotinamide Adenine  Dinucleotide
  National  Aerometric Data Bank
  National  Air Monitoring Station
  National  Academy of Sciences
  National  Air Surveillance Network
  National  Bureau of Standards
  Norepinephrine
  National  Filter Analysis Network
  Nutrition Foundation Report of 1982
  National Health Assessment and Nutritional Evaluation Survey II
 Nickel
 Nitrilotriacetonitrile
 Occupational Safety and Health Administration
 Phosphorus
 Significance symbol
 Para-aminohippuric  acid
 Lead
 Air lead
 Lead acetate
 concentration of  lead  in blood
 Lead (II)  bromochloride
 Porphobilinogen
 Plaque-forming cells
 Measure  of acidity
 Phytohemagglutinin
 Polyacrylamide-hydrous-zirconia
 Proton-induced X-ray emissions
 Polymorphonuclear leukocytes
 Post-natal  day
 Peripheral  nervous system
 Per  os (orally)
 Parts per  million
 Plasma renin activity
 Plasma renin substrate
 Pokeweed mitogen
 Pyrimide-5'-nuc1eotidase
 Red  blood cell;  erythrocyte
 Renal blood flow
 Respiratory control  ratios/rates
Oxidation-reduction potential
Reticuloendothelial  system
Rauscher leukemia virus
Ribonucleic acid
Serotonin
Simian adenovirus
Subcutaneously  (method of injection)
Standard  cubic meter
Standard  deviation
                                             xv ii

-------
                              LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (continued).
SOS
S.E.M.
SES
SCOT
slg
SLAMS
SMR
Sr
SRBC
SRMs
STEL
SW voltage
T-cells
t-tests
TBL
TEA
TEL
TIBC
TML
TMLC
TSH
TSP
U.K.
UMP
USPHS
VA

V^R
WHO
XRF
X^
Zn
ZPP
Sodium dodecyl sulfate
Standard error of the mean
Socioeconomic status
Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
Surface immunoglobulin
State and local air monitoring stations
Standardized mortality ratio
Strontium
Sheep red blood cells
Standard reference materials
Short-term exposure limit
Slow-wave voltage
Thymus-derived lymphocytes
Tests of significance
Tri-n-butyl lead
Tetraethyl-ammonium
Tetraethyllead
Total iron binding capacity
Tetramethyllead
Tetramethyllead chloride
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Total suspended particulate
United  Kingdom
Uridine monophosphate
U.S.  Public Health Service
Veterans Administration
Deposition velocity
Visual  evoked response
World Health  Organization
X-Ray fluorescence
Chi  squared
Zinc
Erythrocyte  zinc  protoporphyrin
                                    MEASUREMENT  ABBREVIATIONS
 dl
 ft
 g
 g/gal
 g/ha-mo
 km/hr
 1/min
 mg/km
 |jg/m3
 mm
 )jm
 (jmol
 ng/cm2
 nm
 deciliter
 feet
 gram
 gram/gallon
 gram/hectare-month
 kilometer/hour
 liter/minute
 milligram/kilometer
 microgram/cubic meter
 millimeter
 micrometer
 micromole
 nanograms/square centimeter
 nanometer
                                              xvm

-------
                               LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS  (continued).
nM                       nanomole
sec                      second
t                        tons
                                            xix

-------
                             GLOSSARY VOLUME III


aerosol - a suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas

BAL (British Anti-Lewi site) - a chelating agent often used in the treatment of
                              metal toxicity

biliary clearance - an excretion route involving movement of  an aqent throuah
                    bile into the GI tract                                 y

Brownian diffusion - the random movement of microscopic particles

"chelatable" or systemically active zinc -  fraction of body's zinc store
                                            available or accessible to
                                            removal by a zinc-binding agent

chi-square goodness-of-fit tests - made to  determine how well the observed
                                   data fit a  specified model, these tests
                                   usually  are approximately distributed as a
                                   chi-square  variable

first-order  kinetics  -  a kinetic process whose rate  is  proportional to the
                        concentration  of the species  undergoing change

geochronometry  -  determination  of  the age of geological materials

hematocrit -  the  percentage  of  the volume of a blood sample  occupied by cells

 intraperitoneal  - within the body  cavity

 likelihood function - a relative measure  of the  fit  of observed  data to a
                       specified model.   In  some  special cases  it is  equivalent
                       to the sum of  squares function used in least squares
                       analysis.

 mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD)  -  the  aerodynamic diameter (in urn) at
                                           which  half the mass  of particles in
                                           an aerosol is associated with values
                                           below and half above

 multiple regression analysis - the fitting of a single dependent variable to a
                                linear combination of independent variables using
                                least squares analysis

 plumburesis - lead excreted in urine

 R2 - this statistic, often called the multiple R squared, measures the proportion
      of total variation explained.  A value near 1 means that nearly all  of the
      variation is explained, whereas a value  near zero means that almost none of
      the variation is  explained.
                                      xx

-------
                        AUTHORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND REVIEWERS
   Chapter 9:   Quantitative Evaluation of Lead and Biochemical  Indices of Lead
               Exposure in Physiological Media

   Principal  Author

   Or.  Paul Mushak
   Department  of Pathology
   School  of Medicine
   University  of North  Carolina
   Chapel  Hill,  NC   27514

   The  following  persons reviewed this chapter at EPA's request.  The evaluations
   and  conclusions contained herein, however, are not necessarily those of the
   reviewers.

  Dr. Carol Angle
  Department of Pediatrics
  University of Nebraska
  College of Medicine
  Omaha,  NE  68105
  Dr.  Lee  Annest
  Division of  Health  Examin.  Statistics
  National  Center  for Health  Statistics
  3700 East-West Highway
  Hyattsville, MD  20782
 Dr. Donald Barltrop
 Department of Child Health
 Westminister Children's Hospital
 London SW1P 2NS
 England

 Dr.  Irv Billick
 Gas Research  Institute
 8600 West Bryn  Mawr Avenue
 Chicago,  IL   60631
Dr. Joe Boone
Clinical Chemistry and
  Toxicology Section
Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, GA  30333

Dr.  Robert Bornschein
University of Cincinnati
Kettering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH  45267
  Dr. A. C.  Chamberlain
  Environmental and Medical
    Sciences Division
  Atomic Energy Research
    Establishment
  Harwell  0X11
  England

  Dr.  Neil Chernoff
  Division of  Developmental  Biology
  MD-67
  U.S. Environmental  Protection
   Agency
  Research Triangle Park, NC  27711

 Dr.  Julian Chisolm
 Baltimore City Hospital
 4940 Eastern Avenue
 Baltimore,  MD  21224
 Mr.  Jerry Cole
 International  Lead-Zinc Research
   Organization
 292  Madison  Avenue
 New  York,  NY  10017

 Dr.  Max  Costa
 Department of  Pharmacology
 University of  Texas Medical
   School
 Houston, TX  77025

 Dr. Anita Curran
 Commissioner of Health
Westchester County
White Plains, NY  10607
                                       xxi

-------
Dr.  Jack Dean
Immunobiology Program and
  Immunotoxicology/Cell Biology program
CUT
P.O. Box 12137
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr.  H. T. Delves
Chemical Pathology and Human
  Metabolism
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton S09 4XY
England

Dr.  Fred deSerres
Assoc. Director for Genetics
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr.  Robert Dixon
Laboratory of Reproductive and
  Developmental Toxicology
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr.  Claire Ernhart
Department of Psychiatry
Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital
Cleveland, OH  44109
Dr. Sergio Fachetti
Section Head - Isotope Analysis
Chemistry Division
Joint Research Center
121020 Ispra
Varese, Italy

Dr. Virgil Ferm
Department of Anatomy and Cytology
Dartmouth Medical School
Hanover, NH  03755

Dr. Alf Fischbein
Environmental Sciences Laboratory
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
New York, NY  10029

Dr. Jack Fowle
Reproductive Effects Assessment  Group
U.S. Environmental Protection  Agency
RD-689
Washington, DC   20460
Dr.  Bruce Fowler
Laboratory of Pharmacology
NIEHS
P.O.  Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709


Dr.  Warren Galke
Department of Biostatistics
  and Epidemiology
School of Allied Health
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC  27834

Mr.  Eric Goldstein
Natural Resources Defense
  Council, Inc.
122 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY  10168

Dr.  Harvey Gonick
1033 Gayley Avenue
Suite 116
Los Angeles, CA  90024
Dr. Robert Goyer
Deputy Director
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr. Stanley Gross
Hazard Evaluation Division
Toxicology Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency
Washington, DC  20460

Dr. Paul Hammond
University of Cincinnati
Kettering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH  45267

Dr. Ronald D. Hood
Department of Biology
The University of Alabama
University, AL 35486

Dr. V. Houk
Centers for Disease Control
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA  30333
                                       xxi i

-------
Dr.  Loren  D.  Roller
School of  Veterinary Medicine
University of Idaho
Moscow,  ID 83843


Dr.  Kristal Kostial
Institute  for Medical Research
  and Occupational Health
Yu-4100  Zagreb
Yugoslavia

Dr.  Lawrence  Kupper
Department of  Biostatistics
UNC  School  of  Public Health
Chapel Hill,  NC  27514

Dr.  Phillip Landrigan
Division of Surveillance,
  Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
Taft Laboratories - NIOSH
Cincinnati, OH  45226

Dr.  David  Lawrence
Microbiology and Immunology Dept,
Albany Medical College of Union
 University
Albany, NY  12208

Dr. Jane Lin-Fu
Office of Maternal and Child Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Rockville, MD  20857
Dr. Don Lynam
Air Conservation
Ethyl Corporation
451 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA  70801

Dr. Kathryn Mahaffey
Division of Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
1090 Tusculum Avenue
Cincinnati, OH  45226

Dr. Ed McCabe
Department of Pediatrics
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI  53706
Dr. Chuck Nauman
Exposure Assessment Group
U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency
Washington, DC  20460

Dr. Herbert L. Needleman
Department of Psychiatry
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA  15213
Dr. H. Mitchell Perry
V.A. Medical Center
St. Louis, MO  63131
Dr. Jack Pierrard
E.I. duPont de Nemours and
  Company, Inc.
Petroleum Laboratory
Wilmington, DE  19898

Dr. Sergio Piomelli
Columbia University Medical School
Division of Pediatric Hematology
  and Oncology
New York, NY  10032

Dr. Magnus Piscator
Department of Environmental Hygiene
The Karolinska Institute 104 01
Stockholm
Sweden

Dr. Robert Putnam
International Lead-Zinc
  Research Organization
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY  10017

Dr. Michael Rabinowitz
Children's Hospital Medical
  Center
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA  02115
                                      XX111

-------
Dr.  Harry Roels
Unite de Toxicologic
  Industrielle et Medicale
Universite de Louvain
Brussels, Belgium

Dr.  John Rosen
Division of Pediatric Metabolism
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center
111 East 210 Street
Bronx, NY  10467

Dr. Michael Rutter
Department of Psychology
Institute of Psychiatry
DeCrespigny Park
London SE5 SAL
England

Dr. Stephen R. Schroeder
Division for Disorders
  of  Development  and  Learning
Biological Sciences Research Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC   27514

Dr. Anna-Maria Seppalainen
Institutes of Occupational  Health
Tyoterveyslaitos
Haartmaninkatu I
00290 Helsinki 29
Finland
Or.  Ellen Silbergeld
Environmental Defense Fund
1525 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20036
Dr Ron Snee
E.I. duPont Nemours and
  Company, Inc.
Engineering Department L3167
Wilmington, OE  19898
Dr. Gary Ter Haar
Toxicology and Industrial
  Hygiene
Ethyl Corporation
451 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA  70801

Dr. Ian von Lindern
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho  83843
 Or.  Richard  P. Wedeen
 V.A.  Medical  Center
 Tremont Avenue
 East Orange,  MJ   07019
                                       xxiv

-------
Chapter 10:  Metabolism of Lead

Principal Author

Or. Paul Mushak
Department of Pathology
School of Medicine
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC  27514

Contributing Author

Dr. Alan Marcus
Department of Mathematics
Washington State University
Pullman, WA  99164-2930
Th
persons reviewed this chapter at EPA's request.   The evaluations
. ~nn+9-inari hprein. however,  are not necessarily those of the
   ) rmriii^nns contained herein, however^
    	
reviewers?

Dr. Carol Angle
Department of Pediatrics
University of Nebraska
College of Medicine
Omaha, NE  68105

Dr. Lee Annest
Division of Health Examin. Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
3700 East-West Highway
Hyattsville, MD  20782
Dr. Donald Barltrop
Department of Child Health
Westminister Children's Hospital
London SW1P 2NS
England


Dr. Irv Billick
Gas Research Institute
8600 West 8ryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL  60631

Or. Joe Boone
Clinical Chemistry and
  Toxicology Section
Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, GA  30333
                                  Dr.  Robert Bornschein
                                  University of Cincinnati
                                  Kettering Laboratory
                                  Cincinnati,  OH  45267
                                  Dr.  A.  C.  Chamberlain
                                  Environmental and Medical
                                    Sciences Division
                                  Atomic Energy Research
                                    Establishment
                                  Harwell 0X11
                                  England

                                  Dr.  Neil Chernoff
                                  Division of Developmental Biology
                                  MD-67
                                  U.S.  Environmental Protection
                                    Agency
                                  Research Triangle Park, NC  27711

                                  Dr.  Julian Chisolm
                                  Baltimore City Hospital
                                  4940 Eastern Avenue
                                  Baltimore, MD  21224

                                  Mr.  Jerry Cole
                                  International Lead-Zinc Research
                                    Organization
                                  292 Madison Avenue
                                  New York,  NY  10017
                                      XXV

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Dr. Max Costa
Department of Pharmacology
University of Texas Medical School
Houston, TX  77025

Dr. Anita Curran
Commissioner of Health
Westchester County
White Plains, NY  10607
Dr. Jack Dean
Immunobiology Program and
   Immunotoxioology/Cell Biology program
CUT
P.O. Box 12137
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Dr. H.T. Delves
Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton S09 4XY
England
Or.  Fred  deSerres
Assoc.  Director  for Genetics
NIEHS
P.O. Box  12233
Research  Triangle  Park,  NC  27709

Dr.  Robert  Dixon
Laboratory  of Reproductive  and
   Developmental  Toxicology
NIEHS
P.O. Box  12233
Research  Triangle  Park,  NC  27709

Dr.  Claire  Ernhart
Department  of Psychiatry
Cleveland Metropolitan General  Hospital
Cleveland,  OH  44109
 Dr.  Sergio Fachetti
 Section Head -  Isotope Analysis
 Chemistry Division
 Joint Research  Center
 121020 Ispra
 Varese, Italy

 Dr.  Virgil Ferm
 Department of Anatomy and Cytology
 Dartmouth Medical  School
 Hanover, NH  03755
Dr.  Alf Fischbein
Environmental Sciences Laboratory
Mt.  Sinai School of Medicine
New York, NY  10029

Dr.  Jack Fowle
Reproductive Effects Assessment
  Group
U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency
RD-689
Washington, DC  20460

Dr.  Bruce Fowler
L?ruoatory of Pharmacology
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle  Park, NC  27709


Dr. Warren Galke
Department of Biostatistics
  and  Epidemiology
School  of Allied  Health
East Carolina University
Greenville,  NC  27834

Mr. Eric Goldstein
Natural  Resources  Defense
  Council,  Inc.
122 E.  42nd  Street
New York, NY 10168

Dr. Harvey  Gonick
1033 Gayley Avenue
Suite  116
Los Angeles,  CA  90024
 Dr.  Robert Goyer
 Deputy Director
 NIEHS
 P.O.  Box 12233
 Research Triangle Park, NC
                                                                             27709
 Dr.  Stanley Gross
 Hazard Evaluation Division
 Toxicology Branch
 U.S.  Environmental Protection
   Agency
 Washington, DC  20460

 Dr.  Paul Hammond
 University of Cincinnati
 Kettering Laboratory
 Cincinnati, OH  45267
                                      xxvi

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Dr.  Ronald D. Hood
Department of Biology
The University of Alabama
University, AL  35486

Dr.  V. Houk
Centers for Disease Control
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA  30333

Dr.  Loren 0. Keller        .
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID  83843

Dr.  Kristal Kostial
Institute for Medical Research
  and Occupational Health
Yu-41QO Zagreb
Yugoslavia

Dr.  Lawrence Kupper
Department of Biostatistics
UNC School of Public Health
Chapel Hill, NC  27514


Dr  Phillip  Landrigan
Division of  Surveillance,
  Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
Taft  Laboratories - NIOMi
Cincinnati,  OH  45226

Dr.  David  Lawrence
Microbiology and  Immunology Dept.
Albany Medical College of  Union
 University
Albany, NY  12208
    co           and Child Health
   artment of Health and Human Services
Rockville,
           MD  20857
 Or.  Don  Lynam
 Air  Conservation
 Ethyl  Corporation
 451  Florida  Boulevard
 Baton  Rouge, LA  70801

 Dr,  Kathryn  Mahaffey
 Division of  Nutrition
 Food and Drug  Administration
 1090 Tusculum  Avenue
 Cincinnati,  OH 45226
                                       xxvii
                                               Dr. Ed McCabe
                                               Department of Pediatrics
                                               University of Wisconsin
                                               Madison, WI  53706

                                               Dr. Chuck Nauman
                                               Exposure Assessment Group
                                               U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                                               Washington, DC  20460

                                               Dr. Herbert L. Neddleman
                                               Department of Psychiatry
                                               Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
                                               Pittsburgh, PA  15213

                                               Dr. H. Mitchell Perry
                                               V.A. Medical Center
                                               St. Louis, MO  63131
Dr.  Jack Pierrard
E.I. duPont de Nemours and
  Company, Inc.
Petroleum Laboratory
Wilmington, DE  19898

Or.  Sergio Piomelli
Columbia University Medical School
Division of Pediatric Hematology
  and Oncology
New York, NY  10032

Dr.  Magnus Piscator
Department of Environmental Hygiene
The Karolinska Institute 104 01
Stockholm
Sweden

Dr.  Robert Putnam
International Lead-Zinc
  Research Organization
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY  10017

Dr. Harry Roels
Unite de Toxicologie
  Industrie!le et Medicale
Universite de Louvain
Brussels, Belgium

Dr. John Rosen
Division of Pediatric Metabolism
Albert  Einstein  College  of Medicine
Montefiore Hospital  and  Medical Center
111 East  210  Street
Bronx,  NY  10467

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Dr.  Michael Rutter
Department of Psychology
Institute of Psychiatry
DeCrespigny Park
London SE5 SAL
England

Dr.  Stephen R.  Schroeder
Division for Disorders
  of Development and Learning
Biological Sciences Research Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Dr.  Anna-Maria Seppalainen
Institutes of Occupational Health
Tyoterveys1ai tos
Haartmaninkatu 1
00290 Helsinki  29
Finland

Dr.  Ellen Silbergeld
Environmental Defense Fund
1525 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20036
Dr.  Ron Snee
E.I.  duPont Nemours and
  Company, Inc.
Engineering Department L3167
Wilmington, DE  19898
Dr. Gary Ter Haar
Toxicology and Industrial
  Hygiene
Ethyl Corporation
451 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA  70801

Dr. Ian von Lindern
Department of Chemical
  Engineering
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID  83843
Dr. Richard P. Wedeen
V.A. Medical Center
Tremont Avenue
East Orange, NJ  07019
                                      xxviii

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Chapter 11:   Assessment of Lead Exposures and Absorption in Human Populations

Principal Authors
Dr.  Warren Galke
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
School of Allied Health
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC  27834
Dr. Alan Marcus
Department of Mathematics
Washington State University
Pullman, WA  99164-2930

Contributing Author:

Dr. Dennis Kotchmar
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office
MD-52
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC  27711
Dr.  Vic Hasselblad
Biometry Division
MD-55
U.S.  Environmental Protection
  Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC  27711
The following persons reviewed this chapter at EPA's request.  The evaluations
and conclusions contained herein, however, are not necessarily those of the
reviewers.

Dr. Carol Angle
Department of Pediatrics
University of Nebraska
College of Medicine
Omaha, NE  68105

Dr. Lee Annest
Division of Health Examin. Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
3700 East-West Highway
Hyattsville, MD  20782

Dr. Donald Barltrop
Department of Child Health
Westminister Children's Hospital
London SW1P 2NS
England
Dr.  Irv Billick
Gas  Research  Institute
8600 West Bryn Mawr  Avenue
Chicago, IL   60631
Dr. Joe Boone
Clinical Chemistry and
  Toxicology Section
Centers for Disease Control
Atlanta, GA  30333

Dr. Robert Bornschein
University of Cincinnati
Kettering Laboratory
Cincinnati, OH  45267
 Dr. A. C. Chamberlain
 Environmental and Medical
   Sciences  Division
 Atomic Energy Research
   Establishment
 Harwell  0X11
 England

 Dr. Neil  Chernoff
 Division of Developmental  Biology
 MD-67
 U.S.  Environmental  Protection
   Agnecy
 Research Triangle Park,  NC  27711
                                      xxix

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Dr.  Julian Chisolm
Baltimore City Hospital
4940 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD  21224

Mr.  Jerry Cole
International Lead-Zinc Research Organization
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY  10017

Dr.  Max Costa
Department of Pharmacology
University of Texas Medical School
Houston, TX  77025
Dr. Anita Curran
Commissioner of Health
Westchester County
White Plains, NY  10607
Dr. Jack Dean
Immunobiology Program and
  Immunotoxicology/Cell Biology Program
CUT
P.O. Box 12137
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr. Fred deSerres
Assoc. Director for Genetics
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr. Robert Dixon
Laboratory of Reproductive and
  Developmental Toxicology
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Dr. Claire Ernhart
Department of Psychiatry
Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital
Cleveland, OH  44109
Dr.  Sergio Fachetti
Section Head - Isotope Analysis
Chemistry Division
Joint Research Center
121020 Ispra
Varese, Italy
Dr.  Virgil Ferm
Department of Anatomy and Cytology
Dartmouth Medical School
Hanover, NH  03755

Dr.  Alf Fischbein
Environmental Sciences Laboratory
Mt.  Sinai School of Medicine
New York, NY 10029

Dr.  Jack Fowle
Reproductive Effects Assessment
  Group
U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency
RD-689
Washington, DC  20460

Dr.  Bruce Fowler
Laboratory of Pharmocology
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709

Mr.  Eric Goldstein
Natural Resources Defense
  Council, Inc.
School of Allied Health
122 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY  10168

Dr.  Harvey Gonick
1033 Gayley Avenue
Suite 116
Los Angeles, CA  90024
Dr. Robert Goyer
Deputy Director
NIEHS
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Dr. Stanley Gross
Hazard Evaluation Division
Toxicology Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC  20460

Dr. Paul Hammond
University of Cincinnati
Kettering Laboratory
3223 Eden Avenue
Cincinnati, OH  45267
                                     XXX

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Dr.  Ronald D.  Hood
Department of Biology
The University of Alabama
University, AL  35486
Dr.  V.  Houk
Centers for Disease Control
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA  30333

Dr.  Loren Koller
School  of Veterinary Medicine
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID  83843

Dr.  Kristal Kostial
Institute for Medical Research
  and Occupational Health
Yu-4100 Zagreb
Yugoslavia

Dr.  Lawrence Kupper
Department of Biostatisties
UNC School of Public Health
Chapel  Hill, NC  27514

Dr.  Phillip Landrigan
Division of Surveillance,
  Hazard Evaluation  and Field Studies
Taft Laboratories -  NIOSH
Cincinnati, OH  45226

Dr.  David Lawrence
Microbiology and  Immunology  Dept.
Albany Medical College of Union
 University
Albany, NY  12208

Dr.  Jane  Lin-Fu
Office of Maternal  and Child Health
Department  of Health and Human Services
Rockville,  MD  20857
Dr.  Don  Lynam
Air  Conservation
Ethyl  Corporation
451  Florida  Boulevard
Baton  Rouge, LA 70801
Dr.  Kathryn Mahaffey
Division of Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
1090 Tusculum Avenue
Cincinnati, OH  45226

Dr.  Ed McCabe
Department of Pediatrics
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI  53706

Dr.  Paul Mushak
Department of Pathology
UNC School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC  27514

Dr.  Chuck Nauman
Exposure Assessment Group
U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency
Washington, DC  20460

Dr.  Herbert L. Needleman
Children's Hospital of  Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA  15213
Dr. H. Mitchell  Perry
V.A. Medical  Center
St. Louis,  MO  63131
 Dr.  Charles  G.  Pfieffer
 Engineering  Department
 Engineering  Services  Division
 E I.  duPont, Incorporated
 Wilmington,  DE   19898

 Dr.  Jack Pierrard
 E.I.  duPont  de  Nemours and
   Company,  Inc.
 Petroleum Laboratory
 Wilmington,  DE   19898

 Dr.  Sergio  Piomelli
 Columbia University Medical  School
 Division of  Pediatric Hematology
   and Oncology
 New York, NY  10032
                                       XXXI

-------
Dr. Magnus Piscator
Department of Environmental Hygiene
The Karolinska Institute 104 01
Stockholm
Sweden
Dr. Robert Putnam
International Lead-Zinc
  Research Organization
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY  10017

Dr. Michael Rabinowitz
Children's Hospital Medical Center
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA  02115
Dr. Harry Roels
Unite de Toxicologie
   Industrielle et Medicale
Universite de Louvain
Brussels, Belgium
Dr. John Rosen
Division of Pediatric Metabolism
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center
111 East 210 Street
Bronx, NY  10467

Dr. Stephen R. Schroeder
Division for Disorders
  of Development and Learning
Biological Sciences Research Center
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC  27514
Dr.  Anna-Maria Seppalainen
Institutes of Occupational Health
Tyoterveyslaitos
Haartmaninkatu 1
00290 Helsinki 29
Finland

Dr.  Ellen Silbergeld
Environmental Defense Fund
1525 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20036
Dr. Ron Snee
E.I. duPont Nemours and
  Company, Inc.
Engineering Department L3267
Wilmington, DE  19898

Dr. Gary Ter Haar
Toxicology and Industrial
  Hygiene
Ethyl Corporation
451 Florida Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA  70801

Dr. Ian von Lindern
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID  83843
Dr. Richard P. Weeden
V.A. Medical Center
Tremont Avenue
East Orange, NJ  07019
                                     xxxn

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                    QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF LEAD AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICES
                          OF LEAD EXPOSURE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL MEDIA
9.1  INTRODUCTION
     To  understand the effects  of an  agent  on an organism and,  in  particular,  to formulate
statements  of  dose-effect  relationships,  one must be able to assess quantitatively the organ-
ism's  degree  of exposure  to the substance.   In the  case of lead, internal biologically based
measures provide  a more accurate indication of exposure than do external measures such as am-
bient  air  concentrations.   Internal  measures may be either direct—e.g., the level of lead 1n
a biological  medium such  as  blood, calcified  tissue,  etc.—or  indirect—e.g.,  the  level  of
some  biochemical   parameter  or  "indicator"  closely associated  with  internal  lead exposure.
This chapter  examines  the  merits  and  weaknesses  of various measurement methods  as  they are
currently used to assess lead exposure.
     Quantitative  analysis  involves a  number of  discrete  steps, all of  which are important
contributors to  the quality of  the  final  result:   (1)  sample collection  and  transmission  to
the laboratory; (2) laboratory manipulation of samples,  physically and chemically, before ana-
lysis  by  instruments;   (3)  instrumental analysis and quantitative measurement;  and (4)  esta-
blishment of relevant  criteria for accuracy and precision, namely, Internal  and external qua-
lity assurance  checks.  Each  of these  steps  Is  discussed  in this chapter in  relation to the
measurement of lead exposure.
     Clearly, the definition of "satisfactory analytical method" for lead has changed over the
years,  paralleling (1) the evolution of more sophisticated instrumentation and procedures, (2)
a greater  awareness  of such factors as background contamination and  loss of the element from
samples, and (3) development of new statistical  methods  to analyze data.   For example, current
methods of  lead analysis,  such as anodic stripping voltammetry,  background-corrected atomic
absorption  spectrometry, and  particularly  isotope-dilution mass spectrometry,  are more sensi-
tive and  specific than the older  classical  approaches.   Increasing use of  the newer methods
would  tend  to result  in  lower  lead values  being  reported for a  given  sample.   Whether this
trend  in analytical  improvement can be isolated from other variables  such as temporal changes
in exposure is another matter.
     Because lead  is  ubiquitously  distributed as a contaminant, the constraints (i.e., ultra-
clean,  ultra-trace analysis)  placed  upon a laboratory attempting analysis of geochemical sam-
ples of pristine origin, or of extremely low lead levels in biological samples  such as plasma,
are quite severe (Patterson, 1980).  Very few laboratories can credibly claim such capability.
                                            9-1

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Ideally, similar standards  of  quality should be adhered to  across  the  rest  of the  analytical
spectrum.    With many  clinical,  epldemiological,  and  experimental  studies,  however,  these
standards may  be unrealistic given  the  practical  limitations and objectives  of the  studies.
Laboratory performance is  but  one part of the  quality  equation;  the problems  of sampling are
equally important  but  less  subject  to tight  control.   The necessity of rapidly obtaining  a
blood sample in  cases  of suspected  lead poisoning,  or  of  collecting hundreds  or thousands of
blood samples  in urban  populations,  limits the number of sampling safeguards that can be rea-
listically achieved.  Sampling  in this context will  always be accompanied by a certain amount
of analytical  "suspicion."  Furthermore,  a  certain amount of  biological  lead analysis data is
employed for comparative  purposes,  as in experimental studies concerned with the relative in-
crease in tissue burden of lead associated with increases in doses or severity  of effects   In
addition,  any  major compromise  of  an analytical  protocol  may be  statistically discernible.
Thus, analysis  of  biological  media  for lead  must be done under protocols  that minimize the
risk of inaccuracy.  Specific  accuracy and precision characteristics of  a  method  in  a parti-
cular report should  be  noted to permit some  judgment on the part of the reader about the in-
fluence of methodology on the reported results.
     The choice  of  measurement method and medium for analysis is  dictated both by  the type of
information desired and by technical  or logistical  considerations.  As noted elsewhere in this
document,  whole blood lead reflects recent or continuing exposure, whereas lead in mineralized
tissue, such as deciduous teeth, reflects an exposure period of months and years.  While urine
lead values  are not particularly good correlates  of lead exposure  under steady-state condi-
tions in populations at large,  such measurements may be of considerable clinical value. In ac-
quiring blood  samples,  the choice of venipuncture or finger puncture will be governed by such
factors as cost and feasibility, contamination risk,  and the biological  quality of  the sample.
The  use of  biological  indicators that strongly correlate with lead burden may  be  more desira-
ble, since  they  provide  evidence of actual response  and,  together with blood  lead data, pro-
vide a less risky diagnostic tool for assessing lead exposure.
9.2  DETERMINATIONS OF LEAD IN BIOLOGICAL MEDIA

9.2.1  Sampling and Sample Handling Procedures for Lead in Biological Media
     Lead analysis in biological media requires careful sample collection and handling for two
reasons:  (1)  lead  occurs at trace levels  in  most indicators of subject exposure, even under
conditions of  high  lead exposure; and (2) such samples must be obtained against a backdrop of
                                            9-2

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pervasive contamination, the  full  extent of which may still be unrecognized by many laborato-
ries.
     The reports of  Speecke  et a!. (1976), Patterson and Settle (1976), Murphy (1976),  Berman
(1976),  and  Settle and Patterson  (1980)  review  detailed aspects of the  problems  of sampling
and subsequent sample handling in the laboratory.  These reports indicate that the normal  pre-
cautions taken during  sampling  (detailed  below  for clinical  and epidemiological  studies)
should not be considered absolute, but rather as  what is practical  and feasible.   They further
indicate that the inherent sensitivity or accuracy of a given method or instrument may be  less
of a  determining factor  in  the  overall  analysis than  the quality of  sample  collection and
handling.
9.2.1.1  Blood Sampling.   Samples  for blood lead determination may  be  collected by venipunc-
ture (venous  blood)  or  fingertip puncture  (capillary blood).   Collection of capillary versus
venous blood is usually decided by a number of factors,  including the feasibility of obtaining
samples  during  the  screening  of many subjects  and  the  difficulty  of  securing  subject  com-
pliance, particularly in the case of children and their parents.  Furthermore, capillary blood
may be  collected as  discrete quantities in small-volume capillary tubes or as spots on filter
paper disks.   With capillary tubes, obtaining good mixing with anticoagulant to avoid clotting
is important,  as is  the problem of  lead  contamination  of the tube.  The  use of filter paper
requires the  selection  of  paper with uniform composition, low lead content, and uniform blood
dispersal characteristics.
     Whether venous  or  capillary blood is  collected, much  care must be exercised in cleaning
the site before puncture as well as in selecting lead-free receiving containers.   Cooke et al.
(1974)  employed  vigorous  scrubbing with  a low-lead  soap solution and  rinsing  with deionized
water,  while  Marcus et al.  (1975)  carried out preliminary cleaning with  an ethanolic  citric
acid  solution  followed by  rinsing with  70-percent  ethanol.   Vigor in  cleaning the puncture
site is  probably as  important as the  choice  of  any  particular cleaning agent.   Marcus et al.
(1977)  have  noted  that in  one  procedure  for puncture  site  preparation,  where the site  is
covered with  wet paper  towels, contamination will occur if the paper towels are made from re-
cycled paper.   Recycled paper retains a significant amount of lead.
     In theory, capillary and venous blood  lead levels should be virtually identical. However,
the  literature indicates  that  some differences, which  mainly reflect  sampling problems,  do
arise in the case of capillary blood.  A given amount of contaminant has a greater impact  on a
100-ul  fingerstick  sample than  on a 5-ml  sample of  venous  blood.   Finger-coating techniques
may  reduce  some of  the contamination  (Mitchell  et  al., 1974). An  additional problem  is the
presence of  lead in the anticoagulants  used  to  coat capillary tubes.    Also,  lower values  of
capillary versus venous blood lead may reflect "dilution" of the sample by extracellular fluid

                                            9-3

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from excessive  compression of the puncture  site.   When Joselow and Bogden  (1972)  compared  a
method  using  finger puncture  and  spotting  onto  filter paper with  a procedure  using  venous
blood  and Hessel's  procedure (1968)  for  flame atomic  absorption  spectrometry  (see  Section
9.2.2.1), they obtained a correlation coefficient of r = 0.9 (range,  20-46 pg/dl).   Similarly,
Cooke et al.  (1974) found an r value of 0.8 (no range given), while  Mitchell  et al.  (1974)  ob-
tained  a value  of 0.92  (10-92  ug/dl).   Mahaffey  et al.   (1979) found  that  capillary  blood
levels  in  a  comparison  test were approximately  20 percent higher than  corresponding  venous
blood levels  in the same subjects,  presumably reflecting sample contamination.   Similar eleva-
tions  have been described by DeSUva  and  Donnan  (1980).   Carter (1978)  has found  that  blood
samples  with  lower  hemoglobin  levels may  spread  onto  filter  paper  differently from  normal
hemoglobin samples,  requiring correction  in quantification to obtain reliable  values.   This
complication should  be  kept  in  mind  when  considering children,  who are  frequently  prone to
iron-deficiency anemia.
     The  relative  freedom of the blood container  from interior  surface  lead and the presence
of  lead in the anticoagulant to be  added  to the blood are important considerations in venous
sampling.  For  studies  focusing  on "normal" ranges, such tubes may  add some lead to blood and
still  meet  certification  requirements.  The "low-lead" heparinized  blood tubes commercially
available (blue  stopper  Vacutainer,  Becton-Dickinson) were found to  contribute  less than 0.2
ug/dl  to  whole  blood samples (Rabinowitz and Needleman, 1982).   Nackowski et al.  (1977) sur-
veyed  a large  variety  of commercially available blood tubes for lead and other metal contami-
nation.  Lead uptake by blood over time from the various tubes was minimal with the "low-lead"
Vacutainer tubes  and  with  all  but  four  of the other  tube types.   In  the  large  survey of
Mahaffey  et  al.  (1979),  5-ml Monoject  (Sherwood)  or 7-ml lavender-top  Vacutainer (Becton-
Dickinson) tubes were satisfactory.   However,  when more precision  is needed,  tubes  are best
recleaned  in  the  laboratory  and lead-free  anticoagulant  added (although this  would be less
convenient for  sampling  efficiency than the commercial tubes).  In  addition, blank levels for
every  batch of samples should be verified.
9.2.1.2 Urine Sampling.   Urine samples require collection using lead-free containers and caps
as  well as the  addition of  a  low-lead bactericide  if samples are to be stored.   While not
always  feasible,  24-hr samples should be  obtained  because  they level out any effect of vari-
ation  in  excretion over  time.  If spot  sampling  is done,  lead levels should be expressed per
unit creatinine, or corrected for a constant specific gravity, if greater than 1.010.
9.2.1.3  Hair Sampling.   The usefulness  of  hair lead  analysis  depends  on the manner of samp-
ling.   Hair  samples  should be removed from  subjects by a consistent method, either by a pre-
determined length  measured from  the skin  or by using the entire hair.   Hair should be placed
in  air-tight containers  for shipment or  storage.   For segmental  analysis,  the  entire hair
length  1s required.
                                             9-4

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9.2.1.4  Mineralized Tissue.   An important consideration in deciduous tooth collection is con-
sistency in the  type  of teeth collected from various subjects.   Fosse and Justesen (1978) re-
ported  no  difference  in  lead  content between molars  and incisors,  and Chatman and  Wilson
(1975) reported comparable whole tooth levels for cuspids,  incisors,  and molars.   On  the other
hand, Mackie et  al.  (1977) and Lockeretz  (1975)  noted  levels  varying with tooth type,  with a
statistically  significant difference  (Mackie et  al.,  1977)  between  second  molars  (lowest
levels) and incisors  (highest levels).   That the former two studies found rather low overall
lead  levels  across groups, while Mackie  et  al.  (1977)  reported higher  values,  suggests that
dentition differences  in  lead  content may be  magnified  at relatively  higher  levels  of ex-
posure.   Delves  et al,  (1982),  comparing pairs  of  central  incisors or pairs of  central  and
lateral  incisors from  the same child, found that lead content  may even vary within a specific
type of tooth.   These  data suggest the desirability of  acquiring two teeth per subject to get
an average lead value.
     Teeth containing  fillings  or  extensive  decay are best eliminated  from analysis.   Mackie
et  al.  (1977)  discarded decayed teeth if  the extent of decay exceeded  approximately  30 per-
cent.
9.2.1.5  Sample Handling in the Laboratory.  The effect  of storage on lead content is a poten-
tial problem with blood samples.  During storage,  dilute aqueous  solutions of lead surrender a
sizable portion of the lead content to the container surface, whether glass or plastic,  unless
the  sample  is  acidified (Issaq and Zielinskl, 1974; Unger and  Green, 1977).  Whether there is
a comparable effect,  or comparable extent of such  an effect,  with blood is not clear.   Unger
and  Green (1977)  claim that lead loss from blood to containers parallels that seen with aque-
ous  solutions, but  their data do not  support this  assertion.   Moore and Meredith (1977) used
isotopic lead spiking (203Pb) with and without carrier in various containers at differing tem-
peratures to monitor  lead stability in blood over time.   The  only material loss occurred with
soda glass  at  room temperature after 16 days.  Nackowski  et  al. (1977) found that "low-lead"
blood tubes, while quite satisfactory in terms of sample contamination,  began to show transfer
of  lead to  the container wall after 4 days.   Meranger et al.  (1981)  studied movement of lead,
spiked  to  various levels, to  containers  of  various composition  as  a function  of temperature
and  time.   In  all  cases, reported lead loss to containers was  significant.  However, problems
exist with the above reports.  Spiked samples probably are not  incorporated into the  same bio-
chemical environment as lead Inserted 1_n vivo.  Also, Nackowski  et al.  (1977) did not indicate
whether  the  blood  samples   were  kept  frozen  or  refrigerated between  testing  intervals.
Mitchell et al.  (1972) found that the effect of blood storage  depends on the method  of analy-
sis, with lower recoveries of lead from aged blood using the Hessel (1968) method.
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     Lerner  (1975)  collected blood samples  (35  originally)  from a single subject  into lead-
free tubes and,  after  freezing,  forwarded them in blind fashion to a certified testing labor-
atory over a period of 9 months.   Four samples were lost,  and one was rejected as grossly con-
taminated (4 standard  deviations  from mean).  Of  the  remaining  30 samples,  the mean was 18.3
(jg/dl with a standard  deviation  (S.D.) of 3.9.  The analytical  method had a  precision of ±3.5
pg/dl (S.D. =  1) at normal  levels of  lead,  suggesting that the overall  stability of the sam-
ples' lead content  was good.  Boone et al. (1979) reported that samples  frozen for periods of
less than  1 year  showed no effect of  storage,  while  Piscator  (1982) noted  no  change  in low
levels (<10 pg/dl)  when  samples  were stored at  -20°C  for 6 months.  Based on the above data,
blood samples  to be stored  for any period of time should be frozen rather than refrigerated,
with care  taken to prevent  breaking  the  tube during freezing.   Teeth and hair samples, when
stored in containers to minimize contamination, are indefinitely stable.
     The actual  site  of analysis should be  as free from lead as possible.   Given the limited
availability  of  an "ultra-clean"  facility  such  as that described  by  Patterson  and Settle
(1976),  the  next  desirable  level of  laboratory is the "Class  100"  facility,  in which fewer
than 100 airborne particles  are greater than 0.5 urn in diameter. These facilities employ high-
efficiency  particulate air  filtering and  laminar air flow  (with movement   away  from sample
handling areas).   Totally inert  surfaces  in  the  working  area and an antechamber for removing
contaminated clothes,  appliance cleaning,  etc., are other necessary features.
     All plastic and  glass ware  coming into contact with samples  should be cleaned rigorously
and  stored  away from  dust contact, and materials  such as ashing vessels should permit minimal
lead leaching.   In  this  regard, Teflon or  quartz ware  is preferable to other  plastics or boro-
silicate glass  (Patterson  and Settle, 1976).
     Reagents,  particularly for  chemical  degradation  of  biological  samples,  should  be both
certified  and  periodically  tested  for quality.   Several  commercial  grades  of reagents are
available,  although  precise work  may require  doubly purified materials  from the National
Bureau of Standards (NBS).   These reagents should  be stored with a minimum of surface contami-
nation around  the top  of  the containers.
     For  a  more detailed  discussion  of  appropriate laboratory  practices, the  reader may con-
sult LaFleur (1976).

9.2.2  Methods  of Lead Analysis
     Detailed  technical  discussion  of the array  of instruments  available to measure lead in
blood  and  other media is  outside the scope of this chapter  (see  Chapter 4).   This discussion
is  structured  more appropriately to  those aspects of  methodology  dealing with relative  sensi-
tivity,  specificity,  accuracy,  and precision.   While  acceptance of  international standardized

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(SI) units for expressing lead levels in various media is increasing,  units familiar to clini-
cians and epidemiologists will  be used here.   (To convert ug Pb/dl  blood to SI units [umoles/
liter],  multiply by 0.048.)
     Many reports over the years have purported to offer satisfactory  analysis of lead in bio-
logical  media,  but in  fact  have shown  rather meager adherence to criteria  for  accuracy and
precision or  have  shown a lack of  demonstrable  utility across a wide spectrum  of  analytical
applications.   Therefore, discussion in this section is confined to "definitive"  and reference
methods  for lead analysis, except for a brief treatment of the traditional but now widely sup-
planted  colorimetric method.
     Using the  definition of Cali  and Reed (1976),  a  definitive  method is one  in  which all
major or significant parameters  are related by solid evidence to the absolute mass of the ele-
ment with a high degree of  confidence.   A reference method,  by contrast, is one  of demonstra-
ted accuracy,  validated by  a definitive  method,  and arrived at by consensus  through perfor-
mance testing by a number of different laboratories.   In the  case of lead in biological media,
the definitive method  is isotope-dilution mass spectrometry  (IDMS).   IOMS  is so accurate be-
cause all  manipulations are on a weight basis involving simple procedures.  The measurements
entail only ratios and not the absolute determinations of the isotopes involved,  which greatly
reduces   instrumental  corrections  or errors.   No  interferences occur  from sample  matrix  or
other elements,  and the method  does not  depend  on recovery.   Reproducible results  to a pre-
cision of one part in 104 or 105 are routine with specially designed instruments.
     In  terms  of reference methods  for  lead  in biological   media,  such a  label  is commonly
attached to atomic  absorption spectrometry (AAS) in  its  various  instrumentation/ methodology
configurations  and  to   the  electrochemical technique,  anodic  stripping voltammetry  (ASV).
These have been  termed  reference  methods insofar as their precision and accuracy can be veri-
fied or  calibrated against IDMS.
     Other methods that are  recognized for general trace-metal analysis are not fully applica-
ble to  biological  lead  or have  inherent  shortcomings.   X-ray fluorescence analysis lacks the
requisite sensitivity for media with low lead content,  and  the associated sample preparation
may present a high contamination risk.   A notable exception may be  X-ray fluorescence analysis
of  teeth  or  bone  i_n  sjtu as discussed  below.   Neutron-activation  analysis is the  method  of
choice with many elements, but it is not technically feasible for lead analysis because of the
absence  of long-lived isotopes.
9.2.2.1   Lead Analysis in Whole  Blood.   The first generally accepted technique for quantifying
lead  in whole  blood and other biological media  was  a colorimetric  method that involved spec-
trophotometric measurement  based  on the  binding of  lead to  a chromogenic agent to  yield a
chromophoric  complex.   The  complexing  agent  has typically been dithizone,  1,5-diphenylthio-
carbazone, yielding a lead complex that is spectrally measured at 510  nm.
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     Two variations of the spectrophotometric technique used when measuring low levels of lead
have  been  the  procedures of  the  U.S.  Public  Health Service  (USPHS)   (National Academy  of
Sciences, 1972) and  of  the American Public Health Association (APHA)  (1955).   In both, venous
blood or urine is wet ashed using concentrated nitric acid of low lead content followed by ad-
justment of  the ash  with hydroxylamine and sodium citrate  to  a pH of 9-10.  Cyanide ion  is
added and  the solution extracted with  dithizone in chloroform.  Back extraction removes the
lead  into dilute  nitric acid;  the acid layer  is treated with ammonia, then  cyanide,  and re-
extracted with  dithizone  in chloroform.  The extracts  are  read in a spectrophotometer at 510
nm.   Bismuth interference  is  handled  (APHA variation)  by removal with dithizone at pH 3.4.
According to  Lerner  (1975), the analytical precision in the "normal" range is about ±3.5 ug/dl
(S.D. =  1),  using 5  ml  of  sample.
      The most accurate  and precise method for lead measurement  in blood is IDMS.  As  typified
by  the   report  of  Machlan et  al.  (1976), whole blood samples  are accurately weighed,  and a
weighed  aliquot of 206Pb-enr1ched isotope solution is added.  After sample decomposition with
ultra-pure  nitric  and  perchloric acids, samples are evaporated, residues are taken up  in di-
lute  lead-free hydrochloric acid  (HC1), and  lead is  isolated  using anion-exchange  columns.
Column  eluates are  evaporated with  the  above  acids, and  lead  is deposited onto high-purity
platinum wire from  dilute perchloric acid.  The 206Pb/208Pb  ratio is then determined  by  ther-
mal  ionization mass  spectrometry.   Samples  without  added isotope and reagent blanks  are also
carried through the procedure.   In  terms  of precision,  the 95-percent confidence level  for
 lead samples overall is  within  0.15  percent.  Because  of the expense  incurred by the  require-
ments for  operator expertise,  the amount  of  time involved,  and  the high  standard of  laboratory
cleanliness, IDMS  is mainly  of practical value  in  the  development of standard  reference  ma-
 terials and for the verification of other analytical  methods.
      AAS is  widely  used  for  lead measurements  in whole  blood,  with  sample  analysis involving
 analysis of venous blood with  chemical  degradation,  analysis of liquid samples with  or without
 degradation, and  samples applied  to filter paper.   It  is  thus the most flexible for samples
 already collected or subject to manipulation.   By means of flame or electrothermal excitation,
 ionic lead  In  a  matrix is first vaporized and then converted to the  atomic  state, followed by
 resonance absorption from either a hollow cathode or electrodeless  discharge lamp  generating
 lead absorption lines  at 217.0 and 283.3 nm.   After  monochrometer  separation and photomulti-
 plier enhancement of the differential signal,  lead content is measured electronically.
      The earliest methods of  AAS analysis involved the aspiration of ashed blood samples into
 a flame, usually  subsequent  to extraction  into  an  organic solvent,  to enhance sensitivity by
 preconcentration.    Some  methods did not involve digestion  steps prior to  solvent  extraction
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(KopHo  et al.,  1974).   Of these  various  flame AAS methods, Hessel's  (1968)  technique con-
tinues to be used with some frequency.
     Currently, lead measurement in blood by AAS employs several  different methods that permit
greater  sensitivity,  precision, and  economy of  sample  and time.  The flame  method  of Delves
(1970), called the "Delves cup" procedure, usually involves delivery of discrete small samples
(^100 jjl) of unmodified whole blood to nickel cups, with subsequent drying and peroxide decom-
position of  organic  content before positioning  in the  flame.   The marked enhancement of sen-
sitivity over  conventional  flame  aspiration results from  immediate,  total  consumption of the
sample and generation  of a localized population of atoms.   In addition to discrete blood vol-
umes, blood-containing filter paper disks have been used (Joselow and Bogden,  1972; Cernik and
Sayers,  1971;  Piomelli et al., 1980).   Among  the several  modifications of the  Delves method
are  that of  Ediger  and  Coleman (1972),  in which dried  blood  samples  in the  cups  are pre-
ignited to destroy organic matter by placement near the flame in a precise, repeatable manner,
and  the  variation of  Barthel  et  al.  (1973),  in  which  blood samples  are mixed  with dilute
nitric acid  in  the  cups  followed by drying in an oven at 200°C and charring at 450°C on a hot
plate.    A  number of  laboratories  eschew even  these modifications and  follow  dispensing and
drying with  direct placement  of  the cup into  the flame  (e.g.,  Mitchell et  al.,  1974).   The
Delves cup procedure may require  correction for background  spectral  interference.   This cor-
rection  is usually  achieved using  instrumentation equipped at a nonresonance  absorption line.
While  the  217.0-nm line  of lead  is  less subject  to such  interference, precise work is best
done with  correction.   This method as applied  to whole blood lead appears  to  have  an oper-
ational  sensitivity down  to 1.0 ug Pb/dl, or  somewhat  below when competently employed, and a
relative precision of approximately 5 percent in the range  of levels encountered in the United
States.
     AAS methods  using electrothermal  (furnace) excitation in lieu of a flame can be approxi-
mately tenfold more sensitive than the Delves procedure.   A number of reports  describing whole
blood  lead  analysis have appeared  in  the  literature (Lawrence,  1982, 1983).   Because of in-
creased  sensitivity,  the  "fTameless"  AAS   technique permits the  use  of small   blood volumes
(1-5 ul) with  samples  undergoing  drying and dry ashing in  situ.   Physicochemical and spectra!
interferences  are inherently  severe with  this approach,  requiring  careful  background  cor-
rection.    In  one flameless AAS configuration,  background  correction exploits the Zeeman ef-
fect, where correction is  made at the specific  absorption  line  of the element and not over a
band-pass region, as is  the case  with the  deuterium arc.   While control of background inter-
ference up to  1.5 molecular absorbance is claimed with the Zeeman system (Koizumi  and Yasuda,
1976),  employing  charring  before  atomization is technically preferable.  Hinderberger et al.
(1981)  used dilute ammonium phosphate solution to minimize  chemical interference  in their fur-
nace AAS method.
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     Precision can be a problem in the flameless technique unless careful attention is paid to
the problem  of  sample diffusibility over and into the graphite matrix of the receiving recep-
tacle  (tube,  cup,  or rod).   With the  use  of diluted samples and  larger  applied  volumes,  the
relative  precision of this method  can approach that of the  Delves  technique  (Delves, 1977).
     In addition to  the various AAS methods noted above, electrochemical techniques have been
applied to  blood  lead analysis.  Electrochemical methods,  in theory,  differ from AAS methods
in  that the  latter are "concentration" methods  regardless  of sample volumes available, while
electrochemical analysis  involves  bulk  consumption of  sample  and  hence  would have  infinite
sensitivity,  given an infinite sample volume.  This intrinsic property is of little practical
advantage given usual limits of sample volume, instrumentation design, and blanks.
     The most widely  used electrochemical method for lead measurement in whole blood and other
biological media is ASV, which  is also probably the most sensitive because it involves an elec-
trochemical  preconcentration  (deposition)  step in the analysis  (Matson  and Roe,  1966; Matson
et  al., 1971).   In this method,  samples  such  as whole blood (50-100 (jl)  are  preferably,  but
not commonly,  wet  ashed and reconstituted in dilute acid or made electro-available with metal
exchange  reagents.   Using  freshly prepared  composite electrodes  of  mercury film deposited on
carbon, lead is  plated out from  the  solution  for a specific amount of time and at a  selected
negative  voltage.  The  plated lead is then  reoxidized in the course of anodic sweeping, gene-
rating a  current  peak that may be  recorded  on a chart or displayed on commercial instruments
as units of  concentration (ug/dl).
     One  alternative  to the time and  space  demands  of  wet ashing blood samples is the use of
metal  exchange  reagents that  displace lead  from binding sites in blood by competitive binding
(Morrell and Giridhar, 1976; Lee and Meranger, 1980).  In one commercial preparation,  this re-
agent  consists  of  a  solution  of  calcium,  chromium,  and  mercuric ions.   Use of  the  metal  ex-
change  reagent  adds   a  chemical step  that must be carefully controlled  for  full  recovery of
lead from the sample.
     The working detection  limit  of ASV for blood  is  comparable to that of the AAS flameless
methods, while  the relative precision is  best  with  prior  sample degradation, approximately 5
percent.  The precision is  less when the blood samples are run directly with the ion  exchange
reagents  (Morrell  and Giridhar,  1976),  particularly at  the low  end  of  "normal"  blood lead
values.   While  AAS  methods require  attention to various  spectral  interferences to  achieve
satisfactory  performance,  electrochemical  methods  such  as ASV  require  consideration  of such
factors as the  effects  of  co-reducible metals  and  agents  that complex lead and alter its re-
duction-oxidation  (redox) potential properties.   Chelants  used in therapy, particularly peni-
cillamine, may interfere, as  does blood copper, which may be elevated in pregnancy and during
such disease states as leukemia, lymphoma, and hyperthyroidism (Berman,  1981).

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     Correction of whole  blood  lead values for hematocrit, although carried  out in  the  past,
is probably  not  appropriate and not commonly done  at  present.   While the erythrocyte is  the
carrier for  virtually  all  lead  in blood, the saturation  capacity  of  the  red  blood cell  (RBC)
for lead  is  so  high  that  it can still carry  lead even  at  highly toxic levels (Kochen  and
Greener, 1973).  Kochen and Greener (1973)  also showed  that acute or chronic dosing at a  given
lead level in  rats  with a wide range of hematocrits  (induced by bleeding) gave similar  blood
lead values.   Rosen et al.  (1974), based  on  studies  of hematocrit,  plasma,  and whole  blood
lead in children, noted hematocrit correction was  not  necessary,  a view  supported by Chisolro
(1974).
9.2.2.2  Lead  in Plasma.  While virtually  all  of the lead  present  in  whole blood is bound to
the erythrocyte  (Robinson et al., 1958; Kochen  and Greener,  1973), lead  in  plasma  is  trans-
ported  to  affected  tissues.  Therefore, every precaution  must be taken  to  use nonhemolyzed
blood  samples  for plasma  isolation.   The very low  levels  of  lead in  plasma  require  that more
attention be paid to "ultra-clean" methods.
     Rosen et al. (1974) used fTameless  AAS and microliter samples of  plasma to measure plasma
lead,  with  background  correction  for  the   smoke  signal generated  for the unmodified sample.
Cavalleri et al.  (1978) used a combination of solvent extraction of modified  plasma  with pre-
concentrating  and  flameless AAS.    These authors noted that  the method used by  Rosen  et al.
(1974) permitted less precision and accuracy than did their technique, because a significantly
smaller amount of lead was delivered to  the furnace accessory.
     DeSilva (1981),  using a technique  similar  to  that of Cavalleri  et al.  (1978), but col-
lecting samples  in  heparinized  tubes,  claimed that the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
(EDTA)  as  anticoagulant disturbs  the cell-plasma distribution of lead enough  to yield errone-
ous  data.   Much  more care was  given  in this procedure to  background  contamination.  In both
cases,  increasing levels  of plasma lead were measured  with increasing whole blood  lead, sug-
gesting an  equilibrium ratio that contradicts the  data of Rosen et al.  (1974).  They found a
fixed  level  of 2-3  ug/dl  plasma  over a wide range of  blood lead values.   However,   the actual
levels  of  lead in plasma in the  DeSilva (1981)  study  were much  lower than  those reported by
Cavalleri et al.  (1978).
     Using  IDMS  and sample collection/manipulation in  an  "ultra-clean"  facility, Everson and
Patterson (1980) measured the plasma lead  levels in two subjects, a control and a lead-exposed
worker.  The control had  a plasma  lead  level of 0.002 (jg/dl, several orders of magnitude lower
than that  seen with studies using  less  precise analytical  approaches. The lead-exposed worker
had  a  plasma  level  of 0.2  ug/dl.   Several other reports  in the  literature  using   IDMS noted
somewhat  higher  values of plasma  lead  (Manton and  Cook, 1979;  Rabinowitz  et  al., 1974), which
Everson and  Patterson  (1980) have  ascribed  to problems  of  laboratory contamination.

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Using tracer  lead to  minimize  the impact of contamination  results  in a value of  0.15
(Rablnowitz et al., 1974).
     With appropriate plasma lead methodology, reported lead levels are extremely low,  the de-
gree varying with the  methods used to measure such concentrations.  While the data of  Everson
and  Patterson  (1980) were  obtained from only two  subjects,  it seems unlikely that using more
subjects would result  in a plasma lead range extending upward to the levels seen with ordinary
methodology in  ordinary  laboratory surroundings.   The above considerations are important when
discussing  appropriate methodology for plasma analysis, and  the  Everson and Patterson (1980)
report  indicates  that some  doubt surrounds results obtained  with conventional  methods.   Al-
though  not the primary  focus of  their  study,  the  values obtained  by  Everson and Patterson
(1980)  for whole  blood lead, unlike  the  data for plasma,  are within the ranges for unexposed
(11  ug/dl)  and exposed (80 ug/dl)  subjects generally reported with other methods.  This agree-
ment would suggest that, for the  most part,  reported values do actually reflect HI vivo blood
lead levels rather than  sampling problems or  inaccurate methods.
9.2.2.3  Lead  in  Teeth.   When analyzing shed deciduous or extracted permanent teeth, some in-
vestigators have  used the whole  tooth  after surface  cleaning to  remove  contaminating lead
(e.g.,  Moore  et al.,  1978;  Fosse  and Justesen,  1978;  Mackie  et al. , 1977), while others have
measured lead  in  dentine  (e.g., Shapiro et al., 1973; Needleman et al., 1979; Al-Naimi et al.,
1980).   Several reports  (Grandjean et al., 1979; Shapiro et al., 1973) have also described the
analysis of circumpulpal  dentine,  that portion of  the tooth  found  to  have the highest relative
fraction of lead.  Needleman et  al.  (1979) separated dentine  by  embedding  the tooth  in wax,
followed by thin central  sagittal sectioning.   The dentine was  then isolated from the  sawed
sections by careful  chiseling.
     Determining  mineral  and  organic composition of teeth  and their components requires the
use  of thorough  chemical  decomposition techniques,  including wet ashing and dry ashing  steps
and  sample pulverizing or grinding.   In  the  procedure of  Steenhout  and  Pourtois (1981),  teeth
are  dry ashed  at  450°C,  powdered,  and dry ashed again.  The  powder is  then dissolved in  nitric
acid.   Fosse  and Justesen  (1978)  reduced  tooth  samples to a  coarse  powder by crushing in  a
vise,  followed by acid dissolution.   Oehme  and  Lund  (1978)  crushed samples to  a  fine powder  in
an agate mortar  and dissolved  the samples  in nitric acid.   Mackie  et al. (1977)  and Moore  et
al.  (1978) dissolved  samples directly in concentrated acids.   Chatman  and Wilson (1975) and
Needleman et  al.  (1974) carried  out wet ashing  with nitric  acid  followed by dry ashing  at
450°C.   Oehme and Lund  (1978)  found  that acid wet ashing  of tooth  samples  yielded better re-
sults  If carried  out in  a heated  Teflon bomb  at 200°C.
     With regard to methods  of  measuring lead  in teeth,  AAS  and  ASV have been employed most
often.    With the AAS methods,  the high  mineral  content of teeth  tends  to argue for isolating

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 lead from this matrix  before  analysis.   In the  methods  of  Needleman  et  al.  (1974)  and  Chatman
 and Wilson (1975), ashed  residues  1n nitric add were treated with ammonium nitrate  and  ammo-
 nium hydroxide to a pH  of  2.8,  followed  by dilution  and  extraction with  a methylIsobutylketone
 solution of ammonium pyrrol1d1necarbod1th1oate.   Analysis was by  flame AAS,  using the 217.0-nm
 lead-abs'orption line.   A similar procedure was employed  by  Fosse  and  Justesen  (1978).
      ASV has  been successfully  used 1n tooth lead measurement (Shapiro et al., 1973;  Needleman
 et  al.,  1979;  Oehme and Lund, 1978).   As  typified by the method of Shapiro et  al. (1973), sam-
 ples of  dentine were dissolved  1n  a small  volume of low-lead concentrated perchloric acid and
 diluted  (5.0 ml)  with  lead-free sodium  acetate  solution.   With deoxygenation, samples were
 analyzed 1n a commercial ASV unit,  using a plating time of 10 min  at a plating potential of
 -1.05 V.   Anodic sweeping was at a rate of 60 mV/sec with a  variable current of  100-500 pA.
 Since lead content of teeth 1s  higher than 1n most samples of biological media, the relative
 precision  of  analysis with appropriate accommodation of the matrix effect,  such as the use of
 matrix-matched  standards,  1n the better studies  indicates a value of approximately 5-7 per-
 cent.
      In  an analysis  of lead  levels 1n   permanent teeth of Swedish  subjects, Moller  et al.
 (1982) used particle-Induced  X-ray  emission (PIXE).  While this  method  permits analysis with
 minimal  contamination risk, 1t  measures  only coronal  dentine,   which is  relatively less re-
 vealing  about cumulative exposure than secondary  or  circumpulpal   dentine.
      All  of the above methods involve shed or extracted teeth and consequently provide a ret-
 rospective  determination of lead exposure.  In Bloch et al.'s (1976) procedure, tooth lead 1s
 measured  i_n situ using  an X-ray fluorescence technique.  A collimated beam of radiation from
 "Co  was  allowed to irradiate the  upper  central  incisor teeth  of the subject.  Using a rela-
 tively safe 100-sec irradiation time and measurement of KQi  and Ka2 lead lines via a germanium
 diode and a pulse-height analyzer for signal processing,  lead levels of 15 ppm or higher could
 be  measured.   Multiple  measurement  by this method would be very  useful 1n prospective studies
 because  it  would show the  "ongoing" rate  of  increase  in body lead burden.   Furthermore,  when
 combined with serial blood sampling, it would provide data for blood lead-tooth lead relation-
 ships.
9224  Lead in Hair.  Hair constitutes  a noninvasive  sampling  source with virtually no prob-
 lems  with  sample  stability on  extended storage.   However,  the  advantages of accessibility and
stability are offset by the problem of assessing  external contamination of the hair  surface  by
atmospheric fallout,  hand  dirt,  lead 1n  hair preparations,  etc.   Thus,  such samples are prob-
ably of less value overall  than those from other  media.
     The  various  methods  that  have  been   employed for removal of  external lead have  been re-
viewed (Chatt  et al.,  1980; Gibson,  1980; Chattopadhyay et al.,  1977).  Cleaning  techniques
obviously should  be vigorous  enough to remove surface lead but not  so vigorous as  to  remove
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the endogenous  fraction.   To date,  no  published  cleaning procedure has been proven  reliable
enough  to  permit  acceptance  of reported levels of  lead in hair.   Such a  demonstration  would
have to use lead isotopic studies with both surface and endogenous isotopic lead removal  moni-
tored as a function of a particular cleaning technique.
9.2.2.5  Lead in Urine.  Analysis  of lead  in urine  is  complicated  by  its  relatively low con-
centrations (lower  than  in blood in many  cases)  as well  as by the complex mixture of mineral
elements present.   Lead levels  are higher, of  course,  in  cases where lead mobilization or
therapy with  chelants  is in progress,  but  in  these cases samples must be  analyzed to account
for lead bound  to chelants such as  EDTA.   Such  analysis requires either sample ashing or the
use of  standards  containing the chelant.  Although analytical methods have been published for
the direct analysis of  lead in  urine, samples  are probably  best  wet ashed before analysis,
using the  usual mixtures of nitric plus  sulfuric and/or perchloric acids.
     Both  AAS and ASV methods have  been applied  to urine lead analyses, the former employing
either  direct analysis  of ashed residues  or  a preliminary  chelation-extraction step.   With
flame  AAS, ashed urine  samples  must invariably  be extracted  with  a  chelant such as ammonium
pyrrolidinecarbodithioate  in  methylisobutylketone  to achieve  reasonably satisfactory results.
Furthermore,  direct analysis  creates  mechanical  problems  with  burner operation,  due to the
high  mineral  content  of urine,  and results in considerable  maintenance  problems with equip-
ment.   The procedure of Lauwerys  et al. (1975) is  typical of  flame AAS methods with prelimin-
ary lead  separation.    Because  of the relatively  greater   sensitivity  of graphite furnace
(flameless)  AAS, this variation  of  the method has been  applied  to urine  analysis.  In  scat-
tered   reports  of  such  analyses,  adequate  performance  for  direct sample  analysis  seems  to
require steps to minimize matrix  interference. A typical example of  one  of the  better direct
analysis  methods is that  of  Hodges  and Skelding  (1981).   Urine samples were mixed  with  iodine
solution  and heated, then diluted  with a  special  reagent containing ammonium molybdate,  phos-
phoric  acid,  and ascorbic  acid.   Small  aliquots (5  (jl) were  delivered  to the furnace  accessory
of an  AAS unit containing a graphite  tube  pretreated with ammonium molybdate.  The  relative
 standard  deviation of the method  is reported  to  be about 6  percent.   In the method of  Legotte
 et al.  (1980),  such  tube  treatment and sample modifications  were not  employed  and  the  average
precision  figure was 13 percent.
       Compared with various  AAS  methods,  ASV  has  been less  frequently employed for urine lead
 analysis.   From  a  survey of available electrochemical  methods  in  general,   such  techniques
 applied to urine appear to  require further development.   Franke  and  de Zeeuw (1977)  used dif-
 ferential-pulse ASV as  a  screening tool for  lead  and other  elements  in urine.   Jagner et al.
 (1979)  described analysis  of urine lead using  potentiometric stripping.  In their procedure the
 element was  preconcentrated  at a  thin-film mercury electrode  as  in conventional ASV,  but

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deoxygenated samples were  reoxidized with either oxygen or  mercuric  ions after the circuitry
was disconnected.
     As  noted  in Section 9.1.1.2, if collection  of  24-hr  samples is not  possible,  spot sam-
pling of  lead  in urine can be conducted, and results should be expressed per unit creatinine.
9.2.2.6   Lead  in Other Tissues.   Bone samples  of experimental animal or  human  autopsy origin
require preliminary cleaning procedures  for removal  of muscle and connective tissue, with care
being taken  to minimize  sample  contamination.   As  is the  case  with teeth, samples  must be
chemically decomposed before analysis.  Satisfactory instrumental  methods for bone lead analy-
sis comprise a much smaller literature than is the case for other media.
     Wittmers  et al.  (1981)  have described the measurement  of  lead  in dry ashed (450°C) bone
samples  using  flameless  AAS.   Ashed samples were weighed  and dissolved  in dilute nitric acid
containing lanthanum  ion,  the latter being used  to  suppress interference from bone elements.
Small volumes  (20  |jl)  and high calcium content required that atomization be done at 2400°C to
avoid condensation  of  calcium within the furnace.   Quantification was by the method of addi-
tions.    Relative precision was 6-8 percent at relatively  high  lead  content (60 (jg/g ash) and
10-12 percent at levels of 14 ug/g ash or less.
     Ahlgren et al. (1980) described the application of X-ray fluorescence analysis to jn vivo
lead measurement in the  human skeleton, using tibia and  phalanges.   In  this technique, irra-
diation  is  carried out  with  a  dual  57Co gamma  ray source.  The generated  Kal  and KQ2 lead
lines are detected with  a lithium-drifted germanium detector.  The detection limit is 20 ppm.
     Soft organs differ from other biological  media in the extent of anatomic heterogeneity as
well as  lead  distribution,  e.g., brain  versus kidney.  Hence, sample analysis involves either
discrete  regional  sampling or the homogenizing of an organ.   The efficiency of the latter can
vary considerably,  depending on  the  density  of  the  homogenate, the efficiency  of  rupture of
the formed elements, and other factors.   Glass-on-glass homogenizing should be avoided because
lead is  liberated  from the glass matrix with abrasion.
     AAS  in  its  flame or flameless variations,  is  the method of choice in many studies.   In
the procedure of Slavin et al. (1975), tissues were wet ashed and the residues taken up in di-
lute acid and  analyzed with  the  furnace accessory of an AAS unit.   A large number of reports
representing slight variations of this basic technique have appeared over the years (Lawrence,
1982  1983).   Flame procedures, being less sensitive than the graphite furnace method, require
more'sample than may be available or are restricted to measurement in tissues where levels are
relatively  high,   e.g.,  Mdney.   In  the  method  of  Farris et al.  (1978), samples  of brain,
liver   lung   or' spleen  (as discrete segments) were  lyophilized and then  solubilized  at room
temperature 'with  nitric acid.   Following  neutralization,  lead was extracted into methyliso-
butylketone with  ammonium pyrrolidinecarbodithioate  and  aspirated into  the flame  of an AAS
unit.  The reported relative precision was 8 percent.
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9.2.3  Quality Assurance Procedures In Lead Analysis
     Regardless of  technical  differences among the different methodologies for lead analysis,
one  can  define  the  quality of such techniques as being of certain categories:  (1) poor accu-
racy and poor precision;  (2) poor accuracy  and  good precision; or (3) good accuracy and good
precision.   In  terms  of available information, the  major  focus in assessing quality has been
on blood  lead determinations.
     According  to  Boutwell  (1976),  the  use  of  quality control testing  for  lead measurement
rests on four assumptions:  (1) that the  validity  of the specific procedure  for  lead  in some
matrix has  been established; (2) that the stability of the factors making up  the method has
been both established and manageable; (3) that the validity of the calibration process .and the
calibrators with respect to the media being analyzed has been established; and (4) that surro-
gate quality  control  materials of reliably determined analyte content can be provided.  These
assumptions,  when translated into practice,  revolve around  steps  employed within the labora-
tory, using a battery of "internal checks" and a further reliance on "external checks" such as
a formal, well-organized, multi-laboratory proficiency testing program.
     Analytical quality protocols can be further divided into start-up and routine procedures,
the  former  entailing the  establishment  of  detection  limits,   "within-run"  and "between-run"
precision, and recovery of analyte.   When a new method is adopted for some specific analytical
advantage,  the  procedure  is  usually  tested  Inside or outside  the  laboratory for comparative
performance.  For example,  Hicks et al.  (1973) and Kubasik et al.  (1972) reported that flame-
less techniques  for measuring lead in whole blood had a satisfactory correlation with results
using conventional  flame  procedures.   Matson et al.  (1971) noted a good agreement between ASV
and both AAS and dithizone colorimetric techniques.  The problem with such comparisons is that
the  reference method is  assumed to be accurate for the particular level of  lead in  a given
matrix.   High correlations  obtained  in  this  manner may simply indicate  that two inaccurate
methods  are simultaneously performing with the same level of precision.
     Preferable approaches  for  assessing accuracy  are the use of certified samples determined
by a definitive  method  or direct comparison  of  different  techniques with a definitive proce-
dure.  For example,  Eller and Hartz (1977) compared the precision and accuracy of five availa-
ble methods for measuring lead in blood:   dithizone spectrometry, extraction and tantalum boat
AAS,  extraction and  flame  aspiration AAS,  direct aspiration  AAS,  and graphite  furnace  AAS
techniques.    Porcine  whole  blood certified by NBS  using IDMS at 1.00 ug/g (±0.023) was tested
and all  methods were  found to be equally accurate.  The tantalum boat technique was the least
precise.   The  obvious  limitation  of  data from  this  technique  is  that they relate to a high
blood lead  content, suitable  for use in  measuring  the exposure  of lead workers  or  in some
other occupational  context,  but less  appropriate  for  clinical  or epidemiological  investi-
gations.
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     Boone et al.  (1979) compared the analytical  performance of 113 laboratories  using various
methods and 12 whole blood samples (blood from cows fed a lead salt) certified as to lead con-
tent using  IDMS at  the NBS.   Lead content  ranged  from 13 to 102 (jg/dl,  determined by ASV and
five variations of  AAS.   The order of agreement with NBS values, i.e.,  relative  accuracy, was
as follows:   extraction  >  ASV > tantalum strip  >  graphite furnace > Delves cup  > carbon rod.
The AAS  methods all  showed  bias, having positive  values  at less than 40  ug/dl  and negative
values at  levels  greater than 50 ug/dl.   ASV showed less of a positive bias problem, although
it was not bias free within either of the blood lead ranges.  In terms of relative precision,
the ranking  was:  ASV > Delves cup >  tantalum  strip > graphite furnace > extraction > carbon
rod.  The  overall ranking 1n accuracy and precision Indicated:  ASV > Delves cup > extraction
> tantalum strip  >  graphite furnace > carbon  rod.   As the  authors  cautioned, the above data
should not be taken to Indicate that any established laboratory using one particular technique
would not  perform better;  rather, 1t should be  used as a guide for newer facilities choosing
among methods.
     A number of  steps in quality assurance pertinent to the routine measurement of lead are
necessary  1n an  ongoing program.  With  respect to  Internal  checks of  routine performance,
these steps  Include calibration and precision and accuracy testing.  With biological matrices,
the use of matrix-matched standards 1s quite Important, as is an understanding of the range of
linearity  and variation of calibration curve slopes  from day to day.  Analyzing a given  sample
1n  duplicate 1s common practice, with further replication carried out if the first  two  deter-
minations  vary  beyond a predetermined range.  A second desirable  step is the analysis of sam-
ples collected  in duplicate but analyzed "blind" to  avoid  bias.
     Monitoring accuracy within the laboratory  1s  limited to  the  availability of control sam-
ples  having a certified lead content  in  the same medium  as the samples being analyzed.  Con-
trols  should be as  physically  close to the media  being analyzed as  possible.  Standard  refer-
ence  materials  (SRMs),  such  as  orchard  leaves  and lyophlUzed bovine  liver, are of help in
some  cases,  but NBS-certified blood samples  are needed for the general  laboratory  community.
Whole blood  samples,  prepared and certified by the  marketing facility (TOX-EL, A.R.  Smith Co.,
Los Angeles, CA;  Kaulson Laboratories, Caldwell, NJ;  Behringwerke  AG, Marburg, W. Germany; and
Health Research Institute, Albany, NY) are  available commercially.   With  these samples,  atten-
tion  must be paid  to the  reliability of the methods  used by  reference  laboratories.  The use
of  such  materials,  from whatever source, must minimize bias;  for  example,  the attention given
control  specimens should be  the same  as that  given routine samples.
      Finally,  the most  important form of  quality  assurance 1s the  ongoing assessment of lab-
oratory  performance  by  proficiency testing  programs  using externally provided  specimens for
analysis.   Earlier  Interlaboratory  surveys  of lead measurement in  blood  and in urine indicated

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that a number of laboratories had performed unsatisfactorily, even when dealing with high con-
centrations  of  lead (Keppler  et al., 1970;  Donovan  et al., 1971; Berlin et  al.,  1973),  al-
though  some  of the  problems may have originated  in  the preparation and status  of the blood
samples during  and  after distribution (World Health Organization, 1977).  These earlier tests
for  proficiency indicated the following:   (1)  many laboratories were able to  achieve  a good
degree  of precision within their own  facilities;  (2) the greater the number  of  samples rou-
tinely  analyzed by  a facility, the better  the  performance;  and (3) 30 percent of the labora-
tories  routinely analyzing  blood lead reported values  differing by  more than 15 percent from
the true  level  (Pierce et al., 1976).
     In the more recent, but very limited, study of Paulev et al. (1978), five facilities par-
ticipated  1n  a  survey,  using samples to which known amounts of  lead had been added.  For lead
in both whole blood and urine, the interlaboratory coefficient of variation was reported to be
satisfactory,  ranging  from  12.3  to 17.2 percent.   Aside from  Its  limited  scope,  this study
used "spiked" instead of jfn vivo lead, so that extraction techniques used in most of the labo-
ratories  surveyed  would have  given misleadlngly  better results in  terms of  actual recovery.
     Maher et  al.  (1979) described the outcome of a proficiency study involving up to 38 lab-
oratories  that  analyzed  whole blood pooled from a large number  of samples submitted for blood
lead testing.   The Delves cup technique was the most heavily represented, followed by the che-
lation-extraction plus  flame AAS method and the graphite furnace AAS method.   ASV was used by
only approximately  10  percent of the  laboratories, so  that the results basically portray AAS
methods.   All  laboratories  had about  the same degree of accuracy, with no evidence of consis-
tent bias, while the interlaboratory coefficient of variation was approximately 15 percent.  A
subset  of this  group,  certified by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) for air
lead, showed a  corresponding precision figure of approximately 7 percent.  Over time, the sub-
set  of  AIHA-certified laboratories remained about the same in proficiency,  while the other
facilities showed continued  improvement  in both accuracy and precision.   This study Indicates
that program participation does help the performance of a laboratory doing blood lead determi-
nations.
     The most comprehensive proficiency testing program 1s that  carried out by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) of the  U.S.  Public Health  Service (USPHS).   This  testing  program con-
sists of  two operationally  and  administratively distinct  subprograms,  one  conducted  by the
Center  for Environmental  Health  (CEH) and the  other  by the L1censure and Proficiency Testing
Division,   Laboratory  Improvement Program Office  (LIPO).   The CEH program is  directed  at fa-
cilities  involved  in lead  poisoning  prevention and  screening, while LIPO  is  concerned with
laboratories seeking certification  under  the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act of 1967 as
well as under  regulations  of the Occupational  Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Both

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the CEH and  LIPO  protocols  Involve the use of  bovine  whole blood certified as  to  content  by
reference laboratories (6 in the CEH program,  20-23 in  LIPO) with an  ad hoc target  range  of  ±6
(jg/dl  for  values  of  40  ug/dl  or less and ±15  percent for higher levels.  Three  samples are
provided monthly  from CEH,  for a total of 36  yearly, while LIPO participants  receive  three
samples quarterly (12  samples  yearly).   Use of a fixed range rather  than a standard deviation
has the advantage of allowing the monitoring of overall laboratory Improvement.
     For fiscal year  (FY)  1981, 114 facilities were in the CEH program, 92 of them participa-
ting for the  entire year.   Of these, 57 percent  each  month reported all three samples within
the target range, and 85 percent on average  reported  two out of three samples correctly.   Of
the facilities  reporting throughout the year,  95  percent had a 50 percent or  better  perfor-
mance, i.e.,  18 blood samples or better.   Comparing the summary data for FY 1981 with  earlier
annual  reports, one  sees considerable  improvement in the  number of  laboratories achieving
higher levels of proficiency.  For the interval  FY 1977-79, there was a 20 percent increase  in
the number correctly  analyzing more than 80  percent of all samples  and a 33 percent decrease
in those reporting less than 50 percent correct.  In the last several years, FY 1979-81,  over-
all performance has more or less stabilized.
     With the  LIPO  program  for 1981 (Dudley, 1982), the  overall laboratory performance aver-
aged across  all quarters was  65  percent  of the laboratories  analyzing all  samples correctly
and approximately 80  percent performing well  with  two of three samples.  Over the 4 years  of
this program,  an  increasing ability to analyze lead in blood correctly has been demonstrated.
Dudley's (1982) survey also Indicates that reference  laboratories in the  LIPO program are be-
coming more  accurate  relative  to IDMS values,  i.e.,  bias over the blood lead range  is con-
tracting.
     Current OSHA criteria for certification of laboratories measuring  occupational blood lead
levels require  that eight of  nine samples, 89  percent, be within 6 pg/dl  or 15 percent of  re-
ference  laboratory  means for samples sent over the three previous quarters (U.S. Occupational
Safety  and Health Administration,  1982).   These criteria reflect the  ability  of  a number  of
laboratories  to perform  at this level.
     Note that  most proficiency programs, including the CEH  and  LIPO surveys, are appropriate-
ly  concerned with blood lead  levels  encountered in such cases  as pedlatric screening for  ex-
cessive  exposure  to lead or  in occupational  exposures.   As  a consequence, underrepresentation
of  lead  values in the low  end of the "normal"  range  occurs.   In the  CEH distribution for FY
1981,  four samples  (11  percent) were  below 25  ug/dl.   The  relative  performance of  the  114
facilities with these  samples  indicates outcomes much  better than with  the whole sample range.
This relative distribution of  low blood  lead  samples appears to  have continued  to the present.
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     The National Bureau of Standards has' recently made available certified porcine blood lead
standard  reference  material  (SRM 955)  at two  levels  of blood  lead.   Certified  urine  lead
samples are also being offered.
9.3  DETERMINATION OF ERYTHROCYTE PORPHYRIN (FREE ERYTHROCYTE PROTOPORPHYRIN,
     ZINC PROTOPORPHYRIN)

9.3.1  Methods of Erythrocyte Porphyrln Analysis
     Lead exposure results 1n inhibition of the final step in heme biosynthesis, the Insertion
of iron into protoporphyrln IX to form heme.   Inhibition of this step leads to an accumulation
of the porphyrin, with zinc (II) occupying the position normally filled by Iron.  Depending on
the  particular method of  analysis,  zinc  protoporphyrln (ZPP) Itself or  the metal-free form,
free erythrocyte  protoporphyrln  (FEP),  is measured.   FEP generated as a consequence of chemi-
cal  manipulation  should be  kept  distinct from the metal-free form  biochemically  produced in
the disease, erythropoietic protoporphyria.  The chemical or "wet" methods measure FEP or ZPP,
depending  upon the  relative  acidity  of the  extraction medium.   The  hematofluorometer in its
commercially available form measures ZPP.
     Porphyrins are  labile due to photochemical decomposition; hence, samples must be protect-
ed  from  light during collection  and  handling and analyzed as soon  as  possible.   Hematocrits
must also be obtained to adjust for anemic subjects.
     In terms  of  methodological  approaches for erythrocyte porphyrin (EP) analysis, virtually
all methods  now  in use exploit the ability of porphyrlns to undergo intense fluorescence when
excited at  the appropriate wavelength of  light.   Such  fluorometric  techniques can be further
classified as  wet chemical micromethods or as mlcromethods using a recently developed Instru-
ment, the  hematofluorometer.   The latter  Involves direct measurement In whole blood.  Because
the mammalian  erythrocyte  contains  all  of the EP in whole blood, either packed cells or whole
blood may be used, although the latter 1s more expedient.
     Because  of  the relatively high  sensitivity of  fluorometric measurement  for  FEP or ZPP,
laboratory  methods  for  spectrofluorometHc   analysis  require a relatively  small  sample  of
blood; hence,  microtechniques  are currently  the most popular in most laboratories.  These in-
volve either  liquid  samples  or blood collected  on filter paper, the latter used particularly
in field sampling.
     As noted above, chemical methods for EP  analysis measure either FEP,  where zinc 1s chemi-
cally removed, or ZPP,  where zinc is retained.  The procedures of Plomelli and Davidow (1972),
Granick et al., (1972), and Chisholm and Brown (1975) typify "free" EP methods, while those of
Lamola et  al.  (1975),  Joselow and Flores (1977),  and Chisolm  and Brown  (1979)  involve mea-
surement of zinc EP.
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     In Piomelli and Davidow's  (1972)  microprocedure,  small volumes of whole  blood,  analyzed
either directly or  after  collection  on filter paper, were treated with a  suspension  of  Celite
in saline followed  by  a  4:1 mixture  of ethyl  acetate to glacial  acetic acid.   After  agitation
and centrifugation, the supernatant  was  extracted with 1.5N HC1.   The  acid layer  was  analyzed
fluorometrically using an excitation wavelength of 405  nm and measurement at 615 nm.   Blood
collected on filter paper discs was first eluted with 0.2 ml H20.   The  filter paper method was
found to work  just as  well as  liquid  samples  of whole blood.   Protoporphyrin IX  was  employed
as a  quantitative  standard.   Granick et al.  (1972) used a similar microprocedure, but it dif-
fered 1n the concentration of acid employed  and the use of a ratio of maxima.
     In Chisolm  and Brown's  (1975)  variation,  volumes  of 20  ^1  of whole blood  were treated
with  ethyl  acetate/acetic add  (3:1)  and briefly  mixed.   The acid-extraction step  was done
with 3N HC1,  followed  by  a further  dilution  step  with more acid if the  value was beyond the
range of the  calibration  curve.  In  this procedure, protoporphyrin IX  was used as the working
standard, with coproporphyrin  (a precursor  to protoporphyrin)  used to  monitor the calibration
of the fluorometer and any variance with the protoporphyrin standard.
     Lamola et al.  (1975) analyzed the ZPP as such in  their procedure.   Small volumes of blood
(20 pi) were worked up in a detergent (dimethyl dodecylamine oxide) and phosphate  buffer solu-
tion, and fluorescence was measured  at 594  nm with excitation  at 424 nm.   In the  variation of
Joselow and Flores (1977), 10 ul of whole blood was diluted 1000-fold,  along with  protoporphy-
rin  (Zn) standards, with  the detergent-buffer solution.  Note  that the ZPP standard  is virtu-
ally  impossible  to obtain in pure form.  Chisolm  and  Brown (1979) reported the use  of proto-
porphyrin IX plus very pure zinc salt for such standards.
      In the  single-extraction  variation of  Orfanos  et al.  (1977),  liquid samples of whole
blood (40 ul) or blood on filter paper were treated with acidified ethanol.  The mixtures were
agitated and centrlfuged, and the supernatants analyzed directly  in fluorometer cuvettes.  For
blood samples  on filter  paper,  blood was first leached from  the paper with saline by  soaking
for  60  min.   Coproporphyrin was used as the quantitative  standard.  The correlation coeffici-
ent  with the  Piomelli  and Davidow (1972) procedure (see above) over the range 40-650 ug EP/dl
RBCs was r = 0.98.  As in  the above  methods, ZPP itself  is  measured.
      Regardless  of the extraction  methods  used,  some instrumental  parameters are important,
including  the variation  between cut-offs in  secondary emission  filters  and variation among
photomultipller  tubes  in the  red  region of the spectrum.   Hanna et al.  (1976) compared  four
micromethods  for EP analysis:   double extraction  with ethyl acetate/acetic acid and with HC1
(Piomelli  and Oavidow, 1972),   single extraction  with either  ethanol  or acetone (Chisolm et
al.,  1974), and  direct  solubilization  with  detergent  (Lamola et  al.,  1975).  Of  these, the
ethyl acetate  and  ethanol  procedures were satisfactory;  complete  extraction  occurred  only  with

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the ethyl acetate/acetic  add  method.   In the method of Chlsholm et al.  (1974),  the choice of
add and  its  concentration  appears to be more significant than the choice of organic solvent.
     The  levels of  precision  with these wet micromethods  differ  with the specifics of analy-
sis.   Plomelli  (1973) reported  a coefficient of  variation (C.V.) of 5  percent,  compared to
Herber's  (1980) observation of 2-4 percent for the methods per se and 6-11 percent total  C.V.,
which  Included precision  of samples,  standards,  and day-to-day variation.   The  Lamola et al.
(1975) method  for ZPP measurement was found to  have  a C.V. of 10 percent (same  day, presuma-
bly),  whereas  Herber (1980)  reported  a day-to-day  C.V.  of 9.3-44.6 percent.   Herber (1980)
also found that the wet chemical micromethod of PiomelH (1973) had a detection limit of 20 (jg
EP/dl  whole  blood,  while that of Lamola  et al.  (1975)  was  sensitive  to 50 ug  EP/dl  whole
blood.
     The  recent development of direct Instrumental measurement of  ZPP with  the  hematofluoro-
meter has made 1t possible to use EP measurement in field screening for lead  exposure in large
groups of subjects.   However, hematofluorometers were developed for and remain most useful for
lead screening programs;  they  were  not meant  to be laboratory  substitutes  for the chemical
methods of EP  analysis.   (See Section 9.3.2 for a comparative discussion.)  As originally de-
veloped by Bell  Laboratories  (Blumberg et al., 1977) and now produced commercially, the appa-
ratus  employs  front-face  optics,  1n  which excitation of  the fluorophore 1s  at an acute angle
to  the  sample  surface,  with emitted light emerging  from  the same surface and thus  being de-
tected.   Routine calibration requires a stable fluorescing material with  spectra  comparable to
ZPP; the  triphenylmethane dye  Rhodamlne B 1s used for this purpose.  Absolute calibration re-
quires adjusting the  microprocessor-controlled readout system to read the known  concentration
of ZPP in reference blood samples, the latter calibration performed as frequently as possible.
     Hematofluorometers are designed  for  measuring EP  1n  samples  containing  oxyhemoglobln,
I.e., capillary blood.  Venous blood, therefore,  must first be oxygenated, usually by moderate
shaking  for  approximately  10  m1n (Blumberg et  al.,  1977;  Grandjean and Llntrup,  1978).   A
second problem with hematofluorometer  use,  in contrast to  wet chemical  methods, is Interfer-
ence by  bilirubln (Karadc  et al., 1980; Grandjean and Llntrup, 1978).   This Interference oc-
curs with relatively low levels of EP.   At levels normally encountered 1n lead workers or sub-
jects  with  anemia   or  nonoccupatlonal  lead exposure,  the degree of  such  Interference 1s not
considered significant  (Grandjean and  Llntrup,  1978).  Karadc et al. (1980) have found that
carboxyhemoglobln (COHb) may  pose a  potential problem, but its relevance to  EP levels of sub-
jects  exposed  to lead has not been fully elucidated.   Background fluorescence 1n cover glass
may be a  problem and should be tested 1n advance.   Finally, the accuracy of  the  hematofluoro-
meter appears to be affected by hemolyzed blood.
     Competently employed, the hematofluorometer appears to be reasonably precise, but Its ac-
curacy may still be biased  (see below).  Blumberg et  al.  (1977) reported a  C.V. of 3 percent
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over the entire range of ZPP values measured when using a prototype apparatus.   Karacic  et  al.
(1980) found the  relative  standard deviation to vary  from  1  percent (0.92 mM ZPP/M Hb) to  5
percent (0.41 mM  ZPP/M  Hb) depending on concentration.  Grandjean and Lintrup  (1978) obtained
a day-to-day  C.V.  of 5 percent using blood  samples  refrigerated for up to 9 weeks.   Herber
(1980) obtained a total  C.V. of 4.1-11.5 percent.
     A number of Investigators have compared EP measured by the hematofluorometer with  EP mea-
sured  by  the laboratory or wet chemical  techniques,  ranging from  a  single,  intralaboratory
comparison to  Interlaboratory performance  testing.   The latter  Included  the EP  proficiency
testing program  of the USPHS1  CDC.   Working with prototype  instrumentation, Blumberg  et  al.
(1977) obtained correlation coefficients  of r = 0.98  (range:   50-800  pg EP/dl  RBCs)  and  0.99
(range:   up  to 1000  pg EP/dl  RBCs)  for comparisons  with  the Granick  and  Piomelli  methods,
respectively.  Grandjean and Lintrup  (1978), Castoldl et al.  (1979) and Karacic et al.  (1980)
have achieved equally good correlation results.
     Several  reports  (Culbreth et  al.,  1979; Scoble  et al., 1981; Smith et al.,  1980)  have
described the  application  of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to the analysis of
either FEP or  ZPP 1n whole blood.   In one of the studies (Scoble et al., 1981), the protopor-
phyrlns as well  as coproporphyrln  and mesoporphyrin IX were reported to be determined on-line
fluorometrically  in  less  than 6 m1n  using  0.1 ml  of blood sample.  The HPLC approach remains
to be tested 1n Interlaboratory proficiency programs.

9.3.2  Interlaboratory Testing of Accuracy and Precision 1n EP Measurement
     In  a relatively early attempt to assess interlaboratory  proficiency 1n  EP measurement,
Jackson (1978) reported results of a  survey of 65 facilities that analyzed 10 whole blood sam-
ples by  direct measurement with the  hematofluorometer or by one of the wet chemical methods.
In  this  survey,  the instrumental  methods had  a  low bias compared to the extraction techniques
but tended to show better  Interlaboratory correlation.
     At  present,  CDC's  ongoing EP proficiency testing program constitutes the most comprehen-
sive  assessment of  laboratory performance  (U.S.  Centers for  Disease Control, 1981).  Every
month,  three samples of  whole blood prepared  at  the University  of  Wisconsin Laboratory  of
Hygiene are  forwarded to participants.  Reference means  are determined by  a group of reference
laboratories with a target  range  of  ±15  percent across the  whole  range of EP values.  For  FY
1981,  of  the 198  laboratories  participating,  139 facilities were  Involved  for the entire year.
Three  of the  36  samples  1n the year were  not  Included.   Of the 139 year-long participants,
93.5  percent had better than  half of the samples within the target range,  84.2 percent per-
formed satisfactorily with 70 percent or  more of the samples  within range, and  50.4 percent  of
all  laboratories  had 90 percent or more  of the samples yielding the correct  results.  The  par-
ticipants as a  whole  showed  greater proficiency than  in  the previous  year.   Of the  various
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methods currently  used,  the  hematofluorometer  direct measurement technique was  most  heavily
represented.   For example,  in the January 1982 survey of the three major techniques,  154 par-
ticipants  used  the  hematofluorometer,  30 used the  Piomelli  method, and 7  used  the  Chlsolm/
Brown method.
     A recent survey  by  Balamut et al.  (1982) raises the troublesome observation that the use
of commercially  available hematofluorometers may  yield satisfactory proficiency results but
still be  inaccurate when compared to the wet chemical method using freshly drawn whole blood.
Two hematofluorometers In wide  use performed well  in proficiency testing but showed an appro-
ximately 30 percent negative bias with clinical  samples analyzed by both instrument and chemi-
cal microtechniques.   This  bias  leads  to false  negatives when used in  screening.   Periodic
testing of split samples by both fluorometer and  chemical  means Is necessary to monitor, and
correct for,  instrument  negative  bias.   The basis of the  bias  is much more than  can  be ex-
plained by the  difference  between  FEP and  ZPP.   This survey  points  out  precautions  noted
earlier on the restrictive use of the hematofluorometer to screening situations.
     Mitchell  and Doran (1985) compared EP values measured in their laboratory by the chemical
extraction technique  with results obtained by the hematofluorometer in  21 other laboratories.
These workers found that (a)  hematofluorometer results were 11-28 percent lower than the cor-
responding chemical method  values,  (b)  hematofluorometers demonstrated mean error  of up to 3
percent for proficiency  samples,  and (c) hematofluorometers showed a negative bias of 20 per-
cent at EP  levels  of  50  M9/dl and would miss about one third (false negatives)  of children at
or somewhat above this level.
     One factor that can  be  important in the relative accuracy of the hematofluorometer versus
wet chemical  methods  is  the  relative  stability  of ZPP  levels  as  a proportion of  total  EP
across  that  age  range  in  childhood of  most interest  in  screening.   Hammond  and coworkers
(1984) have observed  that the fraction of ZPP  versus  total EP was at a relative minimum at 3
months of  age in 165 children serially  tested,  and  that 1t increased  to 1.0  by around 33
months of  age.   These observations  suggest  that  this variation  of proportionality  with age
should be  taken  into  account  when screening children under approximately 30 months of age and
when the hematofluorometer is  the chief means of EP quantification.
     The technical basis  for  this age-related change 1n proportionality may be  spectroscoplc,
i.e.,  changes  in  erythrocyte  size  over  this  age  range  would lead to differences  in  cell
packing,  which  in  turn  would  affect fluorescence  yield during  front-face  Irradiation  1n the
hematofluorometer.   A second  factor  noted by the authors may have to do with relative availa-
bility of  zinc.   Since  zinc  deficiency  is  common at this stage  of development (see Chapter
10),  bioavailability  of  zinc  for a  nonessential  complexing with FEP would be  restricted by
homeostatic  sparing  of  the  element for  physiological  needs.    However, since  the  work of

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Chisolm and Brown  (1979),  using a chemical method,  did  not reveal  any disparity between  the
two  forms  in  subjects  of  the same  age  range,  there is  probably  an instrumental  artifact
operating here.
9.4  MEASUREMENT OF URINARY COPROPORPHYRIN
     The elevation of  urinary  coproporphyrin  (CP-U) with lead intoxication served as a useful
indicator of such intoxication in children and lead workers for many years.   Although analysis
of  CP-U has  declined  considerably  in  recent  times  with the  development of other  testing
methods, such as  measurement  of EP,  it still  has the advantage of showing active  intoxication
(Piomelli and Graziano, 1980).
     The  standard method  of  CP-U determination  is the  fluorometric  procedure  described  by
Schwartz et al.  (1951).  Urine samples are treated with acetate buffer and aqueous iodine,  the
latter  converting coproporphyrinogen  to coproporphyrin  (CP).   The porphyrin  is  partitioned
into ethyl  acetate  and back extracted (4 times) with 1.5N HC1.  Coproporphyrin is employed as
the quantitative standard.   Working curves are linear below 5 pg CP/1 urine.
     In  the  absorption spectrometric  technique  of Haeger-Aronsen (1960),  iodine  is  also used
to  convert  coproporphyrinogen  to CP.   The extractant is ethyl ether, from which the CP is  re-
moved with 0.1N HC1.  Absorption is read at three wavelengths, 380,  430, and the Soret maximum
at  402  nm.   Quantification is carried out using  an equation involving the three wavelengths.
9.5  MEASUREMENT OF DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID DEHYDRASE ACTIVITY
     Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase (5-aminolevulinate hydrolase; porphobilinogen synthe-
tase;  E.C.  4.2.1.24; i.e., ALA-D)  is  an allosteric sulfhydryl enzyme  that  mediates the con-
version  of  two units of 6-aminolevulinic acid  (6-ALA)  to porphobilinogen, a precursor in the
heme biosynthetic pathway to the porphyrins.  Lead's inhibition of the activity of this enzyme
is  the  enzymological  basis  of ALA-D's  diagnostic utility  in assessing  lead  exposure using
erythrocytes.
     A  number of sampling  precautions  are  necessary  when measuring  this enzyme's activity.
ALA-D  activity is  modified by the  presence of  zinc as well as lead.  Consequently,  blood col-
lection  tubes that  have high background zinc  content,  mainly in the rubber stoppers, must be
avoided  completely  or care must  be taken to avoid stopper contact  with blood.   Nackowski et
al.  (1977)  observed that the presence  of zinc in blood  collection  tubes  is a pervasive prob-
lem, and plastic-cup  tubes appear the  only  practical means to  avoid  it.  To  guard against zinc
in  the tube  itself,  one  should determine the  extent of  zinc  Teachability  by blood and  use one
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tube  lot,  if  possible.   Heparin  is the  anticoagulant  of choice,  because  the  lead  binding
agent,  EDTA,  or other  chelants  would affect  the lead-enzyme  interaction.  The  relative in-
stability of the  enzyme  in  blood makes rapid determinations of activity necessary, preferably
as soon after collection as  possible.  Even with refrigeration, analysis of activity should be
done within 24  hr (Berlin and Schaller,  1974).  Furthermore,  porphobilinogen is light labile,
which requires that the assay be done under restricted light.
     Various procedures  for  ALA-D  activity measurement are chemically based on measurement of
porphobilinogen generated from  the substrate.   Delta-ALA porphobilinogen is condensed with p-
dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (Ehrlich's  reagent)  to  yield a chromophore measured  at 553  nm in a
spectrophotometer.  In the European Standardized Method for ALA-D activity measurement (Berlin
and Schaller, 1974),  developed  with the collaboration of nine laboratories for use with blood
samples having  relatively low lead content, triplicate blood  samples  (0.2 ml) are hemolyzed,
along with a  blood blank,  with water for  10  min  at 37°C.  Samples  are then mixed with 6-ALA
solution and  incubated  for  60 min.  The enzyme reaction  is terminated by addition of a solu-
tion of mercury (II) in trichloroacetic acid,  followed by centrifugation and filtration.  Fil-
trates  are mixed  with  modified Ehrlich's  reagent (p-d1methylaminobenzalehyde in trichloro-
acetic/perchloric  acid  mixture)  and allowed  to  react  for  5 m1n,  followed  by chromophore
measurement in  a  spectrophotometer at 555  nm.  Activity  is quantified in terms  of |jM 6-ALA/
min«l erythrocytes.   Note that  the amount of  phosphate  for Solution A in Berlin & Schaller's
(1974)  report should  be  1.78 g, not the 1.38 g stated.  In a microscale variation, Granick et
al. (1973) used only 5 pi of blood and terminated the assay by trichloroacetic acid.
     In comparing  various reports  concerning  the relationship between lead exposure and ALA-D
inhibition, attention  should be paid to the  units of activity measurement  employed with the
different techniques.  Berlin and  Schaller's  (1974) procedure expresses activity as uM 6-ALA/
min*l cells,  while Tomokuni's  (1974) method  expresses  activity as pM porphobilinogen/hr/ml
cells.  Similarly, when comparing the Bonsignore et al. (1965) procedure to that of Berlin and
Schaller  (1974),  a conversion factor of 3.8  is necessary when converting  from Bonsignore to
European Standard Method units (Trevisan et al., 1981).
     Several  factors  have been  shown to affect ALA-D  activity.   Rather than measuring enzyme
activity  1n  blood once, Granick  et  al.  (1973) measured activity before  and  after treatment
with  dlthiothreitol,  an agent that  reactivates the  enzyme by complexing  lead.   The ratio of
activated to unactivated enzymes versus blood lead levels accommodates Inherent differences in
enzyme  activity among  individuals  due to genetic factors and other reasons.   Other agents for
such  activation  include zinc (FinelH  et   al.,  1975)  and zinc plus glutathione  (Mitchell et
al., 1977).  In the  Mitchell et al.  (1977) study,  nonphyslological  levels of zinc were used.
Wigfield and  Farant  (1979)  found that enzyme  activity is related to assay  pH;  thus,  reduced

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activity  from  such  a  pH-act1v1ty relationship  could be misinterpreted  as lead  Inhibition.
These researchers find that  pH  shifts away from optimal, 1n  terms  of activity,  as  blood  lead
content Increases and the Incubation  step proceeds.
9.6  MEASUREMENT OF DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID IN URINE AND OTHER MEDIA
     Delta-ara1nolevul1n1c add (6-ALA) levels increase with elevated lead exposure,  because  of
the Inhibitory effect of lead on the activity of ALA dehydrase and/or the increase of ALA syn-
thetase activity by  feedback derepression.   The result is that this intermediate in heme bio-
synthesis rises  in  the  body and eventually results 1n Increased urinary excretion.   The meas-
urement of  this metabolite  in  urine provides  an indication  of the level of  lead exposure.
     The  ALA  content of urine samples  (ALA-U)is  stable  for approximately 2 weeks  or  more  if
urine  samples  are acidified  with  tartaric  or  acetic acid and  kept  refrigerated.   Values  of
ALA-U  are adjusted  for  urine density if concentration is expressed in mg/1 or is measured per
gram creatinine.  As noted in the case  of  urinary lead measurement, 24-hr collection is more
desirable than spot  sampling.
     Five manual  procedures  and one automated procedure  for  urinary ALA measurement are most
widely  used.   Mauzerall and  Granick  (1956)  and Davis and Andelman  (1967)  described the most
involved procedures, requiring the initial chromatographic separation of ALA.   The approach of
Grabecki  et al.  (1967)  omitted chromatographic Isolation,  whereas  the  automated variation of
Lauwerys et al.  (1972) omitted prechronatography but included the use of an internal standard.
Tomokunl  and  Ogata  (1972)  omitted chromatography but employed  solvent extraction  to isolate
the pyrrole intermediate.
     Mauzerall  and  Granick (1956)  condensed ALA with  a  p-dlcarbonyl compound, acetylacetone,
at pH  4.6 to yield a pyrrole  intermediate (Knorr condensation reaction), which was further re-
acted  with  p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde  in perchloric/acetic acid.  The samples were then read
1n  a spectrophotometer at 553  nm  15  min after mixing.   In  this method, both porphobilinogen
and  ALA are separated from  urine  by  means  of a dual-column configuration of cation and anion
exchange  resins.  The  latter retains  the  porphobilinogen and  the  former separates ALA from
urea.   The detection limit is 3 umol/1  urine.   In  the modification of this method by Davis and
Andelman  (1967), disposable catlon/anion resin cartridges were  used, in a sequential configu-
ration, to expedite  chromatographic separation  and Increase the  sample  analysis rate.  Commer-
cial  (Bio-Rad)  disposable  columns based on this design  are  now available and appear  satis-
factory.
     In these  two approaches (Mauzerall  and  Granick,  1956;  Davis and  Andelman, 1967), the pro-
blem of interference due to  aminoacetone,  a metabolite occurring in urine,  is  not  taken into
account.   However,  Marver et al.  (1966) used Dowex-1 in  a  chromatographic step  subsequent  to
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the condensation  reaction to form the pyrrole.   This  step separates the ALA  derivative  from
that of the aminoacetone.   Similarly, Schlenker et al.  (1964) used a cation-exchange column to
retain aminoacetone.
     Tomokuni  and Ogata  (1972)  condensed ALA with ethylacetoacetate  and  extracted the  re-
sulting pyrrole with  ethyl  acetate.   The extract was  then  treated with Ehrlich's reagent and
the resulting  chromophore measured spectrophotometrically.   Lauwerys et al.  (1972) developed
an  automated  ALA analysis  method  for lead worker  screening  in which ALA was  added  1n  known
amount as  an internal standard and  the  prechromatography was avoided.   They  reported a  high
correlation (r = 0.98, no range available) with the procedure of Mauzerall  and Granick (1956).
     Roels  et  al.   (1974)  compared  the  relative  proficiency  of  four  methods--those  of
Mauzerall and  Granick  (1956),  Davis  and Andelman (1967), the Lauwerys et al.  (1972) automated
version,  and the  Grabecki  et al.  (1967) method, which omits chromatographic separation  and is
normally used with occupational screening.  The chromatographic methods  gave identical results
over the range of 0-60 mg ALA/1 urine, while the automated method showed a positive bias  at <6
mg/1.   The Grabecki et al.  (1967) technique was the least satisfactory  of the procedures  com-
pared.   Roels  et al.   (1974) also  noted  that commercial ion-exchange columns  resulted  in low
variability (<10 percent).
     Delia Florentine  et  al.  (1979)  combined  the Tomokuni  and Ogata (1972) extraction  method
with  a correction equation  for  urine density.   Up to  25  mg ALA/1, the C.V.  was  £4 percent
along with a good correlation (r = 0.937) with the Davis and Andelman (1967) technique.   While
avoiding prechromatography  saves  time, one must  prepare a curve relating urine  density  to a
correction factor for quantitative measurement.
     Although ALA analysis is normally done with urine as the indicator medium, Haeger-Aronsen
(1960) reported  a similar colorimetric method for  blood and  MacGee et al.  (1977) described a
gas-liquid chromatographic  (GLC)  method  for ALA in plasma  as  well as urine.  Levels of ALA in
plasma are  much  lower than  those  in  urine.   In  the  latter  method,  ALA was  isolated  from
plasma,  reacted  with  acetyl-acetone,  and  partitioned  into  a  solvent  (trimethylphenyl-
hydroxide),  which also served for pyrolytic  methylation  in the  injection  port of  the  gas-
liquid chromatograph;  the methylated  pyrrole  was more  amenable  to chromatographic isolation
than the more  polar  precursor.   For quantification, an  internal  standard,  6-amino-5-oxohexa-
noic acid, was  used.   The sample requirement is 3 ml  plasma.   Measured levels ranged from 6.3
to  73.5  ng  ALA/ml plasma, and yielded values  that were approximately  tenfold lower  than the
colorimetric techniques (O'Flaherty et al., 1980).
     In comparing the Haeger-Aronsen (1960) and MacGee et al.  (1977) methods,  a number of dif-
ferences  should  be pointed  out.   First,  the colorimetric  approach of Haegar-Aronsen does not
employ chromatographic steps to  separate the ALA from other aminoketones, specifically amino-
acetone  and  porphobilinogen.   While these other  aminoketones are  not  known  to be positively
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correlated with blood  lead,  they would add a positive  bias  to the accuracy of the levels  ob-
tained.  The GLC  method  of MacGee and coworkers  does  not  measure simultaneously these  amino-
ketones in either plasma or urine, and a reading of the published methodology and its  applica-
tion  (O'Flaherty  et  al.,  1980)  indicates  the  procedure  is acceptable  for urinary  ALA  and
levels of  ALA  in plasma associated with  relatively  high blood lead values,  i.e.,  >40  ug/dl.
The suitability of  the GLC approach for  relatively  low levels  of plasma ALA,  i.e.,  at blood
lead  levels below 40  pg/dl,  remains to be fully evaluated in the field.   A careful reading of
the MacGee  et  al.  report suggests potential interferences with low levels of ALA measurement,
while  the  methodology  has  not had wide use or multi-laboratory evaluation.   Despite its added
cost,  a good overall  method for assessing the relationship of plasma ALA to blood lead  levels
below  40  (jg/dl,   now  an  issue of controversy (see Chapter  12.3),  would  be  use  of  the  MacGee
method  in   tandem  with  computerized  multiple-ion monitoring  in  a mass  spectrometer.   This
method is  an absolute means of ALA identification as well  as a sensitive means of quantifica-
tion.
9.7  MEASUREMENT OF PYRIMIDINE-5'-NUCLEOTIDASE ACTIVITY
     Erythrocyte pyrimidine-5'-nuc1eotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, E.G.  3.1.3.5,
i.e., Py5N)  catalyzes  the hydrolytic dephosphorylation of the  pyrimidine  nucleotides  uridine
monophosphate (UMP) and cytidinemonophosphate (CMP) to uridine and cytidine (Paglia and Valen-
tine, 1975).   Enzyme  inhibition  by lead  in  humans and animals  results  in incomplete degrad
ation of  reticulocyte  ribonucleic acid (RNA) fragments, accumulation  of  the nucleotides, and
increased cell hemolysis  (Paglia et al., 1975; Paglia and Valentine, 1975; Angle and Mclntire,
1978; George and Duncan,  1982).
     Two  methods  are available for  measurement  of Py5N activity.  One is  quite laborious in
terms of  time  and manipulation, while the  other is shorter but  requires the use of radioiso-
topes  and  radiometric  measurement.   In  Paglia  and Valentine's (1975)  method,  heparinized
venous  blood was  filtered  through cotton  or a  commercial  cellulose  preparation to  separate
erythrocytes from platelets and leukocytes.   Cells were given multiple saline washings, packed
lightly,  and subjected to freeze  hemolysis.  The hemolysates were dialyzed against a saline-
Tris buffer containing MgCl2 and  EDTA  to  remove nucleotides and  other phosphates.  The  assay
system  consists  of dialyzed hemolysate, MgCl2,  Tris  buffer at pH 8.0, and either UMP or CMP;
incubation  is  for 2 hr at 37°C.   Activity  is terminated by  treatment with  20 percent  trichlo-
roacetic  acid,  followed by centrifugation.   The supernatant inorganic phosphate, P^  is  meas-
ured by the classic method  of Fiske  and Subbarow (1925),  and the phosphomolybdic acid complex
is  measured  spectrophotometrically  at  660  nm.   A unit  of enzyme activity  is expressed as
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umol P.j/hr/g  hemoglobin.   Hemolysates  appear to be stable  (90  percent)  with refrigeration at
4°C for  up  to 6 days, provided that mercaptoethanol  is added at the time of assay.   Like the
other method, activity measurement requires the determination of hemoglobin.
     In  the  simpler  approach  of Torrance et al.  (1977), which can be feasibly applied to much
larger  numbers  of samples, erythrocytes  were  separated from leukocytes and  platelets  with  a
1:1 mixture  of  microcrystalline and alphacellulose, followed by  saline  washing and hemolysis
with a  solution of mercaptoethanol and  EDTA.   Hemolysates were incubated with  a  medium con-
taining purified 14C-CMP and MgCl2 for 30 min at 37°C.   The reaction was terminated by sequen-
tial addition of  barium hydroxide and zinc  sulfate solution.   Proteins  and unreacted nucleo-
tide  were  precipitated,   leaving  the  labeled  cytidine  in the  supernatant.   Aliquots  were
measured for 14C-activity  in a liquid scintillation counter.  Enzyme activity was expressed as
nM  CMP/min/g hemoglobin.   The blank activity  was  determined for each sample  by  carrying out
the precipitation  step  as  soon as the hemolysate was  mixed with the labeled CMP, i.e.,  t = 0.
This  procedure  shows a  good  correlation  (r = 0.94;  range:  135-189  enzyme units)  with the
method of Paglia  and Valentine (1975).  The two methods express units of enzyme activity dif-
ferently, so that one must know which method is used when comparing enzyme activity.
9.8  MEASUREMENT OF PLASMA 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D
     The active  form  of vitamin D in bone mineral metabolism, including absorption of calcium
and  phosphorus  as  well  as  bone resorption  of  these minerals,  is the  hormonal  metabolite,
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D  (1,25-(OH)2D).   Given the growing interest  in  the  adverse effects of
lead  on  the biosynthesis  of this crucial  metabolite (see  Chapters 10, 12 and  13),  a brief
discussion  of  the  quantitative measurement  of  this metabolite  is merited.   Techniques  for
measurement of 1,25-(OH)2D are all of recent vintage, are all rather lengthy procedurally,  and
all require a rather high level of laboratory expertise and proficiency.
     Reported  methodology,  whatever the  differences in  specific details,  can  be broken down
into  three  discrete steps:  (1) isolation  of the metabolite from plasma or  serum by liquid-
liquid extraction  using  solvents  common in  lipid  analysis; (2) preconcentration  of  the  ex-
tracts and  chromatographic  purification  using Sephadex  LH-20  or Lipidex  5000 columns along
with,  in some  cases,  HPLC;  and (3) subsequent quantitation by either of two radiometric bind-
ing  techniques:  the more  common competitive protein binding (CPB)  assay or radioimmunoassay
(RIA).  The CPB  assay normally involves the use of a receptor protein in the intestinal cyto-
sol of chicks made vitamin D-deficient.
     Most illustrative  of 1,25-(OH)2D  measurement is the  technique  of  Shepard et al.  (1979),
which  also  includes steps  for the analysis  of other metabolites  not  discussed  here.   Human

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plasma,  3-5 ml,  to  which Initiated  metabolite  is added as tracer  internal  standard,  is ex-
tracted  with  a  mixture  of  methanol and  methylene chloride,  followed  by separation  of the
(OH)2D  fraction (to  include  the 24,25- and 25,26-(OH)2 metabolites)  from other metabolites
using a  Sephadex LH-20 column.  Subsequent  use of HPLC  (straight phase, Zorbax-SIL) separates
the  1,25-(OH)2 metabolite from  the other two dihydroxylated  products.   Quantification is by
CPB assay.  In human adults, the mean metabolite level is 31 picograms/ml.  Limit of detection
is 5 picograms/analytical tube, mean recovery is 58.4 percent, and the within-run and between-
run coefficients of variation are 17 and 26  percent, respectively.
     Two  interlaboratory surveys of methodology for vitamin D metabolite analysis have recent-
ly been  described (Jongen et a!., 1982; Jongen et al.,  1984).   In the more recent and compre-
hensive of the two (Jongen et al., 1984), 15 laboratories carried out analyses of eight plasma
samples and  two  standards for 1,25-(OH)2D.  Mean interlaboratory coefficient of variation for
analysis  of 1,25-(OH)2D in the plasma  samples was 52 percent.   In  this  survey,  nine labora-
tories  used the CPB assay, with six  using RIA for quantitation.  The  major  reason,  however,
for  the  variance appeared to be differences in  methods of purification.   The  upshot of this
survey  is  that results for a given  sample will  vary with specifics  of  procedure.   Thus each
laboratory should establish its own reference values.
9.9  SUMMARY
     A complete  understanding  of  a toxic agent's biological  effects  (including any statement
of dose-effect relationships)  requires  quantitative measurement of either  that agent in some
biological medium or a physiological parameter associated with exposure to the agent.   Quanti-
tative analysis  Involves  a number of discrete  steps,  all  of which contribute  to  the overall
reliability of the  final  analytical  result:   sample collection and shipment, laboratory hand-
ling, instrumental analysis, and criteria for internal and external quality control.
     From  a  historical  perspective,  the  definition of  "satisfactory analytical  method"  for
lead has  been  changing  steadily as new and  more  sophisticated equipment has become available
and  understanding  of the  hazards  of  pervasive  contamination along the  analytical  course  has
Increased.  The  best  example  of this change  is the current use of the  definitive method  for
lead analysis, isotope-dilution mass  spectrometry (IDMS) 1n tandem with "ultra-clean" facili-
ties and  sampling methods, to demonstrate conclusively  not  only  the  true extent of anthropo-
aenic Input  of  lead  to  the environment over the years  but also the  relative  limitations  of
most of the methods used today for lead measurement.
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9.9.1  Determinations of Lead in Biological Media
     The  low  levels  of  lead in biological media,  even  in the face of excessive exposure,  and
the fact that sampling of such media must be done against a backdrop of pervasive lead contam-
ination necessitates  that  samples  be collected and handled carefully.   Blood lead sampling is
best done  by  venous  puncture and collection into low-lead tubes after careful  cleaning of  the
puncture  site.   The  use  of finger  puncture  as an  alternative method of  sampling  should be
avoided,  1f feasible, given the risk of  contamination  associated  with the practice In indus-
trialized  areas.  While  collection of blood onto  filter  paper  enjoyed some popularity in  the
past, paper deposition  of blood requires  special  correction  for  hematocrlt/hemoglobin level.
     Urine sample collection requires the  use of lead-free containers as well as addition of a
bactericide.   If feasible, 24-hr  sampling is preferred to spot collection.   Deciduous teeth
vary in  lead  content both within  and across  type  of dentition.  Thus, a  specific  tooth type
should be  uniformly  obtained for all study subjects and, if possible, more than a single sam-
ple should be obtained from each subject.
     Measurements of  Lead  in Blood.   Many  reports  over  the years have  purported  to  offer
satisfactory  analysis of lead in blood and other biological media, often with severe inherent
limitations  on  accuracy  and  precision,  meager  adherence to criteria for accuracy  and pre-
cision, and a limited utility across a spectrum of analytical applications.  Therefore, it is
only useful to discuss "definitive"  and,  comparatively speaking, "reference" methods currently
in use.
     In the case of  lead  in biological  media,  the definitive method  is isotope-dilution mass
spectrometry  (IDMS).  The accuracy and unique precision  of  IDMS  arise from the fact that all
manipulations  are  on a  weight basis involving simple procedures, and measurements entail only
lead  isotope   ratios  and  not the  absolute determinations  of the isotopes  Involved,  which
greatly reduces  instrumental  corrections and errors.   Reproducible  results to a precision of
one part  in 104-105 are routine with appropriately designed  and competently operated instru-
mentation.  Although  this  methodology is  still not  recognized in many  laboratories, it was the
first  breakthrough,   1n  tandem  with "ultra-clean"  procedures  and  facilities,  in definitive
methods  for Indexing the  progressive  increase in  lead contamination  of  the environment over
the centuries.   Given the expense,  required level  of  operator expertise,  and time and effort
involved  for  measurements by IOMS,  this  method mainly serves for analyses  that either require
extreme accuracy and precision, e.g., geochronometry,  or  for the  establishment of analytical
reference  material   for  general testing purposes   or  the validation  of  other methodologies.
     While  the  term "reference method"  for  lead  in biological  media  cannot be rigorously ap-
plied to  any  procedures in popular  use,  the technique of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
in  its  various  configurations,  or  the  electrochemical  method, anodic  stripping voltammetry
(ASV), come  closest  to  meriting the designation.   Other methods that  are generally applied in
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metal analyses  are  either limited in sensitivity  or  are not feasible for  use  on  theoretical
grounds for lead analysis.
     MS  as applied  to  analysis  of whole blood,  generally involves flame or flameless micro-
methods.   One macromethod,  the  Hessel  procedure,  still enjoys some  popularity.   Flame micro-
 nalvsis  the Delves  cup procedure,  applied to blood lead appears to have an operational  sen-
sitivity of about 10  ug/dl  blood and a  relative  precision of approximately 5  percent  in the
range of blood  lead seen in populations  in  industrialized areas.   The flameless,  or electro-
thermal, method of  AAS  enhances sensitivity about tenfold,  but  precision can be more proble-
matic because of chemical and spectral  interferences.
     The most widely  used and  sensitive electrochemical  method for lead in blood is ASV.   For
the most accurate results,  chemical  wet ashing of samples must  be carried out, although  this
   cess  -s  time-consuming and  requires the  use of  lead-free reagents.  The use of metal ex-
change reagents  has been  employed  in lieu  of the  ashing step to liberate  lead  from binding
sites  although this  substitution  is associated with  less  precision.   For the ashing method,
relative precision is approximately 5 percent.   In terms  of accuracy and sensitivity, problems
 noear at low  levels,  e.g., 5  pg/dl or below,  particularly if samples contain elevated copper
levels.
     Lead in Plasma.  Since  lead  in  whole blood is virtually all confined to the erythrocyte,
 lasma levels are quite  low and extreme care must be employed to measure plasma levels relia-
      The best  method for such measurement  is  IDMS,  in  tandem with ultra-clean facility  use.
     is  satisfactory for  comparative analyses  across  a  range of  relatively  high  whole blood
values.
     Lead in Teeth.    Lead measurement  in  teeth  has  involved  either whole  tooth  sampling or
 nalvsis of specific  regions,  such as dentine or  circumpulpal  dentine.   In either case,  sam-
nles must  be  solubilized  after careful  surface  cleaning to  remove contamination; solubili-
zation is  usually accompanied  by  either wet  ashing  directly or ashing  subsequent  to a dry
ashing step.
     AAS and anodic  stripping  have been employed more frequently for such determinations  than
 nv other method.   With  AAS, the high mineral content of teeth argues for preliminary isola-
 .    of 1eacj via chelation/extraction.   The relative precision of analysis for within-run  mea-
   ement is around  5-7  percent, with the main determinant of variance in regional  assay being
     initial isolation  step.  One  change from the usual methods for such measurement is the j_n
 itu measurement  of  lead  by X-ray  fluorescence  spectrometry in  children.   Lead  measured in
tiTs fashion allows observation of ongoing lead accumulation, rather than waiting for exfolia-
tion.
     Lead in Hair.  Hair as an  exposure indicator for  lead offers the advantages of being  non-
    sive  and  a  medium  of  indefinite  stability.   However,  the  crucial  problem  of external
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surface contamination  is  such  that  it is  still  not  possible  to  state  that any  cleaning
protocol reliably differentiates between externally and  internally deposited lead.
     Studies that demonstrate a correlation between increasing hair lead and increasing sever-
ity of  a  measured  effect tend to support arguments for  using hair as  an external  indicator of
exposure.   Probably, then,  such measurement using  cleaning protocols  that have not been inde-
pendently validated will  overstate  the relative accumulation of "internal" hair lead in terms
of  some endpoint and  will also underestimate the  relative sensitivity of changes in internal
lead  content with exposure.    One  consequence  of this would be,  for example,   an apparent
threshold  for a given  effect  in terms  of hair lead which  is  significantly  above the actual
threshold.   Because of  these concerns, hair is best used with the simultaneous measurement of
blood  lead.
      Lead in Urine.  Analysis  of lead in  urine  is complicated by the  relatively low levels of
the element in this medium  as  well as  the complex mixture of mineral  elements present.  Urine
lead levels  are  most useful  and also  somewhat easier to determine  in cases  of chelation mobil-
ization or chelation  therapy,  where  levels are  high enough  to  permit  good  precision and dilu-
tion of matrix interference.
      Samples are probably best analyzed by prior  chemical wet  ashing,  using  the  usual mixture
of acids.   Both  ASV and AAS have been applied to urine  analysis,  with  the latter  more  routine-
 ly used and usually with a chelation/extraction step.
      Lead in Other Tissues.   Bone  samples require cleaning  procedures for  removal of  muscle
 and connective  tissue  and  chemical  solubilization prior to analysis.   Methods  of analysis are
 comparatively limited and flameless AAS is the  technique of choice.
      |n vivo lead measurements in bone of lead  workers  have been reported using X-ray fluores-
 cence  analysis and a radioisotopic source for excitation.   One problem with this approach with
 moderate  lead exposure  is  the detection  limit,  approximately  20  ppm.   Soft  organ  analysis
 poses  a  problem in terms of  heterogeneity in  lead  distribution within  an organ (e.g.,  brain
 and  kidney).   In such  cases,  regional  sampling or  homogenization must  be carried out.   Both
 flame  and  flameless  AAS appear to be  satisfactory  for soft tissue analysis and are  the most
 widely used.
      Quality  Assurance  Procedures in Lead Analyses.    In  terms  of available information, the
 major  focus in  establishing quality control protocols for  lead  has involved whole blood meas-
 urements.   Translated  into  practice, quality control revolves  around  steps employed within the
 laboratory, using a  variety of  internal  checks,  and  the further reliance on external checks,
 such  as  a  formal  continuing muHi-laboratory proficiency  testing program.
      Within the laboratory, quality assurance  protocols  can be  divided  into start-up and rou-
 tine   procedures,  the  former  involving  establishment  of  detection limits,  within-run and
 between-run  precision,  analytical  recovery,   and  comparison  with  some  reference  technique
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    within or outside the laboratory.   The reference method is  assumed  to be accurate  for  th
    ticular level of  lead  In some matrix at a particular  point  in time.  Correlation with such a
    method at  a  satisfactory level,  however,  may  simply  indicate that both  methods  are equal!
    Inaccurate  but performing with the same level  of precision  proficiency.   More preferable is
    the  use of  certified samples  having  lead  at a level  established by the definitive method
        For blood lead,  the Centers for  Disease  Control  (CDC) periodically  survey overall  accu-
    racy and  precision of methods  used by reporting laboratories.   In terms  of  overall
   and precision, one such  survey found that ASV as well  as the Delves cup  and extraction var1C-
   tlons of AAS  performed  better than other procedures.   These  results do not mean th
   laboratory cannot perform better with a particular technique;  rather, such  data  ar
   ance  for new facilities  choosing among methods.
       Of particular  value  to  laboratories carrying  out blood lead  analysis are the external
   quality assurance  programs  at  both  the  State  and  Federal levels.  The  most comprehensive
   proficiency  testing program is that  carried out by the CDC.  This program actually consists of
   two subprograms,  one directed at facilities involved in lead poisoning prevention and screen-
   ing (Center  for Environmental  Health) and the other concerned with laboratories
  fication under  the  Clinical  Laboratories Improvement Act of 1967 as  well  as u d
  of the Occupational  Safety and Health Administration's   (OSHA) Laboratory ImprovTme^nTprogram
  Office.   Judging  from  the relative  overall  improvements  in reporting  laboratories over  the
  years  of the programs' existence, the proficiency testing programs  have served  their purpose
  well.   In this  regard, OSHA criteria for laboratory certification require  that  eight of nin
  samples  be analyzed correctly  for the previous quarter.   This level of required proficiency
  reflects  the  ability of a number  of laboratories to actually  perform  at this  level

 9-9-2  Determination of Erythrocyte Porphyrin (Free Ervthrocyt.p
        Protoporphyrin)
      With lead exposure, erythrocyte  protoporphyrin IX accumulates  because of impaired  Dlac
 ment of  divalent iron  to  form heme.   Divalent  zinc occupies  the  place of  the  native  i™
 Depending upon  the  method of analysis,  either metal-free erythrocyte porphyrin  (EP) or  T
 protoporphyrin (ZPP)  Is measured, the former  arising from loss of zinc in the  chemical m*nT
 pulation.   Virtually  all methods  now  in use for  EP analysis  exploit  the abiHty  of  theT~
 phyrin to undergo intense fluorescence  when excited by ultraviolet  light.   Such  fluorometHc
 methods can be further classified  as wet chemical micromethods or direct measuring fluoromet y
 using the  hematofluorometer.  Because of the high sensitivity of such measurement  relative^
 small blood  samples  are  required, with  liquid  samples or  blood  collected on  finer  JL?
     The most  common  laboratory  or wet chemical  procedures now in  use  represent variation  of
several  common  chemical  procedures:    (1) treatment  of  blood  samples  with a mixture  of  e hyl

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acetate/acetic acid followed  by  a repartitioning into an inorganic acid  medium  or (2)  solu-
bilization  of  a blood  sample directly into  a detergent/buffer solution at a  high dilution.
Quantification has been  done  using protoporphyrin,  coproporphyrin, or zinc protoporphyrin  IX
plus pure  zinc ion.    The  levels  of  precision for  these laboratory techniques  vary somewhat
with the specifics of analysis.  The  Piomelli  method  has  a coefficient of  variation of  5
percent, while  the direct  ZPP  method  using  buffered detergent solution  is  higher  and more
variable.
     The recent  development  of  the  hematofluorometer has made it possible  to carry out  EP
measurements in high numbers,  thereby making population screening feasible.  Absolute calibra-
tion is necessary and requires periodic adjustment of the system using known concentrations  of
EP  in  reference blood  samples.   Since these  units are designed  for  oxygenated  blood  (i.e.,
capillary blood), use of venous blood requires an oxygenation step, usually a  moderate shaking
for several minutes.   Measurement of low or moderate levels of EP can be affected by interfer-
ence with bilirubin.   Competently employed, the hematofluorometer is reasonably precise,  show-
ing a  total  coefficient of variation of 4.11-11.5 percent.   While the comparative accuracy  of
the unit has been reported to be good relative to the reference wet chemical  technique,  a very
recent  study  has shown  that  commercial units  carry with them a  significant  negative  bias
which may  lead to false negatives in subjects having only moderate EP elevation.   Such a bias
in accuracy has been difficult to detect in existing EP proficiency testing programs.  By com-
parison  to  wet methods, the  hematofluorometer  should be restricted to field  use rather  than
becoming a  substitute in the laboratory  for  chemical measurement, and this  field use  should
involve periodic split-sample comparison testing with the wet method.

9.9.3  Measurement of Urinary Coproporphyrin
     Although  EP  measurement  has largely supplanted  the  use  of urinary coproporphyrin (CP-U)
analysis to monitor  excessive lead exposure in  humans,  this  measurement is still of value  in
that  it reflects  active intoxication.   The  standard analysis  is a  fluorometric technique,
whereby urine samples are treated with buffer, and an oxldant (iodine) is added to generate  CP
from its precursor.   The  CP-U  is then partitioned into ethyl  acetate  and  re-extracted with
dilute hydrochloric acid.  The working curve is linear below 5 ug CP/dl urine.

9.9.4  Measurement of Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydrase Activity
     Inhibition of the activity  of the erythrocyte enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase
(ALA-D) by lead is the basis  for using such activity in screening for excessive lead exposure.
A  number of sampling  and sample handling precautions attend such  analysis.   Since zinc  (II)
ion will offset the  degree of activity inhibition  by lead,  blood  collecting  tubes must have
extremely  low zinc content,  which essentially  rules out the  use of  rubber-stoppered  blood
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    tubes.   Enzyme  instability necessitates  that the activity measurement be carried out within 24
    hr  of blood  collection.   Porphobilinogen,  the product of enzyme action,  is  light labile and
    requires  the  assay be done  in restricted light.  Various procedures for ALA-D measurement are
    based on measurement of the  level of the chromophoric pyrrole (approximately 555 nm) formed by
   condensation of the porphobilinogen with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde.
        In the European  Standardized  Method for ALA-D activity determination, blood  samples are
   hemolyzed with  water,  ALA  solution  added,  followed  by  incubation  at 37°C, and the  reaction
   terminated by a solution  of mercury  (II) in trichloroacetic  acid.   Filtrates are treated  with
   modified Ehrlich's  reagent  (p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)  in trichloroacetic/perchloroacetic
   acid mixture.  Activity is quantified in  terms  of micromoles 6-ALA/min-l erythrocytes
        One  variation  in  the  above procedure 1s the initial use of a thiol agent, such as dithio-
   threotol,  to  reactivate the  enzyme, giving  a measure  of  the full native activity  of  the
   zyme.   The ratio  of  activated/unactivated  activity  versus  blood  lead levels  accommod t
   genetic differences between individuals.

  9.9.5  Measurement of Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid  in  Urine and Other Media
       Levels of delta-aminolevulinic add (6-ALA) in  urine  and plasma increase with elevated
  lead  exposure.  Thus, measurement  of this  metabolite, generally  in urine, provides an index of
  the level  of lead exposure.   ALA  content  of  urine samples (ALA-U)  is stable for about 2 weeks
  or more with sample acidification and refrigeration.   Levels  of ALA-U are  adjusted for urine
  density  or expressed per unit creatinine.   If  feasible,  24-hr  collection  is more desirable
  than  spot sampling.
       Virtually  all the  various procedures for ALA-U measurement  employ preliminary isolation
 of ALA  from  the balance of urine constituents.   In one method, further separation of ALA from
 the metabolite  aminoacetone 1s done.   Aminoacetone can interfere  with colorimetric measure
 •ent.   ALA is recovered,  condensed with  a beta-dicarbonyl  compound,  e.g.,  acety1  acetone   to
 yield  a pyrrole intermediate.   This  intermediate is then reacted  with  p-dimethylaminobenzal-
 dehyde in  perchloric/acetic  add,  followed by colorimetric  reading at  553  nm   In one vari-
 ation  of the basic methodology, ALA  Is condensed with ethyl  acetoacetate  directly and the re-
 sulting pyrrole  extracted with ethyl acetate.   Ehrlich's  reagent  is then  added  as  in other
 procedures and the resulting  chromophore  Is measured spectrophotometrically
     Measurement of ALA in plasma is much more difficult than in urine, since plasma ALA is at
 nanogram/milliter  levels.  In one  gas-liquid chromatographic procedure, ALA  is  isolated from
plasma, reacted  with  acetyl  acetone and partitioned into a  solvent that also serves for  pyro-
lytic  mediation of  the  involatile pyrrole In the injector port of the  chromatograph making
the derivative more volatile.  For quantification, an internal standard,  6-amino-5-oxonexanoic
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acid, is  used.   While  the method is more involved,  it is more specific than the older colori-
metric technique.

9.9.6  Measurement of Pyrimidine-S'-Nucleotidase Activity
     Erythrocyte  pyrimidine-5'-nucleotidase  (Py5N)  activity  is  inhibited with  lead exposure.
Currently, two different methods are used for assaying the activity of this  enzyme.   The older
method is  quite  laborious in time and effort, whereas the more recent approach is shorter but
uses radioisotopes and radiometric measurement.
     In the  older method, heparinized venous blood  is  filtered through cellulose to separate
erythrocytes  from platelets and  leukocytes.   Cells  are  then  freeze-fractured  and the hemo-
lysates dialyzed to remove nucleotides and other phosphates.  This dialysate is then incubated
in the presence  of a nucleoside monophosphate and cofactors, the enzyme reaction being termi-
nated  by  treatment with  trichloroacetic acid.  The inorganic  phosphate isolated  from added
substrate  is measured colorimetrically as the phosphomolybdic acid complex.
     In the  radiometric assay, hemolysates obtained as before are incubated with pure 14C-CMP.
By addition  of a  barium hydroxide/zinc sulfate solution, proteins and unreacted nucleotide are
precipitated,  leaving  labeled  cytidine in the supernatant.   Aliquots are measured for 14C ac-
tivity in a liquid scintillation counter.  This method shows a good correlation with the ear-
lier technique.

9.9.7  Measurement of Plasma 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D
     Measurement  techniques  for this vitamin D metabolite,  all of recent vintage, consist of
three main  parts:  (1) isolation from plasma or serum by liquid-liquid extraction,  (2) precon-
centration  of the extract and chromatographic  purification using  Sephadex  LH-20  or Lipidex
5000  columns,  as well  as  high performance liquid chromatography  (HPLC)  in some cases, and (3)
quantification  by either  of two radiometric binding techniques,  the more  common  competitive
protein  binding  (CPB)  assay or  radioimmunoassay (RIA).  The  CPB  assay uses a receptor protein
in intestinal  cytosol of  chicks made  vitamin D-deficient.
      In  one typical study,  human  adults  had  a mean level  of  31 picograms/ml.   The limit of
detection was  5 picograms/analytical  tube,   and  within-run and  between-run  coefficients of
variation were 17 and 26  percent,  respectively.  In  a  recent interlaboratory survey  involving
15  laboratories,  the level of  variance  was  such that  it  was recommended that each laboratory
should establish  its own  reference  values.
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   9.10  REFERENCES
  Ahlgren,  L. ;  Haeger-Aronsen, B. ; Mattson,  S. ;  Schutz,  A.  (1980)  In-vivo determination of  lead
        in the skeleton  after  occupational exposure  to  lead.  Br. J.  TndTUed. 37: 109-113.

  Al-Naimi,  T. ;  Edmonds,  M.   I.;  Fremlin, J.  H.  (1980) The  distribution of lead in human teeth,
        using charged particle activation analysis.  Phys. Med. Biol. 25: 719-726.

  American  Public  Health Association.  (1955) Methods  for determining lead in air  and in bio-
        logical materials.  New York, NY: American Public Health Association.

  Angle, C.   R. ;  Mclntire,  M.   S.  (1978) Low  level  lead and inhibition of erythrocyte pyrimidine
       nucleotidase.  Environ.   Res. 17: 296-302.

  Balamut,  R. ; Doran, D. ;  Giridhar,  G. ;  Mitchell, D. ;  Soule, S.  (1982) Systematic  error between
       erythrocyte protoporphyrin in  proficiency  test  samples and patients'  samples  as measured
       with  two hematofluorometers.  Clin.  Chem.  (Winston-Salem,  NC)  28:  2421-2422.

  Barthel, W. F.  ; Smrek, A.  L. ; Angel, G. P.; Liddle,  J.  A.; Landrigan,  P. J. ;  Gehlbach, S.  H •
       Chisolm,   J. J.  (1973)  Modified Delves cup  atomic absorption determination  of lead  in
       blood.  J.  Assoc.  Off. Anal. Chem. 56:  1252-1256.

  Berlin, A.;  Schaller, K. H.   (1974) European  standardized method  for the   determination  of
       6-aminolevulinic  acid  dehydratase  activity in blood.  Z.  Klin.  Chem.  Klin.  Biochem   12-
       389-390.

 Berlin, A.;  Del Castilho, P.;   Smeets, J.    (1973)  European  intercomparison  programmes. In:
      Barth, D. ;  Berlin,  A.;   Engel ,  R. ; Recht,  P.; Smeets, J. , eds. Environmental health  as-
      pects of lead:  proceedings, international symposium; October  1972; Amsterdam, The Nether-
      lands. Luxembourg: Commission of the European Communities; pp. 1033-1049.

 Berman, E.   (1976) The  challenge of  getting  the  lead  out. In:  LaFleur, P.  D. , ed. Accuracy in
      trace   analysis:  sampling,  sample handling, analysis - volume 2. Proceedings  of the 7th
      materials  research  symposium;   October  1974;   Gaithersburg, MD.  Washington   DC-   U S
      Department  of  Commerce, National Bureau  of Standards; NBS special publication  no'  4?2-
      pp.  715-719.  Available  from:  NTIS,  Springfield,  VA; PB-258092.           »-«ion  no.  <^,

 Berman, E.  (1981)  Heavy metals.  Lab.  Med. 12: 677-684.

 Bloch,  P.;  Garavaglia  G.; Mitchell,  G.; Shapiro,  I.  M.  (1976)  Measurement  of lead  content  of
      children's  teeth jn situ by X-ray fluorescence. Phys.  Med.  Biol.  20: 56-63.     conuent  OT

 Blumberg, W.  E. ; Eisinger, J. ; Lamola, A. A.; Zuckerman D.  M.  (1977) Zinc DrotoDorohvrin levpl
Bonsignore  D. ;  Calissano,  P. ;  Cartasegna  C. (1965) Un semplice metodo per  la determinazione
     denaS-a/mno-levulinico-deidratasi nel sangue: comportamento dell 'enzima nelT intossica-
     zione  saturnina  [A .simple  method for  determining  6-aminolevulinic dehydratase  in the
     blood: behavior of the enzyme in lead poisoning].  Med. Lav. 56: 199-205.

Boone, J. ;  Hearn, T. ; Lewis, S.  (1979) Comparison of interlaboratory  results  for blood lead
     with  results from  a  definitive  method. Clin.  Chem.  (Winston-Salem,   NC)  25:  389-393
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Boutwell, J.  H.  (1976) Accuracy and  quality  control  in trace element  analysis.  In:  LaFleur,
     P.   D. ,  ed.  Accuracy in trace  analysis:  sampling,  sample handling, analysis  -  volume 1.
     Proceedings  of  the  7th materials  research symposium;  October 1974;  Gaithersburg,  MD.
     Washington,  DC:  U.S.  Department  of  Commerce,  National Bureau  of  Standards;  NBS special
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                                          9-49

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                                      10.  METABOLISM  OF  LEAD
 10.1   INTRODUCTION
      This  chapter  examines the absorption, distribution,  retention,  and excretion of lead in
 humans  and animals and the various  factors  that mediate the extent of the toxicokinetic pro-
 cesses  of  lead.   While inorganic lead  is  the  form of the element  that  has been most heavily
 studied,  organolead compounds  are  also emitted  into the environment  and, because  they are
 quite  toxic,  they  are also included in the discussion.  Since the preparation of the 1977 Air
 Quality Criteria Document  for Lead (U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency,  1977), a number of
 reports have  appeared that have  proven particularly helpful in both quantifying the various
 processes to be discussed in this chapter and assessing the interactive impact of factors such
 as nutritional status in determining Internal exposure risk.
 10.2  LEAD ABSORPTION IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
      The amounts of lead entering the bloodstream from various routes of absorption are deter-
 mined not only  by  the levels of the element  in  the particular media,  but also by the various
 physical and chemical parameters  that  characterize  lead.   Furthermore, specific  host factors
 such as  age  and nutritional status  are  important,  as is interindividual  variability.   Addi-
 tionally, to assess absorption  rates,  one  must know whether  or not  the subject is in  "equili-
 brium"  with  respect to a given  level  of lead exposure.

 10.2.1   Respiratory Absorption  of Lead
      The movement of  lead from  ambient air to the  bloodstream  is a  two-part process:  a  frac-
 tion of  air  lead 1s  deposited  in the respiratory  tract and,  of  this  deposited amount, some
 fraction is  subsequently absorbed directly into  the bloodstream or otherwise cleared  from the
 respiratory  tract.   At present, enough data exist  to make some quantitative statements about
 both of  these components  of  respiratory absorption of  lead.
      The  1977 Air Quality Criteria Document for  Lead described the model of the International
 Radiological  Protection  Commission  (IRPC)  for the  deposition and  removal  of  lead  from the
 lungs  and  the   upper  respiratory  tract (International  Radiological  Protection  Commission,,
 1966).  Briefly, the model predicts that 35 percent  of lead inhaled from ambient air by humans
 is deposited  in  the respiratory tract, with most of the lead going to the parenchyma and air-
ways.  The IRPC  model  predicts  a total deposition of 40-50  percent for particles with a mass
median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 0.5 urn and indicates that the absorption rate would vary
                                              10-1

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depending  on  the  solubility of  the particular  form.   More recent  data on  lead  deposition
modeling, however, provide a more precise picture (see next section).
10.2.1.1  Human Studies.  Table 10-1 tabulates the various studies of human subjects that pro-
vide data  on  the  deposition of inorganic lead in the respiratory tract.   Studies of this type
have used  diverse methodologies to  characterize  the  inhaled particles in terms  of both size
(and size ranges) and fractional distribution.  The use of radioactive or stable lead isotopes
to  directly  or indirectly  measure  lead deposition  and uptake into  the  bloodstream has been
particularly helpful in quantifying these processes.
     From the  studies  of Kehoe (1961a,b,c) and their  update by Gross (1981), as well as data
from Chamberlain et al. (1978), Morrow et al.  (1980),  and Nozaki (1966),  the respiratory depo-
sition of  airborne  lead as encountered in the  general  population appears to be approximately
30-50 percent,  depending  on particle size and  ventilation  rates.   Ventilation rate is parti-
cularly  important with submicrometer particles, where  Brownian diffusion governs deposition,
because  a  slower breathing  rate  enhances the  frequency of collisions of particles with the
alveolar wall.
     Figure 10-1  (Chamberlain  et  al.,  1978) compares data, both calculated and experimentally
measured,  on  the relationship  of percentage deposition  to particle  size.   As  particle size
increases, deposition rate decreases to a minimum over the range where Brownian diffusion pre-
dominates.  Subsequently, deposition increases with size (>0.5 urn MMAD) as impaction and sedi-
mentation become the main deposition factors.
     In contrast to the ambient air or chamber data tabulated in Table 10-1,  higher deposition
rates in  some  occupational  settings are associated with relatively large particles.  However,
much of  this  deposition is in the upper respiratory tract, with eventual  movement to the gas-
trointestinal tract by ciliary action and swallowing.   Mehani (1966) measured total  deposition
rates of  28-70  percent in battery workers and workers in marine scrap yards.  Chamberlain and
Heard (1981)  calculated an absorption rate of approximately 47 percent for particle sizes en-.
countered in workplace air.
     Systemic absorption  of lead  from the lower respiratory tract occurs directly,  while much
of  the absorption  from the upper tract  involves  swallowing and some uptake in the gut.  From
the radioactive  isotope data of Chamberlain  et al.  (1978)  and Morrow et al.  (1980),  and the
stable isotope  studies of Rabinowitz et al.  (1977),  one can conclude that  lead deposited in
the lower respiratory tract is totally absorbed.
     Chamberlain  et al.  (1978)  used  203Pb  in  engine exhaust,  lead oxide, or  lead nitrate
aerosols  in  experiments where  human subjects inhaled the lead from a chamber through a mouth-
piece or  in  wind-tunnel aerosols.  By 14  days,  approximately 90 percent of the label was re-
moved from the  lung.   Lead movement into  the bloodstream could not  be described by a simple
exponential function; 20 percent was absorbed within 1 hr and 70 percent within 10 hr.
                                              10-2

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                                TABLE 10-1.  DEPOSITION OF LEAD IN THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY TRACT
         Form
  Particle size
     Lead Exposure
 Percent deposition
    Reference
00
    Pb203 aerosols
      from engine
      exhaust
    Lead "fumes"
      made in Induc-
      tion furnace

    203Pb203
      aerosol
    Ambient air
      lead near
      motorway and
      other urban
      areas in U.K.

    203Pb(OH)2 or
      203PbCl2
      aerosols

    Lead In work-
      place air;
      battery
      factory and
      shipbreaking
      operations
0.05 urn median
  count diameter
  in 38 studies;
  5 subjects ex-
  posed to average
  of 0.9 urn

0.05-1.0 pin mean
  diameter
Mean densities
  of 0.02, 0.04,
  0.09 urn

Mainly 0.1 urn
Both forms at
  0.25 urn MMAD
Not determined;
  defined as fumes,
  fine dust, or
  coarse dust
Chamber studies; 10, 20,
  or 150 ug/m3; 3 hr on
  alternate days;
  12 subjects
Mouthpi ece/aerosol
  chamber; 10 mg/m3;
  adult subjects

Mouthpiece/aerosol
  chamber; adult
  subjects

2-10 ug/m3; adult
  subjects
0.2 ud/liter for 5 min
  or ^50 liters air;
  adult subjects

3 adult groups:
  23 |jg/m3 - controls
  86 ug/m3 - battery
   workers
  180 ug/m3 - scrap yard
   workers
30-70% (mean: 48%)   Kehoe (1961a,b,c);
  for mainly           Gross (1981)
  0.05-um particles
42% 0.05 M
63% 1.0 urn
80% 0.02
45% 0.04
30% 0.09
Nozaki (1966)
Chamberlain et al.
  (1978)
60% fresh exhaust;   Chamberlain  et  al.
50% other urban        (1978)
  area
23% chloride;
26% hydroxide
Morrow et al.  (1980)
47% battery workers; Mehani  (1966)
39% shipyard and
  controls

-------
o
                     80
                     70
                 Z  60

                 Z
                 o


                 1  50

                 O
                 0.
                 UJ
                 O
                 UJ
                 O
                 cr
                     40
                     30
                     20
                     10
                      0.01
                           (V)  Chamberlain et al. (1978)



                           (T)  Heyder et al. (1975)



                           (7)  Mitchell (1977)



                           (4a)  James (1978)



                           (4b)  James (1978)



                           f 5 }  Yu and Taulbee (1977)
0.02
0.05
0.1
0.2
0.5
1.0
                                      DIFFUSION MEAN
                                  EQUIVALENT DIAMETER,
                                               MASS MEDIAN

                                         EQUIVALENT DIAMETER, pm
                        Figure 10-1. Effect of particle size on lead deposition rate in the lung. Broken lines

                        derived by calculation from reported data. Tidal volume equals 1000 cm3 except for

                        line 4b, where it equals 500 cm3. Breathing cycle equals 4 sec.
                        Source:  Chamberlain et al. (1978).

-------
     Rabinowitz et al.  (1977) administered 204Pb tracer to adult volunteers  and determined  (by
isotope tracer and balance  data)  that 14 (jg  lead  was  absorbed by these subjects  daily  at  am-
bient air lead  levels  of 1-2 |jg/m3.   Assuming a daily  ventilation rate  of 20 m3,  a  deposition
rate of 50 percent of ambient air (Chamberlain et al.,  1978),  and a mean air lead  level  of  1.5
(jg/m3 (2.0 |jg/m3 outside the study unit,  1.0 ug/m3 inside, as  determined by  the authors), then
15 ug  lead  was  available for absorption.   Hence, better than  90 percent of  deposited lead  was
absorbed dally.
     Morrow et  al.  (1980)  followed  the  systemic  uptake  of 203Pb in 17  adult subjects using
either lead chloride or lead hydroxide aerosols with  an  average size of 0.25 (±0.1) urn MMAD.
Half of the deposited  fraction of either aerosol  was  absorbed in 14 hr  or less.   The  radio-
label  data  described  above  are  consistent  with  the  data of Hursh  and Mercer (1970),  who
studied the systemic uptake of 212Pb on a carrier aerosol.
     Given the  apparent 1nvar1ance  of absorption rate  for deposited lead in the above studies
as a function  of the chemical form  of  the  element (Chamberlain et  al.,  1978; Morrow et al.,
1980),   inhaled  lead  lodging deep in  the  respiratory tract seems to be absorbed  equally,  re-
gardless  of  form.  Supporting evidence  for  total  human systemic  uptake of  lead  comes from
autopsy tissue analysis for lead content.  Barry (1975) found that lead was not accumulated in
the  lungs of lead workers.   This observation  is corroborated  by the  data of Gross  et  al.
(1975) for nonoccupatlonally exposed subjects.
     Dependence  of the respiratory  absorption rate for lead in humans on the  level  of lead in
air  has  not been extensively studied, although  the  data of Chamberlain and coworkers (1978),
using  human volunteers, show that the lung clearance  rate  in the adult for single lead pulses
dtd  not  vary  over a lung burden  range  of 0.3 to 450  ug.   In  occupational  settings, a  curvi-
linear  relationship  between  workplace  airborne lead  and blood  lead  results  at  least  partly
from particle  size changes,  I.e.,  with  Increasing  dust concentration,  particle aggregation
rate increases  and the effective fraction  of  submicron particles  (those  penetrating  to the
lung)  compared to total particles steadily lessens (Chamberlain, 1983).
     All  of the available  data  for  lead deposition and  uptake  from the respiratory tract in
humans have been  obtained with adults, and quantitative comparisons with the same exposures in
children  are  not possible.   Although children  2  years of age weigh one-sixth as  much as an
adult,  they Inhale  40  percent as much  air lead as adults  (Barltrop, 1972).   James  (1978) has
taken  into  account  differences 1n airway dimensions 1n adults versus  children, and  has esti-
mated  that,  after controlling for weight, the 10-year-old  child has a  deposition rate  1.6- to
2.7-fold  higher  than the adult.
     Recent  studies  support  the above  estimates of James  (1978).   Hofmann  and  coworkers
(Hofmann,  1982;  Hofmann et al.,  1979) reported  dose calculations  for the respiratory tract as
a function  of age using airway length estimates  from the  literature  and determined  that intake
                                              10-5

-------
of radioactive nuclides  into  both the tracheobronchial and pulmonary  regions  was highly age-
dependent, with maximal intake occurring at about age six.
10.2.1.2  Animal Studies.  Experimental  animal  data for quantitative assessment of lead depo-
sition and absorption for the lung and upper respiratory tract are limited.   The available in-
formation does,  however, support  the finding that  respired  lead is  extensively and rapidly
absorbed.
     Morgan and  Holmes  (1978) exposed adult rats, by  nose-only  technique,  to a 203Pb-labeled
engine  exhaust aerosol  generated  in  the same manner  as  by Chamberlain et al.  (1978)  over a
period  of 8  days.   Exposure was at a level  of 21.9 to 23.6 nCi  label/liter chamber air.  Ad-
justing  for  deposition  on  the animal pelt, 20-25  percent  of the label was  deposited  in the
lungs.   Deposited  lead was  taken up  extensively  in  blood (50 percent within 1 hr and 98 per-
cent  within  7 days).   The  absorption-rate  kinetic  profile was similar to  that reported for
humans  (Chamberlain et al., 1978).
      Boudene  et  al.  (1977)  exposed rats to 210Pb-labeled aerosols at a level of 1 pg label/m3
and  10  (jg label/m3, the majority of  the particles being 0.1-0.5 nm  in size.  At 1 hr, 30 per-
cent  of the label  had  left the lung;  by 48 hr, 90 percent was gone.
      Bianco  et  al.  (1974)  used 212Pb  aerosol  (£0.2 urn)  inhaled briefly by  dogs and found a
clearance half-time  from the  lung of  approximately 14  hr.  Greenhalgh et al. (1979) found that
direct  instillation of  203Pb-labeled  lead  nitrate  solution into the  lungs of rats  led to an
uptake  of approximately 42 percent within  30  min,  compared with an uptake rate  of 15 percent
within  15 min in  the  rabbit.   These  instillation data are consistent with the report of Pott
and  Brockhaus (1971), who noted  that intratracheal  instillation of lead in solution (as bro-
mide) or in  suspension (as  oxide)  serially over 8 days resulted  in  systemic lead levels in
tissues  indistinguishable from  injected lead  levels.   Rendall  et  al.  (1975) found that  the
movement of  lead into blood  of baboons inhaling  a lead oxide  (Pb304) was more  rapid and  resul-
ted  in higher blood  lead  levels  when coarse (1.6 urn  mean  diameter) rather than fine  (0.8 urn
mean diameter) particles were used.

 10.2.2   Gastrointestinal Absorption  of Lead
      Gastrointestinal  (GI) absorption of  lead  mainly involves uptake  from  food  and beverages,
as well  as  lead  deposited  in the upper  respiratory  tract that is eventually swallowed.  It
 also includes ingestion of  nonfood  material,  primarily in  children  via normal mouthing  activ-
 ity  and  pica.   Two  issues  of concern with  lead  uptake from  the gut are the  comparative rates
 of such  absorption in developing versus adult  organisms,  including humans,  and how the bio-
 availability of lead affects such uptake.
 10.2.2.1  Human Studies.   Based  on  long-term  metabolic  studies with adult volunteers,  Kehoe
 (1961a,b,c)  estimated that approximately 10 percent of dietary lead is absorbed from  the human
                                               10-6

-------
gut.  According  to  Gross (1981), various balance  parameters  can vary considerably among sub-
jects.  These studies (Kehoe, 1961a,b,c) did not take into account the contribution of biliary
clearance of lead into the gut, which would have affected measurements for both absorption and
total excretion.  Chamberlain et al.  (1978) determined that the level of endogenous fecal lead
is  approximately 50 percent of  urinary  lead  values.   They have estimated that  15 percent of
dietary lead is  absorbed, if the amount of endogenous fecal lead is taken into account.
     Following the Kehoe studies, a number of reports determined GI absorption using both sta-
ble and radloisotopic labeling of dietary lead.   Generally, these reports support the observa-
tion that  in  the adult human the absorption of lead is limited when taken with food.  Harrison
et al. (1969) determined a mean absorption rate of 14 percent for three adult subjects ingest-
ing  203Pb  in  diet,  a  figure  in  accord  with   the  results  of  Hursh  and Suomela  (1968).
Chamberlain et al. (1978) studied the absorption of 203Pb in two forms (as the chloride and as
the sulfide) taken with food.  The corresponding absorption rates were 6 percent (sulfide) and
7 percent (chloride), taking into account endogenous fecal excretion. Using adult subjects who
ingested the  stable  isotope 204Pb in their diet, Rabinowitz et al. (1974) reported an average
gut  absorption  of 7.7  percent.   In a  later  study,  Rabinowitz et al. (1980) measured  an ab-
sorption rate of 10.3 percent.
     A number of recent studies indicate that lead ingested under fasting conditions is absor-
bed  to  a much  greater  extent than  lead  taken  with or incorporated  into  food.   For  example,
Blake (1976)  measured a  mean  absorption rate  of  21 percent when 11  adult  subjects  ingested
203Pb-labeled lead  chloride several  hours  after breakfast.   Chamberlain et  al.  (1978)  found
that  lead  uptake in  six subjects fed  203Pb  as the  chloride was 45  percent after a fasting
period,  compared to 6 percent with food.  Heard and Chamberlain (1982) obtained a rate of 63.3
percent using a  similar procedure with eight subjects.   Rabinowitz  et al.  (1980) reported an
absorption rate  of 35 percent in five subjects when 204Pb was ingested after 16 hr of fasting.
These isotope  studies support the observations  of Barltrop  (1975) and Garber and Wei  (1974)
that  lead  in  between-meal  beverages  is absorbed  to a  greater extent than  is  lead  in  food.
     Dependence  of  the  lead absorption rate from  the  human  GI tract  on the  concentration of
lead  in  diet  or water  has  not been  well  studied.   Recent  data from  the  reports  of  Blake
(1980),  Flanagan et al.  (1982),  and  Heard and  Chamberlain  (1983),  however,  indicate  little
concentration dependency across  the  range of  dietary lead content  encountered  by the general
population.  For example,  Flanagan  et al.  (1982) found that  human  volunteers absorbed 4, 40,
and 400 ug of ingested lead at about the same  rate.
     The relationship  of lead bioavailability  in  the  human  gut  to  the chemical/biochemical
form of lead  can be determined from available data, although interpretation is  complicated by
the  relatively   small  amounts  administered  and the  presence  of  various  components of  food

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already present  in the  gut.   Harrison et  al.  (1969)  found no difference 1n  lead  absorption
from the human gut when lead isotope was given either as the chloride or incorporated into al-
qinate   Chamberlain  et  al.  (1978) found that labeled lead as the chloride or sulfide was ab-
sorbed to the same extent when ingested with food, but the sulfide form was absorbed at a rate
of 12  percent compared with 45 percent for the chloride under fasting conditions.   Rabinowitz
et al. (1980) obtained similar absorption rates for the chloride, sulfide, or cysteine complex
forms  when  administered  with food or  under fasting  conditions.   Heard and Chamberlain (1982)
found  no  difference in absorption rate when isotopic lead (203Pb) was ingested with unlabeled
meat  (sheep's liver  and kidney)  or  when the  label  was incorporated  into  the  food prior to
slaughter.
      The  data of  Moore  et  al.  (1979) are  of interest with  respect  to relative GI uptake of
lead  in adult  males and  females.   Human  volunteers  (seven males,  four  females)  were  given
203Pb in  water and  whole-body  counting was  carried out  at time points.   It  appeared  that
 females  absorbed  somewhat more  of the label  than males,  but the  difference  did  not reach sta-
 tistical  significance.
      Two reports  have focused on the question  of differences in GI absorption rates  between
 adults and  children.  Alexander et al.  (1973) carried out 11 balance studies with  eight chil-
 dren, aged 3 months to 8 years.   Dally intake averaged 10.6 ug Pb/kg body weight (range 5-17).
 The mean absorption rate determined from metabolic balance studies was 53 percent.   A two-part
 investigation by  Ziegler  et al.  (1978) comprised a total of 89 metabolic balance studies with
 12  normal  infants  aged 2 weeks  to  2 years.   In the  first part, 51  balance studies  using 9
 children  furnished a mean absorption rate of  42.7  percent.   In the second,  six children were
 involved  in 38 balance studies  involving  dietary lead intake at 3 levels.  Diets were closely
 controlled  and lead content was  measured.  For  all daily intakes of 5 ug Pb/kg or higher, the
 mean absorption  rate was 42 percent.   At low  levels of  lead  intake  the data  were variable,
 with some children apparently  in negative balance, probably because of the  difficulty  1n con-
 trolling  low lead intake.
       In  contrast  to these reports,  Barltrop and Strehlow  (1978)  found that the results  for
  children hospitalized as orthopedic  or  "social" admissions were highly  variable.   A  total of
  104 balance studies were  carried out in 29 children  ranging in age from 3 weeks  to 14 years.
  Fifteen of  the subjects  were in net negative  balance,  with an average  dietary absorption of
  -40  percent or,  when weighted  by number  of balance studies, -16 percent.   Closely comparing
  these data with those of Ziegler et al.  (1978)  is difficult.  Subjects were Inpatients, repre-
  sented a  much greater age range, and  were not  classified 1n terms of mineral  nutrition or
  weight-change  status.  As an urban  pedlatric  group,  the  children 1n this  study  may  have  had
  higher prior  lead  exposure  so that the "washout" phenomenon  (Kehoe,  1961a,b,c;  Gross, 1981)
  may have contributed to the highly variable results.  The calculated mean daily lead Intake in
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the  Barltrop  and Strehlow group  (6.5  ug/kg)  was lower than that  for  all  but one study group
described  by  Ziegler  et  al.  (1978).   In the  latter  study,  data  for absorption became more
variable as  the daily lead intake  was lowered.   Finally,  in those children classified as or-
thopedic admissions,  whether skeletal  trauma was without effect  on  lead  equilibrium between
bone and other  body compartments  is unclear.
     As typified by the results of the second National Health Assessment and Nutritional Eval-
uation  Survey  (NHANES II) (Mahaffey et al.,  1979),  children  at 2-3 years of age show a small
peak in blood  lead.   The question  arises  whether this peak indicates an intrinsic biological
factor,  such  as increased absorption  or  retention when  compared with older children, or whe-
ther this  age  group is exposed to  lead  in some special way.   Several studies are relevant to
the  question.   Zielhuis  et al.  (1978) reported  data for blood lead levels in 48 hospitalized
Dutch children,  who  ranged in age from 2 months to 6 years.   Children up to 3 years old had a
mean blood lead  level of 11.9 ug/dl versus a level of 15.5 in children aged 4-6 years.  A sig-
nificant positive  relationship between  child age and  blood lead  was calculated (r = 0.44,
p <0.05).  In  the  Danish  survey by Nygaard et al. (1977),  a subset of 126 children represent-
ing  various geographical  areas  and age groups yielded the following blood lead values by mean
age  group: children  (N =  8)  with a mean  age  of 1.8  years had a  mean  blood lead level of 4.3
ug/dl;  those with  a  mean age of  3.7-3.9  years  had values ranging  from  5.6  to 8.3 ug/dl; and
children 4.6-4.8 years of age  had  a range of  9.2 to  10 ug/dl.   These authors  note  that the
youngest group  was  kept  at a nursery, whereas the older kindergarten children had more inter-
action  with the outside  environment.   Sartor and Rondia (1981) surveyed two population groups
in  Belgium,  one  of  which  consisted  of  groups of  children  aged  1-4,  5-8,  and  9-14 years.
Children under  the  age of 1 year had  a  mean  blood lead level  of 10.7 M9/dl.  The 1-  to 4-year
and  5-  to  8-year age groups were comparable,  13.9 and 13.7 ug/dl, respectively,  while those
9-14 years old  had  a blood lead  level of 17.2  ug/dl.   All of the children in this study were
hospital patients.  While  these  European studies suggest  that any  significant restriction of
children in terms of environmental interaction,  e.g., in hospitals or  nurseries,  is associated
with an apparently  different age-blood  lead relationship than  the U.S. NHANES  II  subjects,
whether  European  children in the 2-  to  3-year age group show  a similar peak  remains  to  be
demonstrated.   The issue merits  further study.
     The normal mouthing  activity of young children, as well as  the  actual  ingestion of non-
food items (i.e., pica),  is  a major concern in  pediatric lead  exposure,  particularly  in urban
areas with deteriorating  housing  stock and high automobile density and in  nonurban areas con-
tiguous to lead-production facilities.   The magnitude of such  potential exposures is discussed
in Chapter 7,  and  an  integrated assessment of  impact  on human  intake appears in  Chapter  13.
Such intake  is intensified for  children with  pica  and  would  include paint, dust, and  dirt.

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     Drill et  al.  (1979),  using data from Day et al. (1975) and Lepow et al. (1974), have at-
tempted to quantify the dally intake of soil/dust in young children from such mouthing activi-
ties as thumb sucking and finger licking.  A total of 100 mg/day was obtained for children 2-3
years old, but  the amount of lead  in  this ingested quantity varied considerably from site to
site.   In  the  report,  a GI absorption  rate  of 30 percent was  estimated  for lead in soil and
dust.   Of  relevance  to  this estimate are the animal data discussed in the next section, which
show that  lead  of variable chemical forms in  soil  or dust  is  as  available  for absorption as
lead in food.   The  iji  vitro studies  relating lead  solubility in street dusts  with acidity
clearly demonstrate  that  the  acidity of the human  stomach is adequate to extensively solubi-
lize lead  assimilated  from soil and dust.   To the  extent that ingestion of such material by
children occurs other  than at mealtime, the fasting factor in enhancing lead absorption from
the  human  GI  tract (vide supra) must also be  considered.   Hence, a  factor  of  30 percent for
lead absorption from dusts and soils is not an unreasonable value.
     A  National Academy of Sciences (MAS) report on lead  poisoning in children has estimated
that paint chip  Ingestion by children with  pica  occurs  with considerable frequency (National
Academy of Sciences,  1976).   In the case of paint chips, Drill et al. (1979) estimated an ab-
sorption rate  as  high  as 17 percent.  This value may be compared with the animal  data in Sec-
tion 10.2.2.2, which  indicate that lead in old paint films can undergo significant absorption
in animals.
10.2.2.2   Animal  Studies.   Lead absorption  via the gut of  various adult experimental  animal
species appears  to resemble  that  for the adult  human,  on the order of  1-15 percent in most
cases.   Kostial  and  her coworkers  (Kostial  and  Kello,  1979; Kostial  et  al., 1978,  1971) re-
ported  a  value  of 1 percent  or  less  in adult  rats maintained  on  commercial rat  chow.   These
studies were  carried out  using radioisotopic  tracers.   Similarly,  Barltrop and Meek (1975)
reported an absorption  rate of 4 percent  in control  diets, while Aungst et al.  (1981) found
the  value  to  range from 0.9 to 6.9 percent,  depending on the level of lead given in the diet.
In  these  rat studies,  lead was ingested  with food.  Quarterman  and  Morrison  (1978) admini-
stered  203Pb  label  in  small amounts of  food to adult rats and found an uptake rate of appro-
ximately 2 percent at  4 months of age.   Pounds et al. (1978) obtained a value of 26.4 percent
with four  adult  Rhesus  monkeys given 210Pb  by gastric  intubation.  The higher rate, relative
to  the  rat,  may  reflect various  states  of  fasting  at  time of  Intubation  or  differences in
dietary composition (vide infra), two factors that affect rates of absorption.
     As seen above with human subjects, fasting appears to enhance the rate of lead uptake in
experimental  animals.   Garber and  Wei  (1974)  found  that  fasting  markedly enhanced gut uptake
of lead in rats.   Forbes and Reina (1972) found that lead dosing by gastric  intubation of rats
yielded an absorption  rate of 16 percent, which  is higher than other data  for the rat indi-
cate.   Intubation  was  likely  done  when little food was in the gut.  The data of Pounds et al.
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(1978), as described above, may  also suggest a problem with administering  lead  by gastric  in-
tubation or mixed with  water as opposed to food.
     The bioavailability of lead  in  the GI tract of experimental  animals has  been the  subject
of a number  of  reports.   The  designs of  these  studies differ in regard to how "bioavailabi-
lity" is defined.   In  some  cases, the dietary matrix  was  kept constant,  or  nearly so, while
the chemical or  physical  form of the lead was  varied.   By contrast,  other data described  the
effect of changes in bioavailability as the basic diet matrix was  changed.   The  latter  case is
complicated  by  the  simultaneous  operation  of  lead-nutrient  interactive   relationships  (de-
scribed in Section 10.5.2).
     Allcroft (1950) observed  comparable  effects when calves were fed lead in the form of  the
phosphate, oxide, or basic  carbonate (PbC03*Pb(OH)2),  or incorporated into wet or  dry paint.
By contrast, lead sulfide  in  the form of  finely ground galena ore was less  toxic.  Criteria
for  relative toxicity  included   kidney  and blood  lead levels and survival  rate over time.
     In  the  rat, Barltrop  and Meek  (1975)  carried out a comparative absorption study using
lead in  the  form of the acetate  as  the  reference substance.  The carbonate and thai late  were
absorbed to  the greatest extent, while  absorption of the sulfide, chromate, napthenate,  and
octoate was  44-67 percent  of  the reference  agent.   Barltrop and  Meek (1979)  also studied the
relationship of  the size of  lead particles (as  the metal  or as lead octoate  or chromate in
powdered paint  films)  to  the  amount of gut absorption in the rat; they found an inverse rela-
tionship between uptake and particle size for both forms.
     Gage and Litchfield (1968, 1969) found that lead napthenate and chromate can undergo  con-
siderable absorption from the rat gut when incorporated Into dried paint films, although  less
than when given with other vehicles.   Ku et al.  (1978) found that lead in the form of the  ace-
tate or as  a  phosphollpid  complex was equally  absorbed from the GI  tract of  both  adult  and
young  rats  at a  level of  300 ppm.   Uptake  was assessed by weight  change,  tissue  levels of
lead, and urinary aminolevulinlc add (ALA) levels.
     In  a  study  relevant  to the  problem  of  lead bloavailability in soils  and dusts, particu-
larly  in  exposed children,  Dacre and Ter  Haar (1977)  compared the effects of  lead  as  acetate
with lead  contained 1n roadside  soil and  in house paint soil, at a level  of approximately 50
ppm, in commercial  rat chow.   Uptake of  lead was Indexed by weight  change,  tissue  lead  con-
tent,  and  Inhibition  of aminolevulinlc add  dehydrase (ALA-D)  activity.   None  of these para-
meters  differed  significantly  across the three groups, suggesting that neither the geochemlcal
matrix  1n the  soils  nor  the  various  chemical  forms (basic carbonate in  paint soil,  and the
oxide,  carbonate, and  basic carbonate in  roadside  soil)  affect lead uptake.
     These data  are consistent with  the behavior of  lead in  dusts upon  acid  extraction as re-
ported  by  Day  et al.   (1979),  Harrison  (1979),  and Duggan and Williams (1977).   In the Day et
al.  study,  street dust samples from England and New Zealand were extracted  with hydrochloric
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acfd  (HC1)  over the  pH  range of 0-5.  At  an  acidity that may be  equalled  by gastric secre-
tions,  i.e.,  pH of  1,  approximately  90  percent of the dust  lead  was solubilized.   Harrison
(1979)  noted  that  at this same  acidity,  up to 77 percent  of  Lancaster,  England, street-dust
lead  was soluble,  while  an  average  60 percent  solubility was  seen  in  London  dust  samples
(Duggan  and Williams, 1977).   Because gastric  solubilization must occur  for lead in  these
media to be absorbed, the above data are useful in determining relative risk.
     Kostial and Kello (1979) compared the absorption of 203Pb from the gut of rats maintained
on commercial rat chow versus rats fed such "human" diets as baby foods, porcine liver, bread,
and  cow's  milk.  Absorption  in  the  latter cases  varied from 3  to 20 percent,  compared with
<1.0 percent with  rat chow.   This range of uptake for the nonchow diet compares closely with
that reported  for  human  subjects (vide supra).  Similarly,  Jugo  et al. (1975a) observed that
rats maintained on fruit  diets  had  an  absorption rate of 18-20 percent.   The  generally ob-
served  lower absorption  of lead  in the adult  rat  compared to the  adult  human appears,  then,
less reflective of a species difference than of a dietary difference.
     A  number   of  studies have  documented that the  developing  animal absorbs  a relatively
greater  fraction  of ingested lead than  does  the adult, thus  supporting  studies  showing this
age  dependency  in  humans.   For example, the adult rat absorbs approximately 1 percent  lead or
less via diet versus a corresponding value 40-50 times greater in the rat  pup (Kostial  et al.,
1971,  1978;  Forbes and  Reina,  1972).  In  the rat, this difference persists  through  weaning
(Forbes  and Reina,  1972),  at which point uptake resembles  that of adults.   Part of this dif-
ference  can  be ascribed  to  the nature of  the diet (mother's milk versus regular diet),  al-
though  the  extent  of  absorption  enhancement with milk versus  rat chow in the adult rat found
by Kello and  Kostial  (1973)  fell short of  what is seen in the neonate.  An undeveloped, less
selective intestinal  barrier  may also exist in the  rat neonate.   In nonhuman primates,  Munro
et al.  (1975) observed that infant monkeys absorbed 65-85 percent via the  gut versus 4  percent
in adults.   Similarly, Pounds et al.  (1978) noted that juvenile rhesus  monkeys absorbed appro-
ximately 50 percent more lead than adults.
     The question of the relationship of level  of lead intake through the  GI  tract and  rate of
lead absorption was addressed by Aungst et al. (1981), who exposed adult  and suckling  rats to
doses of lead by intubation over the range 1-100 mg/kg or by variable concentrations 1n drink-
ing water.   With both age groups  and both forms of oral exposure,  lead  absorption as a  percent-
age  of  dose decreased,  suggesting a  saturation  phenomenon  for lead transport across  the  gut
wall.
     Similar data were obtained by Bushnell  and DeLuca (1983) for weanling rats given 203Pb by
intubation  along with carrier doses  of 1, 10,  100,  or 1000 ppm 1n diet.   The  GI absorption
rate was observed  to  decrease significantly between 10  and 100 ppm carrier  lead.  Using Iso-
lated duodenal  loop preparations, Conrad and  Barton (1978) reported  that lead  uptake across
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the gut wall was  constant from 0.001 to 10 ppm lead,  but fell  off to  40 percent  of  the  10-ppm
level  at the 100-ppm dosing.
     The above concentration  dependency  is consistent with a saturable, active transport  pro-
cess  for  lead  in  the  mammalian gut,  based on  the  kinetic data  of  Aungst and Fung  (1981).
Mykkanen and Wasserman (1981)  also  noted  that  lead  uptake by chick intestine occurs  in  two
kinetic phases; a rapid uptake is followed by a rate-limiting slow transfer  of lead.  These
kinetic observations agree with an increasingly retarded active transport process as lead  con-
tent increases  in the gut; i.e., lead affects its own transport, manifested as  an increasingly
lower absorption rate at higher lead intake.
     Of interest here is the comparison of the kinetic behavior of blood lead as  a  function of
oral versus parenteral  dosing.  With single intravenous injections of 0.5, 1, 5,  10, and 15 mg
Pb/kg lead in the rat,  Aungst et al.  (1981) did not observe any dose dependency of  the kinetic
rate  coefficients  governing  lead  in  blood.  Integrated exposure, i.e.,  area  under the blood
lead  curves, increased linearly with dose.  On the other hand, injection of lead into rabbits
at  levels  of 5,  10, 25, 50, and 500 ug/kg, by single dally injections for 6 days,  resulted in
clear curvilinearity to the dose-blood lead curve (Prpic-Majic et al., 1973).  The  differences
in these two reports probably reflect dosing regimen differences:  Aungst et al.  (1981) used a
higher dosing level as single exposures.
     The implication of these experimental  findings for human oral lead exposure is not clear.
As  noted  earlier,  lead  intake orally  by human subjects  up to  400  ug is  associated  with a
rather  fixed absorption rate.  Direct extrapolation  of  the animal data described above indi-
cates that humans would have to ingest 20  to 200 mg  lead per day  (assuming a  2-kg diet/day at
lead  contents  of  10 or 100 ppm) to have  a  lowered absorption rate.  This value is up to 4500-
fold   above the  upper oral   intake  guideline  for lead  (National  Academy of Sciences,  1980).

10.2.3  Percutaneous Absorption of Lead
      Absorption of inorganic  lead compounds through  the  skin  appears to be considerably  less
significant  than  uptake  through  the respiratory  and GI  routes.   This observation contrasts
with  observations for  lead alkyls and  other organic derivatives  (see  Section 10.7).   Rastogi
and Clausen (1976) found that  cutaneous  or subcutaneous administration of  lead napthenate in
rat skin  was associated with  higher  lead tissue levels and more  severe toxic  effects than was
the case  for lead acetate.   Laug  and Kunze (1948) applied  lead as the  acetate, orthoarsenate,
oleate, and ethyl  lead to  rat skin and  determined that the  greatest levels of  kidney lead  were
associated with the alkyl  contact.
      Moore et  al. (1980) studied  the percutaneous absorption of  203Pb-labeled lead acetate 1n
cosmetic  preparations  using eight adult  volunteers.   Applied  in wet or  dry forms, absorption
was indexed by blood,  urine,  and  whole body counting.  Absorption rates ranged from 0 to 0.3
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percent,  with  the highest  values  obtained when the application  sites  were  scratched.   These
researchers estimated  that  the normal  use of such  preparations  would result in an absorption
of approximately 0.06 percent.

10.2.4  Transplacental Transfer of Lead
     Lead  uptake  by  the human and animal fetus occurs readily, based on such indices as fetal
tissue  lead measurements  and,  in the  human,  cord blood  lead  levels.  Barltrop  (1969)  and
Horiuchi  et al.  (1959) demonstrated by  fetal  tissue analysis that  placental  transfer  in  the
human  occurs  by  the  12th  week of  gestation,  with  fetal  lead  uptake  Increasing throughout
development.  The  highest  lead  levels occur in  bone, kidney, and  liver,  followed by  blood,
brain,  and heart.  Cord blood contains significant  amounts  of lead, which generally correlate
with maternal blood  values  and are slightly but significantly lower in concentration than the
mother's  (Scanlon, 1971; Harris and Holley, 1972; Gershanlk et al., 1974; Buchet et al., 1978;
Alexander  and Delves, 1981; Rabinowitz and Needleman, 1982).
     A  cross-sectional study of maternal blood lead levels carried out by Alexander and Delves
(1981)  showed that a significant  decrease in maternal blood lead occurs throughout pregnancy,
a  decrease greater  than the dilution  effect  of the concurrent increase  in  plasma volume.
Hence,  during pregnancy there is either an increasing deposition of lead in placental or fetal
tissue  or  an increased loss of body lead via other routes.  Increasing absorption by the fetus
during  gestation,  as demonstrated by Barltrop (1969), implies  that the former explanation is
likely.  Hunter (1978) found that  summer-born children showed a trend toward higher blood lead
levels  than those  born in the spring, suggesting increased fetal uptake in the summer result-
ing from  increases in circulating maternal lead.  This observation was confirmed in the  report
of Rabinowitz and  Needleman (1982).   Ryu  et al.  (1978)  and Singh et al. (1978) both reported
that infants born  to women having a history of lead exposure had significantly elevated blood
lead values at birth.
10.3  DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
     A  quantitative  understanding of the sequence  of changes in lead  levels  in  various body
pools and tissues is essential in interpreting measured lead levels with respect to past expo-
sure as well as present and future risks of toxicity.   This section discusses the distribution
kinetics of  lead  in  various  portions of the body (blood, soft tissues, calcified tissues, and
the "chelatable"  or  toxicologically active body burden)  as a function of  such  parameters as
exposure history and age.
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     A given  quantity of  lead  taken  up from the GI  tract  or the respiratory tract into the
bloodstream is initially distributed according to the rate of delivery by  blood  to  the various
organs and systems.   Lead  is  then redistributed to  organs  and  systems in proportion to  their
respective affinities  for  the  element.   With consistent exposure  for an extended period,  a
near steady state of intercompartmental  distribution is  achieved.
     Fluctuations in  the near  steady  state will occur whenever short-term lead exposures are
superimposed on  a  long-term  uptake pattern.   Furthermore, the steady-state description  is im-
perfect because,  on a  very  short (hourly)  time scale,  intake is not  constant.   Lead  intake
with meals  and  changes  in ambient air  lead (outside to inside  and  vice versa)  cause  quick
changes in exposure  levels that may be viewed  as  short-term alterations  in the small,  labile
lead pool.  Metabolic  stress  could remobilize and redistribute body stores,  although documen-
tation  of the  extent to  which this  happens  is very limited  (Chisolm and  Harrison,  1956).

10.3.1  Lead in Blood
     Viewed from different time scales,  lead in whole blood may be seen as residing in  several
distinct,  interconnected  pools.  More  than  99  percent  of  blood lead  is  associated with the
erythrocytes (DeSilva, 1981; Everson and Patterson, 1980; Manton and Cook, 1979) under  typical
conditions, but  it  is the  very small  fraction of lead transported in plasma and extracellular
fluid that provides lead to the various body organs (Baloh,  1974).
     Although the  toxicity of lead to the erythrocyte (Raghavan et al., 1981) is mainly asso-
ciated with  membrane  lead content,  most  of the erythrocyte  lead  is  bound  within the cell.
Within erythrocytes  from nonexposed subjects, lead  is primarily  bound to hemoglobin,  in par-
ticular  HbA2,  which binds approximately  50  percent of cell  lead while constituting only  1-2
percent  of total  hemoglobin  (Bruenger et  al., 1973).   A  further 5  percent  is  bound to  a
10,000-dalton  molecular-weight  fraction,  about 20  percent to a much heavier  molecule,  and
about 25  percent is considered "free" or bound  to lower-weight molecules   (Ong and Lee,  1980a;
Raghavan  and  Gonick,  1977).   Raghavan et al. (1980) have observed that, among workers  exposed
to  lead,  those who develop signs of toxicity at relatively  low blood  lead levels seem to have
a diminished binding of intracellular lead with  the  10,000-dalton fraction.  This reduction in
binding  suggests an impaired biosynthesis of a  protective  species.   According to Ong and Lee
(1980b),  fetal hemoglobin  has a higher affinity  for  lead  than adult hemoglobin.
     Whole  blood lead 1n  daily equilibrium  with other compartments was  found  to  have  a mean
life of  35 days  (25-day half-life) and a total lead  content  of 1.9 mg,  based  on studies with a
small  number  of subjects  (Rabinowitz et  al.,  1976).  Chamberlain et  al.   (1978) established a
similar  half-life  for 203Pb in blood when volunteers were given  the  label by 1ngest1on, Inha-
lation,  or  injection.   The  lead Inhalation  studies  1n adults  described by  Griffin  et  al.

                                              10-15

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(1975)  permit  calculation of half-lives of 28  and  26 days for inhalation of  10.4  and 3.1 ug
Pb/m3,  respectively.   These  estimates of biological  half-life, based  as  they are on isotopic
study,  do not  reflect the impact of mobile body burden on half-life.  The higher the mobiliza-
ble  lead burden,  the  greater will  be  the length  of the  half-life,  as  clearly  seen in the
report  of O'Flaherty et al.  (1982), where half-life  in lead workers was a function of cumula-
tive occupational  exposure.
     Alterations  in  blood lead levels in response to  abrupt changes in exposure apparently oc-
cur  over somewhat different periods, depending on  whether the direction  of change is greater
or  smaller.   With  increased lead intake,  blood  lead level achieves a new  value  in approxi-
mately  60  days  (Griffin  et al., 1975;  Tola  et al.,  1973).  A decrease may involve a longer
period  of  time,  depending  on the  magnitude  of the  past  higher  exposure  (O'Flaherty et al.,
1982; Rabinowitz  et  al. 1977; Gross, 1981).
     In adulthood, the human's blood lead  level  appears  to increase moderately.  Awad et al.
(1981)  reported an increase of 1 ug for each 14 years of age.  However, in the NHANES II sur-
vey  (see Chapter  11), white  adults showed increasing  blood  lead until 35-44 years of age, fol-
lowed by a  decrease.  By contrast, blacks showed increasing blood  lead after 44.  In the case
of  reduced  exposure,  particularly  occupational exposure,  the time for  re-establishing near
steady  state  depended  more  upon the extent of  lead resorption from bone and the total quanti-
ty deposited,  either of which can extend the "washout" interval.
     Lead levels   in newborn children are  similar  to but  somewhat  lower  than those of their
mothers:  8.3  versus 10.4 ug/dl (Buchet  et al.,  1978) and 11.0  versus 12.4 ug/dl  (Alexander
and  Delves,  1981).  Maternal  blood lead  levels  decrease  throughout  pregnancy,  the decrease
being   greater  than the  expected  dilution  via  the concurrent  increase  in  plasma  volume
(Alexander and Delves,  1981).   This decrease in maternal blood lead levels suggests increased
fetal  uptake  during gestation  (Barltrop,  1969).    Increased  tissue retention  of  lead by the
child may also  be  a  factor.
     Levels of lead in blood are sex  related;  adult women invariably show  lower  levels than
adult males (e.g., Mahaffey  et al., 1979).  Of interest  in this regard is the study of Stuik
(1974)  showing lower blood lead response in women than in men for an equivalent level of lead
intake.
     The small  but biologically  significant lead pool in  blood  plasma has proven technically
difficult to measure, and reliable values have become available only recently (see Chapter 9).
Chamberlain et al. (1978) found that injected  203Pb  was  removed from plasma  (and,  by infer-
ence, from extracellular  fluid)  with a half-life of  less  than 1 hr.  These data  support the
observation  of  DeSilva  (1981)  that  lead is rapidly  cleared from plasma.   Ong and Lee (1980a),
in their jm vitro studies,  found that 203Pb is virtually  all  bound to albumin and  that only
                                              10-16

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trace amounts are  bound  to high-weight globulins.   To state which binding  form constitutes an
"active" fraction for movement to tissues is not possible.
     Although Rosen  et al.  (1974)  reported that plasma lead  did not vary across a range of
whole  blood  levels,   the  findings  of  Everson and  Patterson  (1980), DeSilva  (1981), and
Cavalleri et  al.  (1978)  indicate that there is  an  equilibrium between red blood  cells  (RBCs)
and plasma,  such  that levels in plasma  rise with  levels  in whole blood.   This observation is
consistent with the data of Clarkson and Kench (1958), who  found that lead  in the  RBC is rela-
tively labile to exchange and a logical prerequisite for a  dose-effect relationship in  various
organs.  Ong  and  Lee  (1980c), furthermore, found that plasma calcium is capable of displacing
RBC membrane lead, suggesting that plasma calcium is a factor in the cell-plasma lead equilib-
rium.
     Several  studies  concerning the  relative  distribution of  lead between  erythrocytes and
plasma or  serum  indicate that the relative percentage of blood lead in plasma versus erythro-
cytes  is  relatively  constant  up  to  a blood  lead concentration  of  about 50-60 pg/dl, but
becomes  increasingly  greater above  this level, i.e., the overall blood lead/plasma lead rela-
tionship is curvilinear upward.
     DeSilva (1981) found that the relative fraction of plasma lead versus  erythrocytes in 105
Australian  lead workers  increased at -v-60 |jg/dl.  Similarly, Manton and Malloy (1983) observed
that a  subject  having lead  intoxication had serum lead values ranging from 1.6 to 0.3 percent
as  blood concentration changed from  116 to 31 ug/dl.  More recently,  Manton  and Cook (1984)
demonstrated  a  curvilinear  relationship between serum and whole  blood lead  levels.   As de-
picted  in  Figure  10-2,  the curve indicates that there  is a linear  segment  up to ~50 pg/dl,
followed by rather steep increases in relative serum  lead content at higher levels.
     Measurement  of  lead in plasma by  these  investigators was carefully carried out, and the
Manton  reports  involved  the definitive  lead analysis technique of  isotope-dilution mass spec-
trometry  (IDMS,  see  Chapter 9).   Given the  increased erythrocyte fragility with increasing
blood  lead  content  (see  Section  12.3), slight hemolysis during  sampling  might contaminate
plasma  or  serum with high erythrocyte  lead and complicate  such analyses; however, the reports
did not  indicate  that  hemolysis was considered a problem.
     The biological  basis  for higher  levels of plasma versus whole blood lead with increasing
blood  lead burden may be  related to  marked changes in the  binding  capacity of the erythrocyte
at  high  lead content.  These changes  may  result from alterations  in  binding  sites  or in the
efficiency  of lead movement from membrane  to erythrocyte  interior.   Fukumoto et al. (1983)
have demonstrated  changes  (in the form  of a decrease) in lead-worker erythrocyte-membrane pro-
teins  that may have a role  in  lead transport.  Perhaps more  important are the long-known ef-
fects  of  lead  exposure  on  erythrocyte morphology and  destruction rate  (see Section 12.3).

                                               10-17

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    30
3
O>
    2.0
flC
01
(A
    1.0
    0.0
           I     I    I    I    I    1    I    I   I    I    II   I    I  /I
                        I    I    I    I    I    I     I    I    I     I    I
                            50                  100

                              BLOOD LEAD. M9/dl
150
       Figure 10-2. The curvilinear relationship of serum lead to blood lead.
       Cross-hatched area represents several overlapping points.

       Source: Manton and Cook (1984).
                                           10-18

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Changes in cell morphology with Increasing blood lead may alter accessibility  to  binding  sites
or the  relative stability of  these  sites.   Increased cell destruction may Increase  protein-
bound cell lead in plasma, which is only slowly transferred back to cell  membrane.
     In vitro  data  concerning  the concentration dependency of  lead  partitioning  between ery-
throcytes and plasma are of Interest.   Keep 1n mind,  however,  that such jj± vitro  data  have em-
ployed normal  erythrocytes.  Clarkson  and Kench (1958) showed  that  the  relative partitioning
between normal  erythrocytes and plasma is relatively constant up to the  highest  level  tested,
equivalent to  100 ug  Pb/dl.   In the related  study of Kochen  and Greener  (1973),  tracer plus
carrier lead was  added to blood of varying hematocrlt up to a maximum addition of 1000 ^g/dl.
At a  normal  hematocrit  and  a  higher  value (0.65),   the  percent uptake  of lead  label  by the
cells diminished  at around 100 ug/dl, consistent with the  Clarkson  and Kench  (1958)  data.
Onset of curviUnearlty at a lower blood lead level ^ri vivo in lead-exposed subjects below the
IB vitro  value of ^100 ug/dl  probably  reflects  in part altered cell morphology and stability
(DeSilva, 1981; Manton and Malloy, 1983; Manton and Cook, 1984).
     The  curvilinear   relationship  of  plasma  to whole blood  lead  may well  be a factor in
Chamberlain's  (1983) observation  that  the relative rate of urinary excretion of lead in human
adults Increases with blood lead content, as determined from various published reports provid-
ing both blood and urinary lead data (see Section 10.4).  It may also figure in the apparently
better  proportionality  of  tissue  lead burdens  to   dose  than blood  lead (vide  infra) and,
equally Important, the curvilinear relationship of chelatable lead to blood lead.  That Is, at
Increasing blood  lead, the higher relative  rate  of  plasma lead movement  to  soft tissues and
bone  is  greater than would be  anticipated  from simple Inspection of  blood  lead content, the
latter rising  at a slower rate  relative to the increase in plasma lead.

10.3.2  Lead Levels in Tissues
     Of  necessity,  various relationships  of tissue  lead to  exposure and toxicity in humans
generally  must be obtained  from autopsy  samples,  although  in  some  studies  biopsy data have
been  described.   The  inherent question then  is  whether such  samples adequately represent the
behavior  of  lead  in the  living population,  particularly in cases where death was preceded by
prolonged  illness or disease states.  Also, victims of  fatal  accidents are not well character-
ized  as  to  exposure  status  and are  usually  described as having no "known"  lead exposure.
Finally, these studies are necessarily  cross-sectional  in design, and, in  the case of body ac-
cumulation of  lead, different  age groups are assumed  to have  been similarly exposed.  Some im-
portant  aspects of  the  available data  include  the  distribution of  lead between soft and  cal-
cifying  tissue, the effect of  age and  development on lead content of  soft and mineral tissue,
and the  relationship between total and  "active"  lead  burdens  in the  body.
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10.3.2.1   Soft Tissues.   In  humans over  age 20  most  soft tissues  do not  show  age-related
changes  1n  lead levels,  in  contrast to the  case  with  bone (Barry and Mossman, 1970;  Barry,
1975,  1981;  Schroeder and Upton,  1968;  Butt  et  al.,   1964).   Kidney cortex also  shows  In-
creases  in lead with age that  may be  associated with formation  of lead  nuclear  inclusion
bodies (Indraprasit et  al.,  1974).   Based on these rates of accumulation,  the total  body bur-
den  may  be divided into  pools that behave differently.  The largest  and  kinetlcally  slowest
pool  is  the  skeleton, which  accumulates lead with age.   The much more labile lead pool 1s in
soft tissue.
     Soft-tissue lead levels  generally  stabilize 1n early adult life and show a turnover rate
similar  to that for blood.   This turnover is sufficient to prevent accumulation except in the
renal  cortex,  which may reflect  formation of lead-containing nuclear inclusion bodies  (Cramer
et  al.,  1974;  Indraprasit et al.,  1974).   The  data  of Gross  et al.  (1975)  and Barry (1975)
indicate that  aortic  levels  rise with age, although  this  rise  may only reflect entrapment of
lead  in  atherosclerotic  deposits.   Biliary  and pancreatic  secretions,  while presumably  re-
flecting some  of the  organ levels,  have tracer lead concentrations distinct from either blood
or bone pools  (Rabinowitz et al., 1973).
     For levels of lead in soft tissue,  the reports of Barry (1975, 1981),  Gross et al. (1975),
and  Horiuchi   et  al.   (1959)  indicate that  soft-tissue content generally  is below 0.5 ug/g
wet weight, with higher values for aorta and kidney cortex.   The higher values in aorta may or
may not reflect lead  in plaque deposits, while higher kidney levels may be associated with the
presence of  lead-accumulating tubular  cell nuclear inclusions.   The  relatively  constant lead
concentration  in lung tissue  across age groups  suggests  no  accumulation  of respired lead and
is  consistent  with  data for  deposition and absorption (see Section 10.2.1).  Brain tissue was
generally under 0.2 ppm wet  weight and appeared to show no change with increasing age.  Since
these  data were collected by cross-sectional study,  age-related changes  in the low levels of
lead  in  brain  would  have been  difficult  to discern.   Barry  (1975) found  that tissues in a
small  group  of samples  from subjects with  known  or suspected occupational  exposure  showed
higher lead levels  in aorta,  liver,  brain,  skin, pancreas, and prostate.
     Analysis of lead levels  in whole brain is less illuminating than regional analysis to the
issue  of sensitivity  of certain  regions within  the organ  to toxic effects of lead.   The dis-
tribution of  lead across  brain regions  has been reported  by various laboratories.   The rele-
vant data for  humans  and animals are set  forth  1n Table 10-2.   The  data  of Grandjean (1978)
and Niklowitz  and  Mandybur (1975)  for  human adults, and  those of Okazaki et al.  (1963)  for
autopsy samples from young children  who  died of lead poisoning,  are consistent 1n showing that
lead is selectively accumulated in the hippocampus.  The correlation of lead level  with potas-
sium  level suggests that uptake  of lead is  greater  in  cellulated areas.    The  involvement of
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                      TABLE  10-2.  DISTRIBUTION OF  LEAD  IN  BRAIN REGIONS  OF  HUMANS  AND  ANIMALS
     Subjects
  Exposure status
     Relative distribution
Reference
o
rss
     Humans
       Adult males
       Children
    "Unexposed"
Fatal lead poisoning
       Child, 2 yr old Fatal  lead poisoning
       Adults
     Animals

       Adult rats

       Adult rats
       Neonatal rats
       Young dogs
3 subjects "unexposed";
  1 subject with lead
  poisoning as child
    "Unexposed"

    "Unexposed"
Controls and
  dally i.p. injection,
  5.0 or 7.5 mg/kg

Controls and dietary
  exposure, 100 ppm;
  12 weeks of exposure
Hippocampus = amygdala > medulla
  oblongata > half brain > optic tract
  = corpus callosum.  Pb correlated
  with potassium.

Hippocampus > frontal cortex »
  occipital white matter, pons

Cortical gray matter > basal ganglia >
  cortical white matter

Hippocampus > cerebellum = temporal
  lobes > frontal cortex in 3 unexposed
  subjects; temporal lobes > frontal
  cortex > hippocampus > cerebellum in
  case with prior exposure


Hippocampus > amygdala » whole brain

Hippocampus had 50% of brain lead
  with a 4:1 ratio of hippocampus
  to whole brain concentrations

In both treated and control animals
  cerebellum > cerebral cortex >
  brainstem + hippocampus

Controls:   cerebellum = medulla >
  caudate > occipital gray > frontal
  gray
Exposed:  occipital gray > frontal
  gray = caudate > occipital
  white = thalamus > medulla > cerebellum
Grandjean (1978)
Okazaki et al. (1963)
                                                                        Klein et al. (1970)
Niklowitz and
  Mandybur (1975)
Danscher et al. (1975)

Fjerdingstad et al.
  (1974)
Klein and Koch (1981)
Stowe et al. (1973)

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the cerebellum 1n lead encephalopathy 1n children (see Section 12.4) and 1n adult Intoxication
from occupational exposure  Indicates  that the sensitivity of various brain regions to lead as
well as their relative uptake characteristics are factors in lead neuropathology.
     In adult rats, selective uptake of lead 1s shown by the hippocampus (Fjerdingstad et al.,
1974;  Danscher  et al.,  1975)  and  the  amygdala (Oanscher et al.,  1975).   By  contrast,  lead-
exposed neonate  rats  show greatest uptake of  lead  into cerebellum, followed by cerebral cor-
tex, then brainstem plus hippocampus.   Hence, there 1s a developmental difference in lead dis-
tribution in the rat with or without increased lead exposure (Klein and Koch, 1981).
     In studies  of young dogs,  "unexposed"  animals showed highest  levels  1n  the cerebellum.
Increased lead exposure  was associated with selective uptake Into gray matter, while cerebel-
lar levels were relatively  low.  Unlike the young rat, then, the distribution of lead in brain
regions of dogs appears dose-dependent (Stowe et al., 1973).
     The  relationship  of lead distribution  to various tissues with  changes  in lead exposure
has not been  well  researched.   Available information does suggest that the nature of lead ex-
posure in experimental  animals influences the relationship of tissue lead level to both blood
lead level and level of Intake.  Long-term oral exposure of experimental animals at relatively
moderate dosing would appear to result 1n tissue values that show more proportionality to dose
than do blood  lead  values,  although tissue versus blood lead relationships still appear to be
curvilinear.  Such  is the  case  with  dogs exposed  to  dietary lead for 2 years  (Azar et al.,
1973)  and rats  exposed in  utero and postnatally  up to 9 months  of age (Grant et al., 1980).
     By contrast,  short-term exposure  at various  dosing  levels yields  highly variable data
(see Section  12.4.3.5  and Table  12-8).   Bull et al. (1979) have reported brain and blood lead
data  for  dam-exposed  suckling rats that show marked deviation  from linear  response to dose
when lead was  administered  in drinking water  at  0.0005 to 0.02  percent  lead.  Over  this 40-
fold oral dosing range, brain lead levels increased only approximately threefold at 21 days of
age.  Whether this low absorption of lead by brain reflects tissue distribution curvilinearity
in the pups or reflects a function of nonlinear milk lead versus maternal  dosing relationships
cannot be determined.   Collins et al.  (1982) reported that rats orally exposed to lead from 3
days of age for 4-8 weeks showed  a two- to threefold increase in brain regions when the dosing
level was increased to 1.0 mg/kg  from  0.1 mg/kg.   Blood lead at these two  dosing levels showed
a concentration ratio of -^2.5,  indicating that both brain tissue and blood showed similar non-
linear response over this 10-fold change in  oral  exposure.
     Barry (1975, 1981) compared  lead  levels in soft  tissues  of children and adults.  Tissue
lead of infants  under  1  year old was generally  lower  than in older  children,  while  children
aged 1-16 years  had  values  that  were  comparable to  those  for adult women.   In Barry's (1981)
                                              10-22

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study, the  absolute  concentration of  lead In brain cortex or  the  ratios  of brain cortex to
blood lead  levels  did not  appear to  be  different 1n  Infants  or older children compared to
adults.   Such direct  comparisons do not account for relative tissue  mass  changes with  age, but
this factor  is comparatively  less with soft tissue than with  the skeletal  system  (see Section
10.4).
     Subcellular distribution of lead in soft tissue is  not uniform,  with high  amounts of  lead
being sequestered in  the  mitochondria  and nucleus.   Cramer et al.  (1974) studied  renal  biopsy
tissue  in  lead  workers  having  exposures  of variable  duration.   They  observed  lead-binding
nuclear Inclusion bodies  in the renal proximal tubules of subjects having short exposure,  with
all  showing  mitochondrlal  changes.  A  considerable body of  animal  data (see  Section 10.3.5)
documents the selective uptake  of lead into  these  organelles.   Pounds  et  al.  (1982)  describe
these organellar pools in  kinetic terms as having  comparatively  short  half-lives 1n  cultured
rat  hepatocytes,  while McLachUn  et al.   (1980)  found  that  rat kidney  epithelial  cells  form
lead-sequestering nuclear Inclusions within 24 hr.
10.3.2.2  Mineralizing Tissue.  Biopsy and autopsy data  have  shown that lead becomes localized
and  accumulates  in  human calcified  tissues,  i.e.,  bones and teeth.  The  accumulation begins
with fetal  development (Barltrop, 1969; Horiuchi et al., 1959).
     Total  lead content in bone may exceed 200 mg 1n men aged  60 to 70 years, but  in women the
accumulation is somewhat lower.  Various investigators  (Barry, 1975; Horiguchi  and Utsunomiya,
1973; Schroeder and Tlpton, 1968; Horiuchi et al., 1959) have  documented that approximately 95
percent of  total  body lead is  lodged  in  bone.   These  reports not only establish  the affinity
of  bone  for  lead,  but also provide  evidence  that  lead  increases in bone until 50-60 years of
age,  the  later  fall-off  reflecting  some  combination  of diet and mineral  metabolism  changes.
Tracer data  show accumulation in both  trabecular and compact bone (Rablnowitz et al., 1976).
     In adults,  bone  lead is the most  inert pool as well as the largest, and accumulation can
serve to maintain elevated blood lead  levels years after past, particularly occupational, ex-
posure has ended.  This fact accounts for the observation that duration of exposure correlates
with  the  rate of  reduction of  blood  lead after termination of  exposure  (O'Flaherty et  al.,
1982).  The  proportion of body  lead  lodged in bone is reported to be lower in children than 1n
adults,  although concentrations  of  lead   in  bone  increase more  rapidly than 1n soft tissue
during childhood (Barry,  1975, 1981).   In 23 children,  bone  lead was 9 mg,  or  73 percent of
total body  burden,  versus 94 percent  in  adults.   Expression  of lead 1n bone in terms of con-
centration  across  age groups,  however, does not accommodate the  "dilution"  factor,  which is
quite large  for  the skeletal  system  in  children (see Section 10.4).
     The isotope kinetic data of  Rabinowitz et al.  (1976) and Holtzman (1978) Indicate biolog-
ical  half-lives  of  lead  1n  bone  on the  order  of several decades,  although  it  appears  that
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there  are two  bone  compartments,  one  of which  is  a repository  for  relatively labile  lead
(Rabinowitz et al., 1977).
     Tooth lead  levels also increase with age  at a rate proportional  to exposure  (Steenhout
and Pourtois, 1981),  and are also roughly proportional to blood lead levels  in man (Winneke  et
al., 1981; Shapiro et al.,  1978) and experimental  animals (Kaplan et al.,  1980).   Dentine  lead
is  perhaps  the most  responsive  component of teeth  to  lead  exposure because it  1s  laid  down
from the  time  of  eruption  until the tooth is  shed.   Needleman and Shapiro  (1974)  have docu-
mented  the  usefulness  of  dentine  lead  as  an  indicator  of  the  degree  of  subject  exposure.
Fremlin  and  Edmonds  (1980),  using alpha-particle  excitation  and  microautoradiography,  have
shown  dentine  zones  of  lead  enrichment related  to  abrupt changes in  exposure.  The  rate  of
lead deposition in teeth appears to vary with the  type of tooth.   Deposition is highest in the
central  incisors  and  lowest in the molars, a  difference  that  must be  taken into account  when
using  tooth  lead  data for  exposure assessment, particularly for low levels  of  lead exposure
(Mackie et al., 1977;  Delves et al.,  1982).

10.3.3  Chelatable Lead
     Mobile lead  in organs  and systems is potentially more  "active" toxicologically in terms
of being available to sites of action.   Hence, the presence of diffusible, mobilizable, or ex-
changeable lead may  be a more  significant predictor of imminent toxicity  or recent exposure
than total body or whole blood burdens.  In  reality, however,  assays for mobile lead would  be
quite difficult.
     In  this  regard,  chelatable  urinary  lead has  been shown  to  provide  an index  of  this
mobile portion  of total  body burden.   Note that  "chelatable"  lead refers here to  the use  of
calcium  disodium  ethylenediaminetetraacetic  acid  (CaNa2EDTA) and body  compartments  accessible
to  this  chelant.   Based mainly on the relationship of chelatable lead  to indices of heme  bio-
synthesis impairment, chelation challenge is  now viewed as the most useful probe of  undue  body
burden  in children and adults (U.S.  Centers  for Disease Control, 1978;  World Health Organiza-
tion,  1977;  Chisolm  and Barltrop,  1979; Chisolm et al.,  1976;  Saenger  et al., 1982; Hansen  et
al., 1981).   In adults,  chelation  challenge  is the  most  reliable diagnostic test for assess-
ment of  lead  nephropathy,  particularly when  exposure is  remote in time  (Emerson,  1963; Wedeen
et al., 1979) or unrecognized (Batuman et al., 1981, 1983).
     A quantitative description of inputs to  the fraction of  body lead  that  1s chelatable  from
various body compartments 1s difficult to define fully,  but  it very likely includes  a sizable,
fairly mobile compartment within bone as well  as within soft  tissues.  This  assertion is based
on several factors.  First, the amount of lead mobilized  by chelation is  age-dependent in  non-
exposed  adults  (Araki,  1973;  Araki and Ushio, 1982), while  blood and  soft-tissue lead levels
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are not (Barry,  1975).   This  difference indicates a lead pool  labile to  chelatlon  but  kineti-
cally  distinct  from soft  tissue.   Second, studies  of chelatable  lead  in animals  (Hammond,
1971,  1973)  suggest removal  of  some bone  lead fraction, as  does the  response of  explanted
fetal rat bone lead to chelants (Rosen and Markowitz, 1980).   Third, the  tracer modeling esti-
mates  of  Rabinowitz  et  al.  (1977) suggest a mobile  bone compartment, and fourth,  there  is  a
complex,  nonlinear  relationship  of  lead  intake by  air,  food,  and water (see Chapter 11)  to
blood  lead,  and  an  exponential relationship of chelatable lead to blood  lead (Chisolm  et  al.,
1976).
     The  logarithmic  relationship of chelatable  lead to  blood lead in children  (Chisolm  et
al.,  1976) is consistent with the studies of  Saenger  et al.  (1982), who reported  that levels
of  mobilizable  lead in  "asymptomatic"  children with  moderate elevations in  blood  lead  were
quite similar in many cases to those values obtained in children with signs of overt toxicity.
Hansen et  al. (1981)  reported that lead workers  challenged with CaNa2EDTA showed  24-hr urine
lead  levels  that in many cases exceeded the accepted  limits  even though blood  lead was  only
moderately elevated  in  many of those workers.   The  action level corresponded, on  the  regres-
sion  curve, to a blood lead value of 35 pg/dl.
      Several reports provide  insight into the behavior of labile lead pools in children treat-
ed  with chelating  agents over varying periods  of time.  Treatment regimens using CaNa2EDTA or
CaNa2EDTA  +  BAL  (British anti-Lewi site, or dimercaprol) for up to 5 days have been invariably
associated with  a  "rebound" in blood lead, ascribed to  a redistribution of lead among mobile
lead  compartments (Chisolm and Barltrop, 1979).  Marcus (1982) reported that 41 children given
oral  D-penicillamine  for 3  months showed a significant drop in blood  lead by  2  weeks  (mean
initial value of 53.2 ug/dl), then a slight rise that was within measurement error with a peak
at  4 weeks, and a fall  at 6 weeks, followed  by  no further  change at  a blood  lead level  of
36  ug/dl.   Hence,  there was  a near  steady state  at an  elevated level for 10 of the 12 weeks
with  continued  treatment.   This  observation could  have  indicated that  re-exposure was occur-
ring,  with oral  penicillamine and ingested lead  leading to  increased lead uptake, as seen by
Jugo  et al.  (1975a).   However, Marcus  (1982)  stated that an effort was made to limit further
lead  intake as much as possible.   From these reports, a re-equilibration does appear to occur,
varying  in characteristics with  type and  duration of chelation.   The rebound seen in short-
term  treatment  with CaNa2EDTA or CaNa2EDTA +  BAL,  although attributed  to  soft tissue,  could
well  include  a  shift of  lead  from a larger mobile bone compartment to soft tissues and blood.
The apparent  steady state between the blood lead pool and other compartments that is achieved
in  the face of plumburesis, induced by D-penicillamine (Marcus,  1982), suggests a rather siza-
ble labile body pool which,  in quantitative terms,  would  appear to exceed that of soft tissue
alone.
                                              10-25

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     Several studies  of  EDTA mobilization of lead 1n children (Saenger et al., 1982; PlomelH
et  al.,  1984)   Indicate  the relative merit  of assessing chelatable  lead  burden  1n children
otherwise  characterized  as having mild  or  moderate  lead exposure as  Indicated  by blood lead
levels.  Saenger  et  al.  (1982) noted that  significant  percentages  of children having mild or
moderate lead  exposure  as commonly Indexed were  found  after EDTA challenge to have levels of
plumburesis  that  would  qualify  them  for  chelatlon therapy under  U.S.  Centers  for  Disease
Control (CDC) guidelines.
     In the  most  comprehensive evaluation of this Issue to  date (PlomelH et al., 1984), 210
children  from  four  different  urban lead-poisoning  treatment centers were  evaluated  by EDTA
provocation  testing.  The results showed that at a blood lead level of 30-39 ug/dl, 12 percent
(6/52)  of  children  exceed  the ratio of 0.6 for ug  Pb excreted per mg EDTA  per  8 hr.   This
ratio  was  selected by the study  clinicians  as  differentiating  children with mobile lead bur-
dens who  require  further evaluation and/or treatment.   Thirty-eight  percent of children with
blood  lead levels of 40-49 ug/dl exceeded the action ratio of 0.6.
     As indicated 1n Section 10.3.1, one basis for the curvilinear relationship between chela-
table  lead  and blood lead may  be  the  curvilinear relationship of plasma  lead to  blood lead.
The  former  increases at a faster rate with exposure increases  than blood lead, permitting an
increasingly greater rate of lead transfer to the chelatable  lead compartment.

10.3.4  Mathematical Descriptions of Physiological Lead Kinetics
     To account for  observed kinetic data and make predictive statements, a variety of mathe-
matical  models have  been  suggested,  including  those   describing  "steady-state"  conditions.
Tracer  experiments  have  suggested  compartmental  models of  lead turnover based on a central
blood  pool  (Holtzman,  1978;  Rabinowitz et al., 1976; Batschelet et al., 1979).  These experi-
ments  have hypothesized  well-mixed,  interconnected  pools and have  used  coupled differential
equations with  linear exponential  solutions to predict  blood and tissue  lead exchange rates.
Were lead  to be retained in these  pools  in accordance  with a power-law distribution of resi-
dence times, rather than being uniform,  a semi-Markov model would be more  appropriate (Marcus,
1979).
     In the  model  proposed  by Rabinowitz et al.  (1976),  based  on the use of stable lead Iso-
tope tracer  1n adult volunteers,  lead biokinetics is envisioned in terms of  three body com-
partments.    These  compartments, consisting of  a central  blood  compartment as well  as  soft-
tissue and  bone compartments,  differ as  to biological  half-lives or  mean-lives  (half life =
mean-life x  0.693).   Blood shows the shortest  biological  half-life,  followed by  soft tissue
and then the bone  compartment.   Bone contains most of total body  lead burden.
                                              10-26

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     A more recent approach  has  been that of Kneip  et  al.  (1983)  for multi-organ  compartmen-
talization of lead,  based  on data obtained with infant  and juvenile baboons  administered  sin-
gle  and  chronic  lead  doses orally.   The model proposed  for infant  baboons  is depicted  in
Figure 10-3.   Figure 10-3  acknowledges  differences  in  certain  features of lead  biokinetics
that  differ  in  the  developing  versus adult organism.   One  of these differences is the  lead
transfer rate from blood  to bone.   In addition, an extracellular space-gut  (ECS-Gut) compart-
ment  is  included  in Figure 10-3.   The  emphasis  is on lead  intake through  the  gut,  and  a
respiratory intake component is  not included.   In  common with other attempts at modeling, the
blood compartment in the  approach of Kneip et al.  (1983) is not further characterized  kineti-
cally, which  is a limitation  in view of the  data base concerning such relationships  as the
curvilinear one between plasma and blood lead (see  Section  10.3.2).
     Most extant  steady-state models are deficient because they are based  on small  numbers of
subjects and  neglect a dose dependency  for some of the interpool  transfer  coefficients.   In
this  case,  a nonlinear dose-indicator  response model  would be more  appropriate when  consid-
ering changes in  blood lead levels.  For example,  the relationship between blood lead  and air
lead  (Hammond  et al.,  1981;  Brunekreef,  1984) as well as that between diet  (United  Kingdom
Central Directorate on Environmental Pollution, 1982) and tap drinking water (Sherlock  et al.,
1982) are  all  nonlinear in mathematical  form.   In addition, alterations in nutritional  status
or the onset of metabolic stresses can complicate steady-state relationships.
      In a  series  of  papers, Marcus  (1985a,b,c,d) has discussed linear and nonlinear multicom-
partmental  models of  lead  kinetics and has addressed  in  particular the relationship  between
plasma lead  and blood  lead and the  relationship between blood lead and total lead intake.  As
shown  in  Figure 10-4,  Marcus (1985d) differentiated four discrete pools within the blood com-
partment:  diffusible  lead  in plasma, protein-bound  lead in plasma, a "shallow" red blood cell
pool  (possibly  the erythrocyte membrane),  and  a "deep" red blood  cell  pool (probably within
the  erythrocyte).  This model  was  based  on previously published data from a volunteer subject
who  ingested lead under  controlled experimental  conditions  (DeSilva,  1981).   Different ver-
sions  of  the model,  all assuming  steady-state  conditions  for lead  in  all  tissues,  were ana-
lyzed  in terms  of  three possible  mechanisms   that  might  underlie  nonlinear  blood kinetics:
site-limited  lead  uptake,   saturated active  absorption,  and increased  urinary  elimination
(Marcus,  1985c).   The  site-limited absorption model provided the  best  description  of a non-
linear  relationship  between plasma lead  and  blood  lead.    Figure  10-5 shows  the fit of the
model  to data  from  103 subjects  studied by  DeSilva  (1981).   At  relatively  high blood  lead
levels,  the fit appears quite satisfactory, but plasma lead  is underestimated below 30  ug/dl
blood lead  (see solid  line  in Figure 10-5).  Adding  an  intercept term of 0.25  (see broken line
in Figure  10-5) improves the fit  at low  blood  lead values.  The need  for an  intercept term can

                                              10-27

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                       INTAKE
GUT
EXCRETION
  BONE
    2
                                            URINE EXCRETION
                                                   S
                       A12 =0.34 (INFANT) = 0.11 (JUVENILE)
                       A,, = 1.73 x 10'1
                       A,, = 0.10
                       A,, = 0.03
                       A,4 = 0.03
                       A,, = 0.07
                       A,. = 0.08
                       AM = 0.01
                       A., = 0.23
Figure 10-3. Schematic model of lead metabolism in infant baboons,
with compartments! transfer coefficients.

Source:  Kneip et al. (1983).
                               10-28

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o
ro
                                      LEAD IN
                                     RBC DEEP
                                       POOL
   LEAD IN  «—
RBC SHALLOW
    POOL
                                    DIFFUSIBLE
                                      LEAD IN
                                      PLASMA
                                     PROTEIN-  l
                                   BOUND LEAD
                                    IN PLASMA
                                                                           LEAD IN
                                                                        SOR TISSUES
                            LEAD IN
                        EXTRACELLULAR
                             FLUID
                                        LEAD IN
                                     HARD TISSUES
                                                   I I
                             ,   x   	        	
                             V    	
                                   BLOOD LEAD
Figure 10-4. A compartmental model for lead biokinetics with multiple pools for blood lead.

Source: Marcus <1985d).

-------
•o
s
2
O
cc
O
O
o
<
   4.0
   3.5
   3.0
   2.5
   2.0
   1.5
   1.0
   0.5
          1    I     T
                                                         o

                                                         o
      0   10   20   30  40   50   60   70   80   90   100  110  120

                   BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATION,
      Figure 10-5. Fitting of nonlinear blood lead model to data of
      DeSilva (1981). Broken line incorporates an intercept term of
      0.25; solid line does not incorporate intercept term.

      Source:  Marcus (1985c).
                                    10-30

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be attributed  to possible analytic  error due  to  contamination of  the plasma samples  or  to
transient fluctuations  1n plasma  lead  due to  lead  exposure just prior to  sampling  (Marcus,
1985c).  In any  event,  curvllinearity 1s modest below  30  M9/dl.   F°r Individuals without oc-
cupational  or  other  excessive  exposure  to lead (>30 ^g/cll  blood  lead), 1t is not possible to
distinguish linear and nonlinear kinetic models (Marcus, 1985c).

10.3.5  Animal Studies
     The relevant  questions  to  be asked of animal  data  are those that cannot be readily or
fully  satisfied  by  data from human subjects.   What is  the effect of exposure level on distri-
bution within  the  body  at specific time  points?   What  1s the relationship of age or develop-
mental stage  on  the distribution of lead 1n organs and systems,  particularly the nervous sys-
tem?   What are the relationships of physiological  stress and nutritional status to the redis-
bution kinetics?   Can  the relationship of chelatable  lead to such  indicator lead  pools as
blood  be defined better?
     Administration of a single dose of lead to rats produces high initial  lead concentrations
in  soft  tissues, which  then  fall rapidly  as  the  result of excretion and transfer  to bone
(Hammond,  1971), while the  distribution of  lead  appears  to be Independent  of the  dose.
    X
Castellino and Aloj  (1964)  reported that single-dose exposure of  rats to lead was associated
with  a  fairly constant ratio  of erythrocyte  lead  to  plasma lead,  a rapid  distribution to
tissues, and relatively higher uptake 1n  liver, kidney, and particularly bone.  Lead loss from
oTgans and tissues  follows  first-order kinetics except from bone.   The data of Morgan et al.
(1977),  Castellino  and  Aloj  (1964),  and  Keller and Doherty (1980a) document that the skeletal
system 1n  rats and  mice  is  the kinetically rate-limiting step in whole-body lead clearance.
     Subcellular distribution studies involving either tissue fractionation after jn vivo lead
exposure or  j[n  vitro  data  document  that lead is  preferentially  sequestered  in the nucleus
(Castellino and  Aloj,  1964;  Goyer et al., 1970)  and mitochondria!  fractions (Castellino and
Aloj,  1964; Barltrop et al., 1974) of cells from lead-exposed animals.  Lead enrichment in the
mitochondrion  is  consistent  with the high sensitivity  of this  organelle to the toxic effects
of lead.
     The neonatal animal seems to  retain  proportionately higher levels  of tissue  lead compared
with the adult (Goldstein et al., 1974;  Momcilovlc  and Kostial,  1974; Mykkanen et al., 1979;
Klein  and Koch, 1981) and shows slow decay of brain  lead levels while other tissue levels sig-
nificantly decrease  over time.   This decay appears  to  result from enhanced entry by lead due
to a poorly developed brain barrier system in the  developing animals, as well as  enhanced body
retention  in  the young animals.   The  effects  of such changes as  metabolic stress and  nutri-
tional status have been noted  1n  the  literature.   Keller and Doherty  (1980b) have documented
                                              10-31

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that  tissue   redistribution   of   lead,   specifically  bone  lead  mobilization,   occurs   1n
lactatlng  female mice,  with  both  lead  and  calcium  transfer occurring  from mother to pups
(Keller  and  Doherty, 1980c).   Changes  1n lead movement from body  compartments,  particularly
bone, with changes 1n nutrition are described in Section 10.5.
     In  animal  studies  that are relevant both to the Issue of chelatable lead versus lead  in-
dicators in humans and to the relative lability of lead 1n the young versus the adult,  Jugo et
al. (1975b) and Jugo (1980) studied the chelatabUHy of lead 1n neonate versus adult rats  and
its lability  in the  erythrocyte.   Challenging young  rats  with  metal  chelants yielded propor-
tionately  lower levels  of urinary lead than in the adult, a finding that has been ascribed to
tighter  binding of  lead 1n the young animal  (Jugo et al., 1975b).   In a related observation,
the chelatable  fraction of  lead bound to erythrocytes of young animals given 203Pb was approx-
imately  threefold greater than in the adult rat (Jugo, 1980), although the fraction of dose 1n
the cells  was higher in the suckling rat.  The difference in the suckling rat erythrocyte  re-
garding  the  binding  of  lead and relative content compared with the adult may be compared with
Ong and  Lee's (1980b) observation that human fetal hemoglobin binds lead more avidly than does
mature hemoglobin.
10.4  LEAD EXCRETION AND RETENTION IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
     Dietary  lead  that  is  not absorbed in  humans  and  animals passes through the, GI tract and
is  eliminated with feces,  as is the deposited  fraction of air lead that is swallowed and not
absorbed.  Lead  absorbed  into the blood stream and not retained is excreted through the renal
and  GI  tracts,  the  latter by  biliary  clearance.   The  amounts  appearing  in  urine and feces
appear to be  a function of such factors as species, age, and differences 1n dosing.

10.4.1  Human Studies
     Booker et al.  (1969)  found that 212Pb  injected into  two adult volunteers led to initial
appearance of the  label  in urine (4.4 percent of dose  in 24 hr),  then in both urine and feces
in  approximately equal  amounts.   By use of the stable  isotope 204Pb, Rab1now1tz et al.  (1973)
reported that  urinary and  fecal excretion of the  label  amounted  to 38 and  8  ug/day in adult
subjects, accounting for 76  and 16 percent, respectively,  of the  measured recovery. Fecal ex-
cretion was  thus approximately twice  that  of  all  the  remaining  modes of  excretion:   hair,
sweat, and nails (8 percent).
     Perhaps the most detailed study of lead excretion  in adult humans was done by Chamberlain
et al. (1978), who administered 203Pb by Injection, Inhalation,  and Ingestion.  After Injec-
tion or oral  intake, the amounts in urine  (Pb-U) and feces  (Pb-Fe,  endogenous fecal  lead) were
                                              10-32

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compared for the  two  administration routes.   Endogenous fecal  lead was  50 percent of  that  in
urine, or a 2:1 ratio of urinary to fecal lead.   (Increased transit time  was allowed for  fecal
lead to pass through the GI tract.)
     Based on  the  metabolic  balance and isotope excretion  data of Kehoe (1961a,b,c),  Rabino-
witz et  al.  (1976),  and Chamberlain et  al.  (1978),  as  well as on some  recalculations of the
Kehoe and  Rabinowitz  data  by Chamberlain et al. (1978),  short-term  lead excretion amounts  to
50-60 percent  of  the absorbed fraction, the balance  moving primarily to bone with  some  sub-
sequent  fraction  (approximately half)  of  this  stored amount eventually  being  excreted.  The
rapidly  excreted  fraction was  determined  by Chamberlain  et al. (1978)  to  have  an excretion
half-life  of about 19 days.   This value is consistent with the estimates of Rabinowitz et al.
(1976),  who  expressed  clearance  in terms of  mean-lives.   Mean-lives are  multiplied  by  In 2
(0.693)  to arrive at  half-lives.   The  similarity  of the blood 203Pb half-life  with  that  of
body  excretion noted by Chamberlain et  al.  (1978)  indicates a steady rate  of  clearance from
the body.
     The age dependency of lead excretion rates in  humans has not been  well studied;  all  of
the above  lead excretion data involved  only adults.   Table 10-3 combines available data from
adults  (Rabinowitz  et  al.,  1977;  Thompson,   1971;  Chamberlain  et  al.,  1978)   and  infants
(Ziegler et al., 1978)  for purposes of comparison.   Intake, urine, fecal, and endogenous fecal
lead  data  from two studies on adults  and  one  report on infants are used.  For consistency in
the  adult  data,  70  kg  is  used as an  average adult  weight, and a Pb-Fe:Pb-U ratio of 0.5  is
used.  Daily lead  intake, absorption, and excretion values  are  expressed  as ug/kg body weight.
For the  infant data, daily endogenous fecal lead excretion  is calculated  using the adult ratio
as  well  as  the  extrapolated value of  1.5  ug/kg.   The respiratory lead  intake  value  for the
infants  is an  upper value (0.2 ug/m3),  since Ziegler et al.  (1978) found air lead to be <0.2
ug/m3.   Compared  to the two  representative adult groups,  infants appear  to have a  lower total
excretion  rate, although the  excretion of endogenous  fecal  lead may be higher than  for adults.
      In  humans, the dependence of  lead excretion rate on level  of exposure has been studied in
some  detail  by Chamberlain  (1983), who used  data from the  published  reports  of King et al.
(1979),  Williams  et  al.  (1969),  Gross (1981), Devoto  and  Spinazzola (1973),   Azar  et al.
(1975),  and  Chamberlain et al. (1978).  Figure  10-6  reproduces Chamberlain's plots of urinary
excretion  rate for lead versus blood lead as provided in the  various studies.  Renal clearance
of  lead appears  to increase as  blood  lead increases  from 25 to  80  ug/dl, the highest blood
value reported.   Given  the earlier discussion concerning the  increased fractional  partitioning
of  blood  lead into plasma with increasing blood lead  burden (see Section 10.3.1), one would
anticipate an  increasing  renal excretion  rate for  lead over  a  broad  range  of blood  lead.
                                               10-33

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          TABLE 10-3.   DAILY LEAD EXCRETION AND RETENTION DATA FOR ADULTS AND INFANTS

Dietary Intake (|jg/kg)
Fraction of intake absorbed
Diet lead absorbed (ug/kg)
A1r lead absorbed ((jg/kg)
Total absorbed lead (ug/kg)
Urinary lead excreted (ug/kg)
Ratio: urinary/absorbed lead
Endogenous fecal lead (ng/kg)
Total excreted lead (ug/kg)
Ratio: total excreted/absorbed
lead
Fraction of Intake retained
Children3
10.76
0.46 (0.55)d
4.95 (5.92)
0.20
5.15 (6.12)
1.00
0.19 (0.16)
0.5 (1.56)f
1.50 (2.56)
0.29 (0.42)
0.34 (0.33)
Adult b
group A
3.63
0.15e
0.54
0.21
0.75
0.47
0.62 '
0.249
0.71
0.92
0.01
Adult
group B
3.86
0.15e
0.58
0.11
0.68
0.34
0.50
0.179
0.51
0.75
0.04
aZ1egler et al. (1978).
bRab1now1tz et al. (1977).
cThompson (1971) and estimates of Chamberlain et al.  (1978).
dEach of the values 1n parentheses 1n this column 1s corrected for endogenous fecal
 lead at extrapolated value from Zlegler et al.  (1978).
Corrected for endogenous fecal lead (Pb-Fe = 0.5 x Pb-U).
 Extrapolated value of 1.56 for endogenous fecal Pb.
gPb-Fe = 0.5 x Pb-U.
                                              10-34

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   0.3
ui
U

1
U
UJ
E
   0.2
    0.1
           iii\i
                             i
           10    20   30    40    50    60

                     BLOOD LEAD, w/100 g
70
80
      Figure 10-6. Renal clearance (ratio of urinary lead to
      blood lead) from (A) King et al., 1979; (B) Williams et
      al., 1969; (C) Gross, 1981; (D) DeVoto and Spinazzola,
      1973; (E) Azar et al..  1975;  (G) Chamberlain et al.,
      1978.

      Source: Chamberlain (1983).
                            10-35

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     Data in  Figure  10-6  indicate increased renal excretion of lead only.   How the correspon-
ding  biliary  excretion rate changes in the  face of increasing lead absorption  is  not known.
Hence,  the  overall  impact of increasing exposure on  total  body clearance of  the  toxicant is
difficult to assess.   In experimental animals, the relative partitioning of lead between renal
and  biliary excretion routes  has been shown  to be dose-  and  species-dependent (see Section
10.4.2).
     Lead accumulates in the human body with age, mainly in bone, up to approximately 60 years
of age,  when  a decrease occurs with changes  in intake as well as in bone mineral  metabolism.
Total  accumulation by 60  years of age ranges up to approximately 200 mg (see review by Barry,
1978),  although  occupational   exposure  can  raise this  figure  several-fold (Barry,  1975).
Holtzman  (1978)  has   reviewed the  available  literature on studies of  lead  retention in bone.
In normally exposed  humans a biological half-life of approximately 17 years has been calcula-
ted, while  data  for  uranium miners yield a range of 1320-7000 days (4-19 years).  Chamberlain
et al.  (1978)  have  estimated lifetime averaged  daily  retention at 9.5 ug using data of Barry
(1975).  Within shorter time frames, however, retention can vary considerably due to such fac-
tors as disruption of the  individual's equilibrium with changes in level of exposure, the dif-
ferences between  children  and  adults,  and, in  elderly subjects,  the presence of osteoporosis
(Gross and  Pfitzer,  1974).
     Lead labeling experiments,  such as those of Chamberlain et al.  (1978), indicate a short-
term  or initial  retention of approximately  40-50 percent of the  fraction  absorbed.   Much of
this  retention is by bone.   Determining  how  much lead resorption  from bone  will  eventually
occur  using  labeled  lead  is  difficult,   given  the  extremely  small  fraction  of  labeled to
unlabeled  lead (i.e.,  label dilution)  that would exist.   Based on  the  estimates  of Kehoe
(1961a,b,c),  the  Gross (1981) evaluation  of  the Kehoe studies, the RabinowHz  et  al.  (1976)
study,  the  Chamberlain  et  al.  (1978) assessments  of  the  aforementioned reports, and the data
of Thompson (1971),  one  can estimate that approximately 25 percent of the  lead absorbed daily
undergoes long-term bone storage.
     The above estimates relate either to adults or to long-term retention  over most of an in-
dividual's  lifetime.   Studies with children and developing animals (see Section 10.4.2) indi-
cate  lead   retention  in  childhood can  be  higher  than in  adulthood.   By  means of  metabolic
balance studies,  Ziegler et al.  (1978)  obtained a retention figure (as percentage of total in-
take) of 31.5  percent for  infants, while Alexander et al.  (1973) provided an estimate of 18
percent.  Corrected  retention data for  both total and  absorbed  intake for the pediatric sub-
jects of Ziegler  et  al.  (1978)  were shown  in  Table 10-3,  using the  two values for endogenous
fecal excretion as noted.   Barltrop  and Strehlow (1978) calculated a net negative  lead reten-
tion   in  their subjects,  but problems  in  comparing this  report with  the  others  were noted
                                              10-36

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earlier.   Given the increased retention of lead in children relative to  adults,  as  well  as the
greater rate of  lead  intake on a body-weight  basis,  increased uptake in soft  tissues  and/or
bone is indicated.
     Barry (1975, 1981) measured the lead content of soft and mineral  tissues  in a  small  group
of autopsy samples from children 16  years of age and under, and noted that average  soft-tissue
values were comparable  to  those in  female adults, while mean bone lead  values were lower than
in adults.  These  results  suggest that bone in  children  has less retention capacity for lead
than bone  in adults.   Note, however, that "dilution" of  bone lead will occur  because  of the
significant growth  rate of  the  skeletal  system through childhood.  Trotter  and Hixon  (1974)
studied changes in skeletal mass, density, and mineral content as a function of  age, and noted
that skeletal  mass  increases exponentially in children until  the  early teens,  increases less
up to  the early  20s,  levels off in adulthood, and then slowly decreases.   From  infancy  to  the
late teens, bone  mass  increases up to 40-fold.  Barry (1975) noted an approximate  doubling  in
bone lead  concentration over this interval, indicating that  total  skeletal lead had actually
increased  80-fold.  He  also obtained a mean total bone lead content of approximately 8  mg  for
children  up to 16 years old, compared with a value of approximately 18 mg estimated from both
the bone concentrations in his study of children at different ages and the bone  growth data of
Trotter and  Hixon (1974).    In a  later  study (Barry,  1981),  autopsy  samples  from  infants  and
children between 1 and 9 years old showed an approximately 3.5-fold increase in  mean bone con-
centrations across  the  three bone types  studied,  compared with a skeletal mass increase from
0-6 months to  3-13 years old of greater than 10-fold, for an estimated increase in total lead
of approximately  35-fold.   Five reports (see  Barry,  1981) noted age versus tissue lead rela-
tionships  indicating that  overall bone lead levels in  infants and children were less than in
adults, whereas four reports observed comparable  levels in children and adults.
     If one estimates  total daily retention of  lead  in the  infants studied by Ziegler et  al.
(1978), using  a  mean  body weight of approximately 10 kg  and  the  corrected retention rate  in
Table  10-3, one  obtains a  total daily  retention of approximately  40  pg.   By contrast,  the
total  reported or estimated skeletal lead accumulated between 2 and 14 years is 8-18 mg (vide
supra), which  averages  out  to a daily long-term  retention  of  2.0 to 4.5 ug/day  or 6-13 percent
of total  retention.   Lead retention may be  highest in infants up to about  2 years of age (the
subjects  of the  Ziegler et  al.  study),  then decreases in older children.  The mean retention
in the Alexander et al. (1973)  study  was 18 percent, about  half  that  seen by  Ziegler et al.
(1978).   This  difference may result  from  the greater  age range in the former  study.
     "Normal"  blood lead levels in  children either parallel  adult male levels  or are approxi-
mately 30 percent  greater  than  adult female  levels  (Chamberlain et  al., 1978),  indicating
(1) that  the  soft-tissue lead pool  in very young children  is  not greatly elevated and thus,

                                               10-37

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(2) that  there  is a  huge labile lead pool  in  bone that is still  kinetically  quite distinct
from soft-tissue  lead or (3) that in young children, blood lead is a much less  reliable indi-
cator of greatly elevated soft-tissue or labile bone lead than is the case with  adults.   Barry
(1981)  found  that soft-tissue lead levels were comparable in infants SI year old and children
1-5 and 6-9 years old.
     Given the  implications  of the above discussion--that retention of lead 1n  young children
is higher  than  in adults and  possibly older  children,  while at the same  time  their skeletal
system  is  less  effective for  long-term lead sequestration—the very young child is at greatly
elevated  risk to  a toxicologically "active" lead burden.  For further discussion, see Chapter
13.
     Rabinowitz   et  al.   (1976) examined  the  biokinetics of a stable  isotope of lead (20
-------
of Lloyd et  al.  (1975),  who observed 75 percent of the excreted lead eliminated through bili-
ary clearance.  Note that  the  latter researchers used carrier-free  label  while the other  in-
vestigators  used  injections with  carrier at  levels  of 3.0  mg Pb/kg.   In  mice,  Keller  and
Doherty (1980a) observed that  the  cumulative excretion rate  of  210Pb in urine was 25-50 per-
cent of that in feces.   In nonhuman primates, Cohen (1970)  observed that baboons excreted lead
at the rate  of  40 percent in  feces  and 60 percent in urine.   Pounds et al.  (1978) noted that
the rhesus monkey  lost 30  percent of lead by  renal  excretion and 70  percent  by fecal  excre-
tion.   This discrepancy may also reflect a carrier-dosing difference.
     The extent of  total  lead  excretion in  experimental animals  given labeled lead orally or
parenterally  varies,  in part  due  to the  time frames for post-exposure  observation.   In  the
adult  rat,  Morgan et  al.  (1977)  found that 62  percent of  injected 203Pb was  excreted by 6
days.   By  8 days,  66  percent  of  injected 203Pb  was  eliminated in the  adult  rats studied by
Momcilovic and  Kostial (1974), while the  210Pb excretion  data of Castellino  and Aloj  (1964)
for  the  adult  rat  showed 52 percent  excreted by 14 days.    Similar data were  obtained by
Klaassen and  Shoeman (1974).   Lloyd et al.  (1975)  found  that dogs excreted 52 percent of in-
jected lead  label  by 21 days,  83 percent by 1 year, and 87 percent by 2 years.  In adult mice
(Keller and  Doherty,  1980a),  62 percent of injected lead label was eliminated by 50 days.   In
nonhuman primates,  Pounds  et  al.  (1978) measured approximately  18 percent excretion in adult
rhesus monkeys by 4 days.
     Kinetic  studies of lead  elimination in experimental  animals  indicate  that excretion is
described  by two or more  components.   From the elimination  data of  Momcilovic  and Kostial
(1974), Morgan  et al.  (1977)  estimated that in the rat the excretion curve obeys a two-compo-
nent exponential  expression with half-lives of 21  and 280 hr.  In dogs,  Lloyd et al.   (1975)
found  that  excretion could be described by three components,  i.e., a  sum of exponentials with
half-lives of  12  days, 184 days, and 4951 days.  Keller and Doherty  (1980a) reported that the
half-life of whole-body clearance of injected  203Pb  consisted of an  initial  rapid and  a much
slower  terminal  component,  the latter  having a half-life  of 110  days in the  adult  mouse.
     The dependency  of excretion rate  on dose  level has been  investigated in  several studies.
Although Castellino  and Aloj  (1964)  saw  no  difference in  total excretion rate when label was
injected with  7 or 100 ug of carrier,  Klaassen and Shoeman (1974) did observe that the excre-
tion rate by biliary tract was dose-dependent at 0.1,  1.0, and 3.0 mg  Pb/kg (urine values were
not provided for  obtaining estimates of  total  excretion).   Momcilovic and Kostial (1974) ob-
served an increased  rate of excretion into urine over  the added carrier  range  of 0.1 to  2.0 ug
Pb/kg  with no  change  in  fecal  excretion.   In the report of  Aungst  et al.  (1981), excretion
rate  in  the rat did not change over the  injected lead dosing  range of 1.0 to  15.0  mg/kg.   Rat
urinary  excretion rates thus  seem  dose-dependent  over a narrow  range  less  than 7 ug, while

                                               10-39

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elimination  of  lead through biliary clearance is  dose-dependent  up to an exposure level of 3
mg/kg.
      Lead movement  from lactatlng animals to their offspring via milk constitutes both a route
of  excretion for the mother and a route of exposure for the young.  Investigations directed at
this  phenomenon have examined both prior-plus-ongoing maternal lead exposure during lactation
and the  effects of Immediate prior treatment.   Keller and Doherty (1980b) exposed two groups
of  female  rats  to 210Pb:   one group  for  105 days before mating; the second before and during
gestation and nursing.  During lactation, there was an overall loss of lead from the bodies of
the lactating  females  compared with controls, while  the  femur ash weights were Inversely re-
lated to level  of lead excretion, Indicating that such enhancement is related to bone mineral
metabolism.   Lead  transfer via milk was  approximately 3  percent  of maternal body burden, in-
creasing with  continued  lead exposure during  lactation.   Lorenzo  et  al.  (1977)  found that
blood lead  levels  1n nursing rabbits given  Injected  lead peaked rather rapidly (within 1 hr),
while milk  lead levels showed a continuous  increase  for about 8 days, at which point the con-
centration  of  lead was eightfold  higher  than in blood.  This observation indicates  that the
transfer of lead  to milk can  occur  against a  concentration gradient  1n blood.   Momc1lov1c"
(1978) and  Kostial and Momcilovic" (1974) observed that transfer of 203Pb  in the late stage of
lactation occurs  readily  in the rat, with  higher  overall  excretion of lead in nursing versus
control  females.   Furthermore,  the rate of  lead movement to milk appeared dose-dependent over
the added lead  carrier range of 0.2 to 2.0 ug.
      The comparative retention of lead 1n developing  versus adult animals has been investigat-
ed  in several  studies using rats, mice, and nonhuman primates.  Momcilovid and Kostial (1974)
compared the kinetics  of  lead  distribution in  suckling and adult  rats after  Injection of
203Pb.   Over an 8-day interval, 85 percent of the label was retained in the suckling rat, com-
pared with  34 percent in the adult.   Keller and Doherty (1980a) compared the levels of 210Pb
in  10-day-old mice  and  adults,  noting from the clearance half-lives (vide  supra)  that lead
retention was  greater 1n  the suckling animals  than  1n the adults.  In both  adult  and young
mice,  the  rate  of long-term retention was  governed  by the rate of release of lead from bone,
indicating  that in  the mouse,  skeletal  lead  retention in the  young is  greater  than in the
adult.   With  infant and  adult monkeys orally exposed to  210f>b,  Pounds et al.  (1978) observed
that  at  23 days the corresponding amounts of initial dose retained were 92.7 and 81.7 percent,
respectively.
      The studies of Rader et al.  (1981a,b) are of particular interest because they demonstrate
not  only that young experimental  animals continue to show greater retention of lead in tissue
when  exposure  occurs after weaning,  but also that  such  retention occurs 1n  terms  of either
uniform  exposure (Rader et al.,  1981a) or  uniform dosing  (Rader  et al., 1981b) when compared
with  adult  animals.   With uniform  exposure, 30-day-old  rats given  lead in  drinking water
                                              10-40

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showed significantly  higher lead levels 1n blood  and  higher percentages of dose  retained  1n
brain, femur, and kidney,  as well as higher Indices of  hematopoietlc Impairment (ALA in urine,
erythrocyte  porphyrln)  when compared  to  adult animals.   As a  percentage  of dose  retained,
levels of  lead  retained in the tissue of  the  young animals were approximately two- to three-
fold higher.   In part, this difference results  from a higher ingestlon rate  of lead.   However,
in the uniform  dosing study where a higher Ingestlon  rate was not the case,  an increased re-
tention of lead still prevailed, the amount of  lead in brain being  approximately  50 percent
higher in  young versus adult animals.  Comparison  of  values in terms of percent  retained  is
more meaningful  for  such  assessments,  because  the factor of changes In organ  mass  (see above)
is taken into  account.   Delayed excretion of  lead in the young animal may reflect  an Immature
excretory system or a tighter binding of lead  1n various body compartments.
10.5  INTERACTIONS OF LEAD WITH ESSENTIAL METALS AND OTHER FACTORS
     Deleterious agents, particularly  toxic  metals such as lead, do not express their toxico-
kinetic or toxlcological behavior in a physiological vacuum, but rather are affected by inter-
actions of the  agent with a variety of biochemical factors such as nutrients.   Growing recog-
nition  of  this phenomenon  and Its  Implications  for lead  toxiclty in humans  has  prompted a
number  of  studies,  many of them recent, that address both the scope and mechanistic nature of
such interactive behavior.
     Taken collectively,  the  diverse human and animal data described  in this section make 1t
clear that there  is heterogeneity 1n pediatrlc populations in terms of relative risk for lead
exposure and deleterious effects  depending  on nutritional  status.  Children  having multiple
nutrient deficiencies are at greater risk.

10.5.1  Human Studies
     In humans, the interactive behavior of lead and various nutritional factors is appropri-
ately viewed as particularly significant for children, since this age group 1s not only parti-
cularly sensitive to lead's effects, but also experiences the greatest flux in relative nutri-
ent status.  Such interactions occur against a backdrop of  rather widespread deficiencies in a
number  of  nutritional  components in children.  While such  deficiencies are more pronounced in
lower-income groups,  they exist in all  socioeconomic  strata.   Mahaffey and Michaelson (1980)
have summarized the three national nutritional status surveys carried out 1n the United States
for  Infants  and young children:  the  Preschool Nutrition Survey, the Ten State Nutrition Sur-
vey,  and  the  Health  Assessment and  Nutrition Evaluation  Survey  (HANES  I).   The most recent
body  of data of this  type  is the second National  Health  Assessment and Nutrition Evaluation
Survey  (NHANES  II)  study (Mahaffey et  al., 1979), although  the dietary Information from it  has
                                              10-41

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yet  to be reported.   In the  older  surveys,  iron deficiency was the  most  common nutritional
deficit  in children  under 2 years of age,  particularly  children from low-income groups.   Re-
duced  vitamin C  intake  was  noted in about one-third of the children, while sizable numbers of
them  had significantly  reduced  intakes  of  calcium.   Owen and  Lippman (1977)  reviewed  the
regional surveys of low-income groups within Hispanic, white, and black populations.   In these
groups,  iron  deficiency  was a common finding, and low intakes of calcium and vitamins A and C
were observed regularly.   Hambidge  (1977) concluded that  zinc  intake  in low-income groups is
generally inadequate relative to recommended daily allowances.
     Available data  from a  number of reports document the association of lead absorption with
suboptimal nutritional  status.   Mahaffey  et al.  (1976)  summarized  their studies showing that
children with blood lead  levels greater than 40 ng/dl had significantly (p <0.01) lower intake
of phosphorus and  calcium compared  with a  control  group,  while iron intake in the two groups
was  comparable.   This study  involved  children 1-4  years old  from an inner-city, low-income
population, with close matching for all  parameters  except the blood  lead  level.   Sorrell  et
al.  (1977), in their nutritional assessment of 1- to 4-year-old children with a range of blood
lead  levels,  observed that blood  lead  content was  inversely correlated with calcium intake,
while  children with  blood lead levels >60 ug/dl had significantly (p <0.001) lower intakes of
calcium and vitamin D.
     Rosen et al. (1980, 1981) found that children with elevated blood lead (33-120 ug/dl) had
significantly lower  serum concentrations of  the  vitamin D metabolite  1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
(1,25-(OH)2D) compared with age-matched controls (p <0.001), and showed a negative correlation
of serum 1,25-(OH)2D  with lead over the  range  of blood lead levels measured (see Chapter 12,
Section 12.5, for  further  discussion).    These  observations and  animal  data  (Barton et al.,
1978a;  see  Section  10.5.2)  may  suggest  an  increasingly  adverse  interactive  cycle  of
1,25-(OH)2D, lead, and calcium 1n which lead reduces biosynthesis of the vitamin D metabolite.
This  cycle  leads to reduced  induction  of calcium binding protein  (CaBP),  less  absorption of
calcium  from  the gut,  and  greater  uptake  of lead, thus  further reducing  metabolite levels.
Barton  et al.  (1978a)  Isolated two  mucosal  proteins  in rat  intestine,  one of  which bound
mainly  lead and  was  not vitamin D-st1mulated.  The  second  bound  mainly calcium and was under
vitamin control.  The  authors suggested direct site-binding competition between lead and cal-
cium 1n  these proteins.   Hunter (1978)  Investigated the possible Interactive role of seasonal
vitamin D biosynthesis 1n adults and children; lead poisoning occurs more often 1n summer than
in other  seasons  (see  Hunter, 1977, for review).  Seasonality  accounts  for 16 percent of ex-
plained variance of  blood lead levels in black children, 12 percent 1n Hispanic children,  and
4 percent in  white  children.   More  recently,  it has been documented that there 1s no seasonal
variation in circulating  levels  of  1,25-(OH)2D, the metabolite that affects the rate of lead
                                              10-42

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absorption from the GI  tract  (Chesney et al., 1981).   These  results suggest that seasonality
1s related to changes  in exposure.
     Johnson and   Tenuta (1979) determined   that calcium  intake  was  negatively  correlated
(r = -0.327, p  <0.05)  with blood  lead in 43 children aged  1-6 years.   The high  lead  group
consumed  less  zinc than  children  with lower blood  levels.   Yip et al.  (1981) found  that  43
children with elevated  blood  lead  (>30 ug/dl) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) (>35 (jg/dl)
had an  increased  prevalence of  iron  deficiency  as these two parameters  increased.   Children
classed  in  CDC categories  Ib  and  II  had a  79  percent iron  deficiency rate, while  those  in
Class III  were all  iron  deficient.    Chisolm  (1981)  demonstrated  an  inverse  relationship
between chelatable iron and chelatable body lead levels as indexed by urinary ALA  levels  in 66
children with elevated blood lead.   Watson et al. (1980) reported that adult subjects  who were
Iron deficient  (determined  from  serum ferritin measurement) showed a lead absorption  rate 2-3
times greater than  subjects who were iron replete.   In a group of 13 children, Markowitz and
Rosen (1981) reported  that  the mean serum zinc levels in children with plumbism were  signifi-
cantly  below the  values  seen  in  normal  children.   Chelation therapy reduced the  mean  level
even further.   Chisolm  (1981) reported an  Inverse relationship between ALA  in urine (ALA-U)
and the  amount  of chelatable  or systemically active  zinc in  66 children challenged with EDTA
and having blood lead levels ranging from 45 to 50 pg/dl.   These two studies suggest that zinc
status  1s probably  as  Important an interactive modifier of lead toxicity as is either calcium
or iron.
     The  role of  nutrients  1n lead absorption has been reported in several metabolic balance
studies  for  both  adults and children.  Zlegler et al. (1978), 1n their investigations of lead
absorption  and  retention in  Infants, observed  that  lead  retention  was  inversely correlated
with calcium intake, expressed either as a percentage of total Intake (r = -0.284, p <0.01) or
on a weight basis (r = -0.279, p <0.01).   Interestingly, the calcium intake range  measured was
within the range considered adequate for Infants and toddlers by the National Research Council
(National Academy  of  Sciences, National  Research Council,  1974).  These data also support the
premise  that severe deficiency need not be  present  for an interactive relationship to occur.
Using adults, Heard and  Chamberlain (1982) monitored the uptake of 203Pb from the gut in eight
subjects  as a function of the  amounts of dietary calcium and phosphorus.   Without supplementa-
tion of these  minerals  1n fasting  subjects, the label  absorption  rate  was approximately 60
percent,  compared  to  10 percent with 200 mg  calcium plus 140 mg phosphorus, the amounts pres-
ent  1n  an average meal.  Calcium  alone reduced  uptake  by a factor of 1.3 and phosphorus alone
by 1.2;  both together yielded  a  reduction factor of 6.  This work suggests that Insoluble cal-
cium phosphate is  formed and co-precipitates any lead present.   This Interpretation is sup-
ported  by animal data  (see Section 10.5.2).

                                              10-43

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10.5.2  Animal Studies
     Reports  of  lead-nutrient  Interactions  1n experimental  animals  have generally described
such relationships  In terms of a single  nutrient,  using relative absorption or tissue reten-
tion in the animal to Index the effect.  Most of the recent data are concerned with the impact
of  dietary  levels  of calcium,  iron, phosphorus,  and  vitamin D.   Furthermore, some investiga-
tors have attempted  to elucidate  the  site(s)  of interaction  as well  as   the mecham'sm(s)
governing  the interactions.   Lead's interactions  involve the effect of  the  nutrient  on lead
uptake, as well as lead's effect on nutrients.  The focus of this discussion is on the former.
These interaction studies are tabulated in Table 10-4.
10.5.2.1   Interactions  of  Lead with Calcium.   The early  report  of Sobel  et  al.  (1940) noted
that variation of  dietary calcium  and other nutrients affected the uptake of lead by bone and
blood  in  animals.   Subsequent studies  by Mahaffey-Six and Goyer (1970) in the rat have demon-
strated  that a considerable  reduction  in dietary calcium was necessary  (from  0.7 percent to
0.1 percent),  at  which level blood lead  was  increased fourfold, kidney lead content was ele-
vated  23-fold,  and  relative  toxidty  (Mahaffey  et al.,  1973) was  increased.   The changes in
calcium necessary  to alter lead's  effects 1n  the  rat appear to be greater than those seen by
Zlegler et al. (1978) in young  children, which indicates a species difference in terms of sen-
sitivity  to  basic  dietary  differences  as well  as  to  levels  of all  interactive nutrients.
These  observations  in  the  rat have been confirmed  by Kostial et  al.  (1971),  Quarterman and
Morrison  (1975), Barltrop  and Khoo (1975), and  Barton et al. (1978a).   The inverse relation-
ship between dietary calcium and  lead  uptake  has also  been noted  in  the pig  (Hsu  et al.,
1975), horse  (Wllloughby  et al., 1972), lamb (Morrison et al., 1977), and domestic fowl (Berg
et  al., 1980).
     The  mechanism(s)  governing lead's interaction with calcium operate  at  both the gut wall
and within  body  compartments.  Barton  et al.  (1978a), using everted duodenal sac preparations
in  the  rat,  reported the following:  (1) Interactions at the gut wall require the presence of
intubated  calcium  to  affect  lead  label  absorption  (pre-existing  calcium deficiency  in  the
animal  and  no added  calcium  had no effect on lead transport);  (2) calcium-deficient  animals
show  increased retention  of  lead  rather than  absorption  (confirmed  by Quarterman  et al.,
1973);  and  (3) lead  transport may be mediated by  two mucosal proteins, one of which has high
molecular weight and a  high proportion of bound lead, and is affected in extent of lead bind-
ing with  changes  in lead uptake.   The  second protein binds mainly calcium  and  1s vitamin D-
dependent.
     Smith et al.  (1978)  found that lead  is  taken  up at a  different site in the duodenum of
rats than is  calcium,  but absorption does occur at the site of phosphate uptake, suggesting a
complex interaction of phosphorus, calcium, and lead.   This observation  is consistent with the
data of  Barltrop  and  Khoo  (1975) for  rats and  the data of Heard and Chamberlain (1982)  for
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                        TABLE 10-4.  EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL FACTORS ON LEAD UPTAKE IN ANIMALS
 Factor
Species
Index of effect
                                                                 Interactive effect
Reference
o
I

en
Calcium




Calcium



Calcium



Calcium



Calcium


Iron



Iron
Iron
  Rat         Lead in tissues and
                effect severity at
                low levels of dietary
                calcium

  Pig         Lead in tissues at
                low levels of
                dietary calcium

  Horse       Lead in tissues at
                low levels of
                dietary calcium

  Lamb        Lead in tissues at
                low levels of
                dietary calcium

  Rat         Lead retention
  Rat         Tissue levels and
                relative toxicity
                of lead

  Rat         Lead absorption in
                everted duodenal
                sac preparation
  Mouse       Lead retention
                      Low dietary calcium (0.13!)
                        increases lead absorption
                        and severity of effects
                      Increased absorption of
                        lead with low dietary
                        calcium

                      Increased absorption of
                        lead with low dietary
                        calcium

                      Increased absorption of
                        lead with low dietary
                        calcium

                      Retention increased in
                        calcium deficiency

                      Iron deficiency increases
                        lead absorption and
                        toxicity

                      Reduction in  intubated
                        iron increases lead
                        absorption;  increased
                        levels decrease lead
                        uptake

                      Iron deficiency has no
                        effect on lead
                        retention
                                                                                            Mahaffey-Six and Goyer
                                                                                              (1970);  Mahaffey et  al.
                                                                                              (1973)
                                                                                            Hsu  et  al.  (1975)
                                                                                           Willoughby et  al.  (1972)
                                                                                           Morrison  et  al.  (1977)
                                                                                            Barton  et  al.  (1978a)
                                                                                           Mahaffey-Six  and Goyer
                                                                                              (1972)
                                                                                           Barton  et  al.  (1978b)
                                                                                           Hamilton  (1978)

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                                                   TABLE 10-4.  (continued)
Factor
Iron
Species
Rat
Index of effect
In utero or milk
Interactive effect
Iron deficiency increases
Reference
Cerklewski (1980)
o
I

CTi
Phosphorus


Phosphorus




Phosphorus




Vitamin D



Vitamin D




Lipid




Protein
Rat


Rat




Rat




Rat



Rat




Rat




Rat
                                      transfer of lead in
                                      pregnant or lactating
                                      rats

                                    Lead uptake in tissues
                                    Lead retention
                                    Lead retention
                                    Lead absorption
                                      using everted sac
                                      techniques

                                    Lead absorption
                                      using everted sac
                                      techniques
                                    Lead absorption
                                    Lead uptake by tissues
  both in utero and milk
  transfer of lead to
  sucklings

Reduced phosphorus increased
  203Pb uptake 2.7-fold

Low dietary phosphorus
  enhances lead retention; no
  effect on lead resorption
  in bone

Low dietary phosphorus
  enhances both lead
  retention and deposition
  in bone

Increasing vitamin D
  increases intubated
  lead absorption

Both low and excess
  levels of vitamin D
  increase lead uptake
  by affecting motility

Increases in lipid (corn
  oil) content up to
  40% enhance lead
  absorption

Both low and high protein
  in diet increase lead
  absorption
Barltrop and Khoo (1975)
Quarterman and Morrison
  (1975)
Barton and Conrad (1981)
Smith et al. (1978)
Barton et al. (1980)
Barltrop and Khoo (1975)
Barltrop and Khoo (1975)

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                                                   TABLE 10-4.  (continued)
  Factor
Species
  Index of effect
     Interactive effect
      Reference
 Protein
Protein
Zinc



Zinc




Zinc


Copper
 Rat
 Rat
Milk components    Rat
Milk components    Rat
 Rat



 Rat




 Rat


 Rat
Body lead retention
Tissue levels of
  lead
             Lead absorption
             Lead absorption
Lead absorption
Lead transfer jn
  utero and in milk
  during lactation
Tissue retention
Lead absorption
Low dietary protein either
  reduces or does not affect
  retention in various
  tissues

Casein in diet increases
  lead uptake compared to
  soybean meal

Lactose-hydrolyzed milk
  does not increase lead
  absorption, but ordinary
  milk does

Lactose in diet enhances
  lead absorption compared
  to glucose

Low zinc in diets
  increases lead absorption
Low-zinc diet of mother
  increases lead transfer
  in utero and in maternal
  mTlTE

Low zinc diet enhances
  brain Pb levels

Low copper in diet
  increases lead
  absorption
Quarterman et al. (1978b)
Anders et al. (1982)
                                                        Bell and Spickett (1981)
                                                        Bushnell  and DeLuca (1981)
Cerklewski and Forbes
  (1976); El-Gazzar et al.
  (1978)

Cerklewski (1979)
Bushnell and Levin (1983)
Klauder et al.  (1973);
Klauder and Petering (1975)

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humans. Thus,  the combined  action  of the  two mineral  nutrients  is greater than the  sum  of
their individual effects.
     Mykkanen  and  Wassermann (1981) observed  that  lead  uptake in the intestine of  the chick
occurs in two phases:  a rapid uptake (within 5 min) followed by a rate-limiting slow transfer
of  lead  into blood.   Conrad and Barton  (1978)  have  observed a similar process  in  the  rat.
Hence, either  a saturation  process  occurs  (i.e.,  carrier-mediated transport)  or  lead  simply
precipitates in the lumen.   In the former case, calcium interacts to saturate the carrier pro-
teins  as  Isolated by  Barton et al.  (1978a) or may  precipitate lead in the  lumen by initial
formation of calcium phosphate.
     Quarterman et  al.  (1978a)  observed  that calcium supplementation of the diet above  normal
also resulted In increased body retention of lead in the rat.  Because both deficiency (Barton
et  al.,  1978a)  and excess  in  calcium intake enhance retention, two  sites of influence  on
retention  are  suggested.   Goyer (1978) has  suggested  that body retention of  lead  in calcium
deficiency,  I.e.,  reduced  excretion  rate, may result  from  renal  Impairment, while Quarterman
et al. (1978a) suggest that excess calcium suppresses calcium resorption from bone, hence also
reducing lead release.
10.5.2.2   Interactions  of  Lead  with  Iron.   Mahaffey-S1x and Goyer (1972)  reported that Iron-
deficient  rats  had  increased tissue  levels  of lead and manifested  greater  toxicity compared
with control animals.   This  uptake change was seen  with but minor alterations in hematocrit,
indicating  a primary change  1n lead  absorption  over  the  time of the study.   Barton  et al.
(1978b)  found  that dietary  restriction of  iron,  using 210Pb  and everted  sac  preparations  in
the  rat,  led to enhanced lead  absorption, whereas  iron  loading suppressed the extent of lead
uptake, using  normal  intake  levels of iron.   This  suppression suggests  receptor-binding com-
petition at a  common site, consistent with the isolation by these workers of two iron-binding
mucosa fractions.  While the Iron level of diet affects lead absorption,  the effect of changes
1n  lead content in the gut on Iron absorption 1s not clear.  Barton et al.  (1978b) and Dobbins
et  al.  (1978) observed  no effect of  lead  1n the  gut  on  iron absorption  in  the rat, while
Flanagan et al. (1979) reported that lead reduced iron absorption in mice.
     In the mouse,  Hamilton  (1978) found that body  retention  of 203Pb was unaffected by iron
deffciency,  using  intraperitoneal  administration of the label, while gastric  Intubation did
lead to Increased  retention.   Animals with adequate Iron  showed no changes in lead  retention
at  intubation  levels  of 0.01 to 10 nM.  Cerklewskl  (1980) observed that lead transfer both jhi
utero and in milk to nursing rats was enhanced compared with controls when dams were  maintain-
ed from gestation through lactation on low-Iron diets.
10.5.2.3   Lead  Interactions with Phosphate.    The  early  studies of Shelling  (1932),  Grant  et
al.  (1938), and Sobel et al.  (1940) documented that  dietary phosphate Influenced the  extent of
lead toxlcity and tissue retention of lead 1n animals.   Low levels of phosphate enhanced these
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parameters, while excess Intake retarded the effects.   More recently,  Barltrop and Khoo (1975)
reported that reduced  phosphate  increased the uptake of 203Pb approximately 2.7-fold compared
with controls.  Quarterman  and Morrison (1975) found that low dietary phosphate enhanced lead
retention in rats but had no effect on skeletal lead mobilization,  nor was injected lead label
affected by  such  restriction.  In a related  study, Quarterman  et  al. (1978a) found that dou-
bling  the  nutrient over normal  levels  resulted in lowering  lead  absorption  by approximately
half.  Barton and Conrad (1981)  found that reduced dietary phosphorus increased the retention
of  labeled  lead  and deposition in bone, in contrast to the results of Quarterman and Morrison
(1975).  Increasing the  intraluminal  level  of phosphorus reduced lead absorption, possibly by
increasing  Intraluminal  precipitation of lead as the mixed  lead/calcium  phosphate.   Smith et
al.  (1978)  reported that  lead uptake  occurs at the same site as  phosphate,  suggesting that
lead absorption may be more related to phosphate than calcium transport.
10.5.2.4   Interactions of  Lead with Vitamin  D.   Several studies had  earlier  indicated that a
positive  relationship  might  exist between  dietary vitamin D  and lead   uptake,  resulting in
either greater  manifestations of lead  toxicity  or  a greater extent  of lead  uptake (Sobel et
al., 1938, 1940).  Using the everted sac technique and testing with 210Pb, Smith et al. (1978)
observed  that increasing levels  of intubated vitamin D in the rat resulted  in increased ab-
sorption of the  label, with uptake occurring at the distal end of the rat duodenum, the site
of  phosphorus uptake and greatest stimulation by the vitamin.  Barton et  al. (1980) used 21ffPb
to  monitor  lead  absorption  in  the  rat under  conditions  of  normal, deficient,  and excess
amounts  of  dietary vitamin D.   Lead absorption  is increased with either  low or excess vitamin
D.   This increased absorption apparently occurs  as  a result  of  increased retention time of
fecal  mass  containing  the lead due to  alteration of intestinal motility rather than as a re-
sult  of direct  enhancement of mucosal  uptake rate.  Hart and Smith (1981)  reported that vita-
min D  repletion  of diet enhanced lead  absorption (210Pb)  in  the rat,  while also enhancing
femur  and  kidney  lead  uptake when the label  was  injected.
10.5.2.5   Interactions of Lead with Lipids.   Barltrop  and  Khoo (1975) observed that varying
the lipid  (corn oil)  content of  rat  diet from  5 up  to 40 percent resulted  in an increase of
lead  in blood 13.6-fold higher  than the normal  level.  Concomitant increases were observed in
lead  levels  in  kidney,  femur,  and  carcass.  Reduction of  dietary lipid below the 5 percent
control  figure did not affect  the  lead-absorption rate.  As  an  extension  of this earlier work,
Barltrop  (1982)  has noted  that  the  chemical composition of  the lipid is a significant  factor
in affecting lead absorption.  Study  of triglycerides  of  saturated and unsaturated  fatty acids
showed that polyunsaturated trilinolein  increased  lead absorption by 80  percent  in  rats,  when
given as 5- or 10-percent  loadings  in  diet, compared  with  monounsaturated triolein or  any of
the saturates in  the series tricaproin  to tristearin.
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10.5.2.6   Lead  Interaction with Protein.   Quarter-man et  al.  (1978b) have drawn  attention  to
one of  the  inherent difficulties  of measuring lead-protein  interactions,  i.e.,  the effect  of
protein on both growth and the toxicokinetic parameters of lead.   Der et al.  (1974)  found that
reduction  of  dietary protein,  from 20 to 4 percent,  led to increased uptake of lead  in rat
tissues, but the approximately sixfold reduction in body weight over the interval  of the study
makes  it  difficult to draw any firm  conclusions.   Barltrop and Khoo (1975)  found  that 203Pb
uptake  by  rat  tissue could be enhanced with either suboptimal  or excess levels  of  protein  in
diet.  Quarterman et al.  (1978b) reported that retention of labeled lead in rats  maintained  on
a synthetic diet  containing  approximately 7 percent protein was  either unaffected  or reduced
compared with controls, depending on tissues taken for study.
     Not  only  levels of  protein  but also the type of protein appears to affect tissue lead
levels.   Anders et  al.  (1982)  found  that  rats  maintained  on  either  of  two synthetic diets
varying  only  by  having   casein  or soybean meal  as the  protein  source  showed  significantly
higher  lead levels  in the casein group.
10.5.2.7   Interactions of Lead with Milk Components.   For many  years,  milk was recommended  as
a counteractant for  lead poisoning among lead workers (Stephens and Waldron,  1975).  More recen
t data, however, pose a mixed picture.  Kello and Kostial (1973) found that rats  maintained  on
milk  diets absorbed a  greater  amount of  203Pb  than those fed  commercial  rat chow.   This
phenomenon was  ascribed  to  relatively lower levels of certain nutrients in milk  compared with
the  rat  chow.   These observations were  confirmed by  Bell and  Spickett  (1981),  who  also
observed  that  lactose-hydrolyzed  milk was less effective  than  the  ordinary  form in promoting
lead  absorption,  suggesting  that lactose may be  the enhancing  agent.  Bushnell and  DeLuca
(1981)  demonstrated  that lactose significantly increased 210Pb absorption and tissue retention
by  weanling  rats when given  in  high  doses  by intubation.  However, lactose  levels  close  to
usual  dietary  content actually  have an  inhibiting effect  on  lead absorption  (Bushnell  and
DeLuca,  1983).   In  human  studies,  moreover, milk  consumption  is  inversely  related  to blood
lead  levels, suggesting  a net protective effect (Johnson and Tenuta, 1979; Brunekreef et al.,
1983).
10.5.2.8  Lead Interactions with Zinc and Copper.   The studies of Cerklewski  and  Forbes (1976)
and  El-Gazzar  et al.  (1978)  documented that zinc-deficient diets  promote lead  absorption  in
the rat,  while  repletion with zinc reduces lead uptake.   The interaction continues  within the
body,  particularly  with  respect  to ALA-D activity (see  Chapter 12, Section  12.3.1.2).   In a
study  of  zinc-lead  interactions  in  female  rats during  gestation and  lactation,  Cerklewski
(1979)  observed  that zinc-deficient diets resulted in more transfer of  lead  through  milk  to
the pups  as well  as reduced  litter body  weights.   Bushnell  and Levin  (1983)  have  shown that
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rats  fed  a 1ow-z1nc  diet  (2.0 ppm) containing  lead at  levels  of 10  or 100 ppm had  signi-
ficantly  higher  retention  of  lead  1n brain and  calvarium  compared to those fed a  diet  with
20 ppm zinc.  Victery and coworkers  (1981) evaluated the acute effects of lead on the behavior
of renal and plasma zinc in the dog.  They found that lead enhanced urinary zinc excretion and
was related to  both increased ultrafllterable plasma zinc  and  a change in renal tubular  zinc
transport.
     Klauder et  al.  (1973) reported that low dietary copper  enhanced lead absorption in  rats
fed a high-lead diet (5000 ppm).   These observations  were confirmed by  Klauder and Petering
(1975)  at  a level  of 500  ppm  lead  1n  diet.   The same  researchers  subsequently observed  that
reduced  copper  enhanced the  hematological  effects  of  lead (Klauder  and  Petering,  1977), and
that  both  copper  and  iron  deficiencies must  be corrected  to  restore  hemoglobin  levels  to
normal.


10.6   INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LEAD EXPOSURE, EXPOSURE INDICATORS, AND TISSUE LEAD BURDENS
      Information presented so far in this chapter sets forth the quantitative and qualitative
aspects  of lead toxicokinetics, including the compartmental  modeling of lead distribution Ui
vivo,  and leads up to the critical  issue of the various  interrelationships  of lead toxico-
kinetics  to lead exposure, toxicant levels 1n indicators of such exposure, and exposure-target
tissue burdens of  lead.
      Chapter  11 (Sections  11.4,  11.5, 11.6) discusses the various experimental and epidemi-
ological  studies relating  the  relative impact of various routes of  lead exposure on blood lead
levels 1n  human  subjects,  and  includes a description of mathematical  models for  such relation-
ships.   In these  sections, the basic  question is:   what  1s  the mathematical  relationship of
lead  in air,  food, water,  etc.,  to lead 1n blood?  This question  is descriptive and does not
address the biological  basis  of  the observed  relationships.   Nor does  it consider the impli-
cations for adverse health risks in the sequence leading  from  external  lead exposure to lead
1n  some physiological indicator to  lead  in  target tissues.
      For purposes  of  discussion,  this  section separately  considers  (1)  the temporal character-
istics of physiological indicators of lead  exposure,  (2) the biological aspects of the  rela-
tionship of external exposure  to internal  indicators of  exposure,  and  (3) Internal  indicator-
tissue lead relationships,  Including  both  steady-state  lead exposure  and  abrupt changes in
lead  exposure.   The relationship of internal  indicators  of body lead,  such as blood lead, to
biological indicators such as EP or ALA-U  is discussed  1n Chapter  13.
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10.6.1  Temporal Characteristics of Internal Indicators of Lead Exposure
     The  biological  half-life  for blood lead  or  the nonretained  fraction  of body  lead is
generally  assumed  to be rather short,  although  it  in fact depends  upon  the  mobile lead body
burden  (O'Flaherty et al.,  1982;  also  see  Sections 10.3 and  10.4).   Nevertheless,  a  given
blood  or  urine  lead value  reflects  rather recent  exposure  compared  to tooth or  bone lead
values.   In cases  where  lead exposure  can  be  reliably  assumed to have  occurred  at  a  given
level, a  blood lead value is more useful than in cases where some intermittent, high level of
exposure  may have  occurred.  The  former most often  occurs with  occupational  exposure,  while
the  latter is of particular relevance to young children.
     Reports  have  appeared dealing with the stability  of  individuals'  blood lead levels over
time  under conditions of  ambient  exposure.    David  et al. (1982) followed  29  children, 4-12
years  old, with  monthly measurements  and found the stability to be of a relatively high order
(Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.7-0.8).   Rabinowitz et al. (1984) sampled more than 200
infants  semi annually  from  birth  to 2 years of age and found average changes of about 4 pg/dl.
Only  40 percent  of these children  tended to  remain in  their  previous  blood  lead category
(quartile).   Within this age range,  however,  there  was a trend  toward  less  fluctuation with
increasing age of  the young child.  Delves et  al.  (1984)  followed 21 adults over 7-11 months
with multiple blood lead measurements  and found little fluctuation over time (about 1 ug/dl or
less,  on  average).   Hence, there appears to be  Increasing stability with relatively constant
exposure as the individual Increases in age.
     Accessible mineralizing  tissue,  such as shed teeth,  extend  the time frame for assessing
lead exposure  from months  to years (Section 10.3),  since teeth accumulate lead up to the time
of  shedding or extraction.   Levels of  lead  in  teeth increase with age in proportion to expo-
sure (Steenhout and Pourtois, 1981).   Furthermore, tooth lead levels are correlated with blood
lead levels in humans (Shapiro et al., 1978) and animals (Kaplan et al., 1980).   The technique
of Fremlln and Edmonds (1980), employing mlcroautoradlography of irradiated teeth, permits the
identification of  dentine zones high in  lead  content, thus allowing  the disclosure  of past
periods of abrupt  increases in lead Intake.
     While levels  of lead  1n shed teeth are more valuable than blood lead levels in assessing
exposure at more remote time points,  such information is retrospective in nature and would not
be of  use  in monitoring current exposure.   In  this  case,  serial blood lead measurements must
be  employed.   With the  development  of  methodology  for j_n situ measurement of  tooth  lead in
children (described in  Chapter  9), serial ijn  situ  tooth analysis in tandem with serial  blood
lead determination  would provide comparative data for determining both time-concordant blood/
tooth lead  relationships as well  as which measure is the better indicator of ongoing exposure.
Given the  limitations  of an indicator such  as  blood lead in reflecting lead uptake in target
organs,  as discussed below,  the rate of  accumulation  of  lead in teeth  measured j_n situ may
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well be a better Index of ongoing tissue lead uptake.   This aspect merits further study,  espe-
cially since Shapiro  et  al.  (1978) were able  to  demonstrate the feasibility of using |n situ
tooth lead analysis 1n a large group of children screened for lead exposure.

10.6.2  Biological Aspects of External Exposure/Internal Indicator Relationships
     Information provided  1n  Chapter 11 as well as the critiques of Hammond et al.  (1981) and
Brunekreef  (1984)  Indicate that  the relationship of  lead levels 1n air, food,  and  water to
lead  levels 1n  blood 1s  curvilinear,  with the  result that as  "baseline"  blood  lead  rises
(I.e., as  one  moves up the curve), the relative change 1n the dependent variable, blood lead,
per unit  change  of lead 1n some  Intake  medium (such  as air) becomes smaller.   Conversely, as
one proceeds  down  the  curve  with  reduction  1n "baseline" lead,  the corresponding change 1n
blood  lead becomes larger.   One assumption 1n this "single medium" approach 1s that the base-
line  1s  not Integrally related to  the  level  of lead  1n the particular  medium being studied.
This  assumption  1s not necessarily appropriate for air versus  food lead, nor, 1n the case of
young  children,  for air lead versus  total  oral  Intake of the element.   However, 1t should be
noted  that Hammond et al. (1981)  assigned  virtually  all  of the  body compartment lead to the
blood,  giving  blood  lead  levels  1n  their  modeling scheme  that were  too  high.   The authors
recognized this and later offered  a qualification (Hammond et al., 1982).
     Hammond et  al.  (1981)  have also noted that  the  shape of the blood lead curves seen in
human  subjects 1s  similar to  that discernible 1n certain experimental animal  studies with
dogs,  rats, and  rabbits (Azar  et  al.,  1973;  Prpld-Majic* et al.,  1973).  Similarly, Klmmel et
al.  (1980), after exposing adult  female rats  to lead at four levels 1n  drinking water for 6-7
weeks,  found  values of blood lead that  showed a curvilinear relationship to  the dose levels.
Over  the dosing  range of  5 to  250 ppm 1n water, the blood  lead  range was 8.5  to 31 ug/dl.  In
a  related study  (Grant et al.,  1980) rats were exposed to  lead JUi utero, through weaning, and
up to 9 months of  age  at the dosing range used 1n the Klmmel et al. study  (0.5 to 250 ppm 1n
the dams'  drinking water until  weaning  of pups, then the  same levels 1n the weanlings' drink-
Ing water).  These animals showed a blood lead range of 5  to 67  ug/dl.   One  may assume that 1n
all  of the above studies the  lead  1n  the various dosing  groups  was  near or at  equilibrium
within the various body  compartments.
      The  biological basis  of  the curvilinear  relationship  of blood lead  to lead Intake, across
a  broad range of  blood  lead  values,  may result from a  number of factors.  In  lead workers, as
a  specific case,  Increasing  workplace  air  lead level  1s associated with an  Increased particle
aggregation rate leading to  a  lowering of  the effective  fraction of respirable,  submicrometer
particles, as suggested  by Chamberlain  (1983).   In studies  with human  volunteers,  there
appears to be no  change  1n  respiratory absorption  rate at  lung lead burdens  up to  450 ug
 (Chamberlain et  al.,  1978).   It was noted  earlier  that oral  lead intake up  to  400 ug in  adults
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1s associated  with  unaltered absorption rate.  However, animal data relevant to this question
Indicate that  dietary  levels between 10 and  100 ppm  lead  are associated with a decreased ab-
sorption rate  (Bushnell  and DeLuca,  1983).   If these  data were applied directly to humans, a
daily intake rate of 20-200 mg lead would be required to produce a similar decrease.
     The curvilinear blood lead/diet lead relationship may or may not be Independent of GI ab-
sorption rate.   The  experimental  animal studies of Prpic-Majic et al.  (1973) indicated a cur-
vilinear relationship  of  blood lead  to dose of lead when the toxicant was administered by in-
jection to rabbits.   On the other hand, injection of higher doses into rats does show a linear
relationship (Aungst et al., 1981).
     The data of DeSilva (1981), Manton and Malloy (1983),  and Manton and Cook (1984) all sug-
gest that  the  increasingly greater fraction of lead  in plasma as blood lead increases may be
significant (see Section 10.3.1).   This Increase of lead in plasma would Indicate a relatively
greater movement of lead  from plasma  to  tissues  and  a higher excretion  rate,  both of which
serve to modulate the  rate of rise of  the whole  blood lead with increasing circulating lead.
These results  are consistent  with the report  of  Chamberlain (1983)  showing  an apparent in-
creased urinary  excretion  rate of lead with  rising blood  lead.   They are also 1n accord with
the observations that tissue lead burdens show a better proportionality to exposure level than
does blood lead burden (see Section 10.3.1).   Since  an Increased movement of  plasma  lead to
tissues with increasing blood lead burden would also include deposition in bone, the curvilin-
ear relationship of  chelatable lead  to blood lead  may also be influenced by the plasma/blood
relationship.

10.6.3  Internal Indicator/Tissue Lead Relationships
     In  living human  subjects,  to determine tissue  lead  burdens  directly (or  relate these
levels to  adverse effects associated with target tissue)  as a function of lead Intake is not
possible.   Instead,  measurement of lead in an  accessible  indicator such as blood, along with
determination of some biological indicator of impairment (e.g., ALA-U or EP), is used.
     Evidence  continues  to accumulate  in both the clinical and experimental animal literature
that the use of blood lead as an indicator can have limitations in reflecting both the amounts
of lead  1n target tissues and the temporal  changes in tissue lead with  changes in exposure.
Perhaps the  best example of the problem  Is  the relationship of blood lead to chelatable lead
(see Section 10.3.3).   Currently,  measurement of the plumburesis associated with challenge by
a single dose of a chelating agent such as CaNa2EDTA 1s considered the best measure of the mo-
bile,  potentially  toxic fraction  of  body  lead in children and adults  (Vitale et al., 1975;
Wedeen et al.,  1975; Chlsolm et al.,  1976; U.S.  Centers for Disease Control, 1978; Chlsolm and
Barltrop, 1979; Hansen et al., 1981).

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     Chlsolm et al.  (1976)  have  documented that the relationship  of  blood lead to  chelatable
lead 1s curvilinear,  such  that a given Incremental Increase  1n  blood lead is associated with
an increasingly larger  Increment  of mobllizable lead.   The problems associated with this cur-
vilinear relationship in exposure  assessment are typified by the recent reports of  Saenger et
al. (1982)  and  PiomelH  et al.  (1984) concerning children and Hansen et al.  (1981)  concerning
adult  lead workers.   Saenger et al.  (1982)  noted that  significant  percentages of  children
having mild to  moderate lead exposure, as discernible  by  blood  lead and EP measurements,  had
urinary outputs of lead upon challenge with CaNa2EDTA that qualified them for chelatlon thera-
py under CDC  guidelines.   Similar data were obtained for 210 children evaluated 1n  four medi-
cal centers (Piomelli  et al.,  1984).   In adult workers, Hansen  et al.  (1981) observed that a
sizable fraction  of subjects with only modest elevations in blood lead levels upon  EDTA chal-
lenge excreted lead in amounts significantly exceeding the upper end of normal.  This discrep-
ancy occurred at blood lead levels of 35 ug/dl and above.
     The biological basis for the nonlinearlty of the relationship between blood lead and  che-
latable  lead  appears,  in  major  part, to be the existence  of a  sizable pool  of  lead in  bone
that is  labile  to chelatlon.  Evidence pointing to this explanation was summarized  1n Section
10.3.3.  The  question of how long any lead 1n this compartment of bone remains labile to  che-
latlon  has been  addressed  by several  Investigators  in studies of both  children and adults.
The question  is relevant to the issue  of  the usefulness of  EOTA  challenge  in assessing  evi-
dence for  past lead exposure.
     Chlsolm et al. (1976) found that a group (N = 55) of adolescent subjects 12-22 years  old,
who had  a  clinical history of lead poisoning as young children and whose mean blood lead was
22.1 M9/d1 at tne t1me °f  study,  yielded  chelatable  lead values that placed them on the same
regression curve  as a  second  group of young children with current  elevations of blood lead.
The results with  the adolescent subjects  did  not  provide evidence that they might have had a
past history  of lead poisoning.  According to the authors, this failure to detect prior expo-
sure  suggests that  chelatable lead  at the  time of excessive exposure was  not retained  in a
pool  that  remained labile to chelatlon  years  later,  but underwent  subsequent  excretion or
transfer  to the  inert  compartment  of  bone.   One problem  with  drawing conclusions from this
study  is  that all  of the  adolescents apparently had one or  more  courses  of  chelatlon therapy
and  were  removed to housing  where  re-exposure would be  minimal  as part  of their clinical
management after  lead poisoning was diagnosed.   One must assume  that chelatlon  therapy removed
a significant portion  of  the  mobile lead burden and  that  placement in lead-free housing  re-
duced  the  extent of  any further  exposure.   The obvious question  is how this group of adoles-
cents  would compare  with  subjects who had excessive  chronic lead exposure as young  children
but who  did not require or receive  chelatlon  therapy.

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     Former  lead workers challenged  with  EDTA show chelatable lead values  that  are signifi-
cantly  above  normal  years  after  workplace  exposure  ceases  (e.g.,  Alesslo  et al.,  1976;
Prerovska  and  Telsinger,  1970).   In the case  of  former lead workers,  blood lead also remains
elevated,  suggesting that the  mobile lead  pool  1n bone remains 1n equilibrium  with  lead 1n
blood.
     The closer  correspondence of chelatable lead with actual tissue lead burdens, compared to
blood  lead,  1s also reflected In a better  correlation  of this parameter with such biological
Indicators of  Impairment  as  EP,  although this correlation 1s seen only 1n adults.  Similarly,
Alesslo et al.  (1976)  found that EP  In  former lead workers was more significantly correlated
with chelatable  lead than with blood lead.
     Consideration  of  both  the  Intake versus blood  lead  and the blood lead versus chelatable
lead curves leads to the prediction that the level of lead exposure per se 1s more closely re-
lated  to  tissue  lead burden than Is  blood  lead.   This  appears to be the case 1n experimental
animals.   Azar et  al.  (1973) and Grant  et  al.  (1980) reported that levels  of  lead  in brain,
kidney, and femur followed more of a direct proportionality with the level of dosing than with
blood  lead.  These  observations  may relate to the fact that plasma lead rises proportionately
faster than whole blood lead.
     Finally, there 1s the question of how adequately an Internal indicator such as blood lead
reflects changes in tissue  burden when  exposure  changes  abruptly.   In the study of Bjbrklund
et al. (1981), lead levels in both blood and brain were monitored over  a 6-week period in rats
exposed to lead  through their drinking water.   Blood lead rose rapidly by day 1,  during which
time  brain lead content  was only  slightly  elevated.   After  day  1, the rate  of Increase In
blood  lead began to taper off, while brain lead began to rise in a nearly linear fashion up to
the end of the experiment.  From day 7 to 21, blood lead increased from approximately 45 to 55
pg/dl, while brain  lead increased approximately twofold.
     Abrupt  reduction  1n exposure  similarly appears to  be associated with a  more  rapid re-
sponse  1n blood than  in soft  tissues, particularly  brain.   Goldstein  and  Diamond  (1974)
reported that termination of Intravenous administration of lead to 30-day-old rats resulted in
a sevenfold  drop of lead in blood  by day  7.  At the same time, brain  lead levels did not de-
crease  significantly.   A  similar  difference  In  brain and  blood  response  was   reported by
Momdlovlc and Kostial (1974).
     In all of the above studies, blood  lead was of limited value in reflecting changes in the
brain, which 1s  the significant target  organ  for lead  exposure 1n children.  With abrupt in-
creases 1n exposure level,  the  problem concerns a much more rapid approach to steady state In
blood  than 1n  brain.  Conversely,  the biological  half-time for lead clearance from blood 1n
the young  rats  of  both the Goldstein  and Diamond  (1974)  and Momcilovlc and  Kostial  (1974)
studies was much less than it appeared to be for lead movement from brain.
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     Despite  the  limitations  In  Indexing  tissue  burden and  exposure  changes,  blood  lead
remains the  one  readily accessible measure that can  demonstrate  1n a relative way  the  rela-
tionship of various effects to Increases 1n exposure.
10.7  METABOLISM OF LEAD ALKYLS
     The  lower alkyl  lead  compounds used  as  gasoline additives,  tetraethyl  lead  (TEL)  and
tetramethyl  lead  (TML), are much more  neurotoxlc  on an equivalent dose  basis  than  inorganic
lead.  These  agents  are emitted 1n auto exhaust,  and  their rate of environmental degradation
depends on  such  factors as sunlight, temperature, and  ozone  levels.   There is also  some con-
cern that  organolead compounds may result from blomethylatlon in the environment (see Chapter
6).  Finally,  a  problem arises with the practice  among children of sniffing leaded  gasoline.
The  available information dealing with metabolism of  lead alkyls is derived  mainly from ex-
perimental  animal  studies,  studies  of workers exposed  to  the agents,  and cases of lead alkyl
poisoning.

10.7.1  Absorption of  Lead Alkyls in Humans and Animals
     The  respiratory Intake  and absorption of TEL and TML in the vapor state was investigated
by Heard et al. (1979), who used human volunteers  inhaling 203Pb-labeled TEL and TML.  Initial
lung deposition rates  were 37  and 51 percent for TEL and TML, respectively.  Of these amounts,
40 percent of TEL was  lost by exhalation within 48 hr, while the corresponding figure for TML
within  48 hr  was  20  percent.   The  remaining fraction was absorbed.   The effect of gasoline
vapor on these parameters was  not investigated.  In an earlier study Mortensen (1942) reported
that adult  rats inhaling TEL labeled with 203Pb (0.07-7.00 mg TEL/1) absorbed 16-23 percent of
the  fraction reaching  the  alveoli.   Gasoline  vapor had  no  effect on  the absorption rates.
     Respiratory  absorption of  organolead  bound  to partlculate  matter has not been specifi-
cally studied as such.  According to Harrison and  Laxen (1978),  neither TEL nor TML adheres to
partlculate  matter  to any  significant extent,  but the  toxicologlcally equivalent trialkyl
derivatives,  formed  from photolytlc dissociation  or ozonolysis  in the atmosphere, may do so.
10.7.1.1   Gastrointestinal  Absorption.   Information  on the rate  of  absorption of lead alkyls
through  the GI tract  is not  available  in the literature.  Given  the level of gastric acidity
(pH  1.0)  in humans,  one would expect TML and TEL  to be rapidly  converted  to the  corresponding
trialkyl  forms,  which are comparatively more  stable (Bade and Huber,  1970).  Given the  simi-
larity  of the chemical and biochemical  behavior of  trialkyl leads to  their Group IV analogs,
the  trialkyltlns,  the report of Barnes and  Stoner  (1958) that triethyltin is quantitatively
absorbed  from the  GI tract  Indicates that  trlethyl and  trimethyl  lead would be extensively ab-
sorbed  via this  route.
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10.7.1.2   Percutaneous Absorption of Lead Alkyls.   In contrast to  Inorganic  lead salts, both
TEL  and  TML are rapidly and  extensively  absorbed  through the skin 1n rabbits and rats (Kehoe
and  Thamann,  1931;  Laug and  Kunze,  1948),  and lethal  effects can be rapidly Induced 1n these
animals  by merely exposing the skin.   Laug  and  Kunze  (1948) observed that systemic uptake of
TEL  was  still  6.5  percent even after  most  of the TEL had evaporated from  the  skin surface.
The  rate  of passage of TML was  somewhat  slower than that of TEL 1n the study of Davis et al.
(1963).  Absorption of either agent was retarded somewhat when applied in gasoline.

10.7.2  BiotransformatJon and Tissue Distribution of Lead Alkyls
     To  understand  the _1jn  vivo fate of lead alkyls, one must first discuss the blotransforma-
tion processes  of lead alkyls known to occur 1n mammalian systems.  Tetraethyl and tetramethyl
lead both  undergo oxidatlve dealkylatlon  1n mammals to the trlethyl or trimethyl metabolites,
which are  now accepted as the actual toxic forms of these alkyls.
     Studies  of the biochemical  mechanisms  for these  transformations, as noted  by  Kimmel  et
al.  (1977),  Indicate  a  dealkylation mediated by  a P-450 dependent  mono-oxygenase  system in
liver microsomes, with Intermediate hydroxylation.   In addition to rats (Cremer,  1959; Stevens
et  al.,   1960;  Bolanowska,  1968),  mice  (Hayakawa,   1972),  and  rabbits  (Bolanowska  and
Garczyriski,  1968),  this transformation also occurs In humans accidentally  poisoned with TEL
(Bolanowska  et  al.,  1967)  or  workers   chronically  exposed  to  TEL  (Adamlak-Ziemba  and
Bolanowska, 1970).
     The rate of hepatic oxidatlve de-ethylation of TEL in mammals appears to be rather rapid;
Cremer  (1959)  reported  a  maximum hourly  conversion  rate of  approximately 200 ug  TEL/g rat
liver.   In comparison with  TEL,  TML may  undergo  transformation  at either a  slower rate (in
rats) or  more rapidly (1n mice), according to Cremer and Callaway (1961) and Hayakawa (1972).
     Other transformation  steps  involve conversion of triethyl lead  to  the dlethyl  form, the
process  appearing  to  be species-dependent.   Bolanowska (1968) did not report the formation of
dlethyl  lead in  rats,  while significant amounts  of it  are  present 1n the  urine of rabbits
(Aral et  al.,  1981) and humans (CMesura, 1970).  Inorganic lead is formed in various species
treated  with TEL, whether the TEL  arises  from degradation of the diethyl  lead  metabolite or
from some  other direct process (Bolanowska, 1968).  Degradation appears to occur in rats, since
little or  no diethyl lead is found, whereas significant amounts of Inorganic lead are present.
Formation  of Inorganic lead with lead alkyl exposure may account for the hematological effects
seen in  humans  chronically exposed to the lead alkyls (see Chapter 12, Section 12.3), includ-
ing children who inhale leaded gasoline vapor.
     Partitioning of trlethyl  or trimethyl  lead, the corresponding neurotoxlc metabolites  of
TEL and TML,  between  the erythrocyte and  plasma appears to be species-dependent.   Byington et
al.  (1980)  studied  the partitioning of triethyl lead between  cells  and plasma In vitro using
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washed human  and  rat erythrocytes and found that  human  cells  had a very low affinity for the
alkyl lead while rat cells bound the alkyl lead 1n the globln moiety at a ratio of three mole-
cules per  hemoglobin tetramer.   Similarly,  injected trlethyl lead  was  found to be associated
with whole  blood  levels approximately 10-fold greater than 1n rat plasma.   The available lit-
erature on TEL poisoning 1n humans concurs;  significant plasma lead values have been routinely
reported (Boeckx  et  al.,  1977;  Goldings and Stewart, 1982).   These data Indicate that the rat
1s a poor model for  studying the adverse effects of lead alkyls in human subjects.
     The biological  half-life in blood for the lead alkyls depends on whether clearance of the
tetraalkyl  or trialkyl  forms is being observed.  Heard et al.  (1979) found that 203Pb-labeled
TML  and  TEL inhaled by human volunteers  was  rapidly cleared from the  blood (by 10 hr), fol-
lowed  by a  reappearance  of lead.  The  fraction  of lead 1n plasma  initially  was quite high,
approximately 0.7,   suggesting  the  presence of tetra/trialkyl  lead.   However, the subsequent
rise  in  blood  lead  showed all  of  it essentially  present in the  cell,  which would indicate
inorganic  or possibly  diethyl  lead.   Trlethyl  lead in rabbits was  more  rapidly cleared from
the  blood  (3-5  days)  than  was  the  trimethyl   form (15  days) when  administered  as  such
(Hayakawa,  1972).
     Tissue distribution  of lead in both humans  and animals exposed to TEL and TML primarily
involves  the  trialkyl  metabolites.   Levels are  highest in  liver,  followed  by kidney,  then
brain  (Bolanowska et al., 1967; Grandjean and Nielsen, 1979).  Nielsen et al.  (1978) observed
measurable  amounts of trialkyl  lead in samples of brain tissue from  subjects with no known oc-
cupational  exposure.
     The  available studies on  tissue  retention of  trlethyl or trimethyl lead  provide variable
findings.   Bolanowska  (1968)  noted  that tissue  levels  of trlethyl  lead  1n rats were almost
constant  for 16 days after  a  single  Injection of TEL.  Hayakawa (1972)  found that the  half-
life of  trlethyl  lead  1n  brain was  7-8 days for  rats.  The  half-time for  trimethyl  lead was
much longer.   In humans,  Yamamura et  al. (1975)  reported  two tissue compartments for trlethyl
lead having half-lives  of 35 and 100 days (Yamamura et al., 1975).

10.7.3   Excretion of Lead Alkyls
     The  renal tract is  the main route of  lead excretion  in  various species exposed to  lead
alkyls  (Grandjean and  Nielsen,  1979).   The chemical  forms of  lead in urine  suggest that the
differing amounts of the  various  forms  are species-dependent.    Aral et  al.  (1981)  found that
rabbits  given TEL parenterally excreted lead primarily in the  form of diethyl  lead (69 per-
cent)   and  inorganic  lead  (27  percent),   trlethyl   lead accounting for  only  4  percent.
Bolanowska and Garczyfiski (1968)  found  that trlethyl lead levels  were somewhat higher in the
urine  of rats than  in  that of  rabbits.  In humans,  Chiesura  (1970) found  that trialkyl  lead
was never  greater than  9 percent of total lead  content  in workers with heavy TEL exposure.
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Adam1ak-Z1emba and  Bolanowska  (1970)  reported similar data; the  fraction  of triethyl  lead in
the urine was approximately 10 percent of total lead.
     The urinary  rates  of lead excretion in  human  subjects  with known levels of TEL exposure
were  also  reported  by  Adamiak-Ziemba and  Bolanowska (1970).    In  workers involved with  the
blending and testing of  leaded gasoline,  workplace  air levels of lead (as  TEL)  ranged from
0.037  to 0.289  mg/m3  and  the corresponding urine  lead  levels  ranged from  14 to 49  jjg/1,
of which approximately 10 percent was triethyl lead.
10.8  SUMMARY
     Toxicokinetic parameters of lead absorption, distribution, retention, and excretion rela-
ting  external  environmental  lead exposure  to  various adverse effects have  been  discussed in
this  chapter.   Also  considered  were various influences on these parameters, e.g., nutritional
status, age, and stage of development.   A number of specific issues in lead metabolism by ani-
mals and humans were addressed,  including:

     1.   How does the developing organism from gestation to maturity differ from the adult in
          toxicokinetic response to lead intake?
     2.   What  do  these  differences in lead metabolism portend  for relative risk for adverse
          effects?
     3.   What  are the  factors  that significantly change the toxicokinetic parameters in ways
          relevant to assessing health risk?
     4.   How do  the various interrelationships among body compartments for lead translate to
          assessment of internal exposure and changes in internal exposure?

10.8.1  Lead Absorption in Humans and Animals
     The amounts  of  lead entering the bloodstream via various routes of absorption are influ-
enced not only  by the levels of the element in a given medium but also by various physical and
chemical parameters and specific host factors, such as age and nutritional status.
10.8.1.1  Respiratory Absorption of Lead.  The movement of lead from ambient air to the blood-
stream  is a two-part process:   deposition of  some  fraction of inhaled air lead in the deeper
part of the respiratory tract and absorption of the deposited fraction.  For adult humans, the
deposition  rate of particulate  airborne lead as  likely  encountered by the general population
is around 30-50 percent,  with these rates being modified by such factors as particle size and
ventilation rates.  All of the lead deposited in the lower respiratory tract appears to be ab-
sorbed, so that the overall absorption rate is governed by the deposition rate, i.e., approxi-
mately 30-50 percent.  Autopsy results showing no lead accumulation in the lung indicate total
absorption of deposited lead.
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     All of the  available  data for lead uptake via  the  respiratory tract 1n humans have  been
obtained with adults.  Respiratory  uptake  of lead 1n children, while  not fully quantifiable,
appears to be comparatively  greater on a body-weight basis.   A  second factor Influencing the
relative deposition  rate 1n  children 1s airway dimensions.   One  report has estimated that the
10-year-old child  has a deposition rate 1.6- to 2.7-fold  higher than the adult on  a  weight
basis.
     The chemical  form of  the lead compound Inhaled does not appear to be a major determinant
of the extent of alveolar absorption of lead.  While experimental  animal data for quantitative
assessment of  lead  deposition  and  absorption for  the  lung  and  upper respiratory  tract are
limited, available Information from  the rat, rabbit, dog,  and  nonhuman  primate  support the
findings that respired lead  1n humans 1s extensively and rapidly absorbed.  Over the range of
air  lead encountered by  the  general population, absorption  rate  does  not appear to depend on
air  lead level.
10.8.1.2   Gastrointestinal Absorption of Lead.   Gastrointestinal  (GI)  absorption  of  lead
mainly  Involves  lead uptake  from food  and  beverages as  well as lead  deposited  1n the upper
respiratory tract  and eventually  swallowed.   It also Includes 1ngest1on of non-food material,
primarily  1n  children via  normal  mouthing activity and pica.  Two Issues of concern with lead
uptake  from  the gut  are the  comparative rates of such absorption  1n  developing versus adult
organisms, Including humans, and how the relative bloavallability of lead affects such uptake.
     By use of  metabolic balance and  1sotop1c (radlolsotope or  stable Isotope) studies, var-
ious laboratories  have provided estimates of  lead  absorption 1n  the human adult on the order
of  10-15  percent.    This rate  can be significantly Increased  under  fasting conditions  to 45
percent, compared  to lead  Ingested with food.  The latter figure also suggests that beverage
lead 1s absorbed  to  a  greater  degree  since much  beverage 1ngest1on occurs  between  meals.
     The relationship of the chemical/biochemical form of  lead  1n the gut to  absorption rate
has  been studied,  although Interpretation 1s  complicated by  the relatively  small amounts given
and  the presence of  various components  1n  food  already  present  1n the gut.  In general, how-
ever,  chemical  forms of  lead  and  their Incorporation Into  biological  matrices seem  to have a
minimal Impact on  lead absorption in  the human gut.  Several  studies have  focused on  the ques-
tion of differences  1n GI absorption rates  for  lead between  children  and  adults.  Such rates
for  children are considerably  higher  than for adults:  10-15 percent for  adults versus approx-
imately 50 percent  for children.   Available data for the absorption of  lead  from nonfood
Hems  such as dust  and  dirt  on hands are limited,  but one  study has  estimated a figure of 30
percent.   For paint chips, a  value  of about  17 percent has  been estimated.
      Experimental  animal  studies  show that, like  humans,  the adult animal absorbs  much  less
 lead from the gut than  the  developing animal.  Adult rats  maintained  on  ordinary  rat chow ab-
 sorb 1 percent  or  less of  the dietary lead.   Various animal  species studies make  1t clear that
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the newborn absorbs  a  much greater amount of  lead  than the adult,  supporting studies showing
this age  dependency in  humans.   Compared to an absorption  rate  of about 1 percent  in  adult
rats, the rat  pup  has  a rate 40-50 times  greater.   Part,  but not most,  of the difference  can
be ascribed to  a  difference in dietary composition.   In nonhuman  primates, infant monkeys  ab-
sorb 65-85 percent of lead from the gut, compared to 4 percent for the adults.
     The bioavailability of  lead  in the GI tract as  a factor 1n its absorption  has  been  the
focus of  a  number  of  experimental studies.   These  data  show  the following:   (1) lead in  a
number of forms is  absorbed about equally, except for lead sulfide; (2)  lead in dirt  and dust
and in different chemical forms is absorbed at about the same rate as pure lead salts  added to
a  diet;  (3) lead  in paint chips undergoes significant  uptake  from the  gut; and  (4)  in some
cases, physical size of particulate lead can affect the rate of GI absorption.   In humans, GI
absorption rate of  lead appears to be  independent of  quantity  in the gut up to a level  of at
least 400 ug.   In  animals,  dietary levels between 10 and 100 ppm result in reduced absorption.
10.8.1.3  Percutaneous  Absorption of Lead.   Absorption of inorganic lead  compounds through  the
skin is of  much less significance than absorption through  respiratory and GI routes.   In con-
trast, absorption through  skin  is far more significant than through other routes for  the lead
alkyls (see Section 10.7.1.2).   One recent study using human volunteers and 203Pb-labeled lead
acetate showed  that under  normal  conditions,  skin  absorption of lead alkyls  approached 0.06
percent.
10.8.1.4  Transplacental Transfer of Lead.  Lead uptake by the human and animal fetus readily
occurs,  such  transfer  going on  by  the 12th  week of  gestation  in humans,  and increasing
throughout  fetal  development.   Cord  blood contains significant amounts  of  lead,  correlating
with, but  somewhat lower than, maternal  blood  lead levels.   Evidence for such transfer,  be-
sides the measured lead content of cord blood, includes fetal tissue analyses and reduction in
maternal  blood lead during pregnancy.  There  also appears  to  be a seasonal  effect on  the
fetus, summer-born children showing a trend to higher blood lead levels than those born in  the
spring.

10.8.2  Distribution of Lead 1n Humans and Animals
     In this subsection, the distributional characteristics of lead in various portions of the
body  (blood,  soft tissue,  calcified  tissue, and  the "chelatable" or potentially toxic body
burden) are discussed as a function of such variables as exposure history and age.
10.8.2.1  Lead  in Blood.  More  than 99 percent of blood lead is  associated with the  erythro-
cytes in humans under  steady-state conditions, but  it  is  the very small fraction transported
in plasma and  extracellular fluid that  provides  lead to the various body organs.  Most (^50
percent) erythrocyte lead is bound within the cell, primarily associated with hemoglobin (par-
ticularly HbA2), with approximately 5 percent bound to a 10,000-dalton fraction, 20 percent to
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a heavier molecule, and 25 percent to lower-weight species.   Several  studies with lead workers
and  patients  Indicate  that the fraction of lead  1n  plasma  versus whole blood increases above
-v50-60 ug/dl blood lead.
     Whole  blood  lead  1n dally equilibrium with other compartments In adult humans appears to
have a  biological  half-life of 25-28 days and  comprises  about 1.9 mg  In  total  lead  content,
based  on  Isotope studies.   Other  data  from  lead-exposed  workers  indicate that  half-life
depends  on  mobile lead burden.  Human blood lead responds rather quickly to abrupt changes in
exposure.   With  increased lead intake,  blood lead achieves  a new value in approximately 40-60
days, while a decrease  1n  exposure may be associated with variable new blood values, depending
upon  the exposure history.   This dependence presumably  reflects lead  resorption from bone.
With age,  furthermore,  a moderate increase occurs In  blood  lead during adulthood.  Levels of
lead in  blood of children  tend to show a peak at 2-3 years of age (probably caused by mouthing
activity),  followed by a  decline.   In  older  children  and  adults,  levels  of  lead  are sex-
related, females  showing  lower levels than males even at comparable levels of exposure.
     In  plasma,  lead is virtually all bound  to albumin and only trace amounts to high-weight
globulins.   Which binding  form  constitutes an  "active"  fraction for  movement  to tissues is
Impossible  to state.  The  most recent studies of the erythrocyte/plasma relationship in humans
Indicate an equilibrium between these blood compartments, such that levels in plasma rise with
levels   1n  whole blood  1n  fixed  proportion up  to  approximately 50-60 ug/dl,  whereupon the
relationship  becomes curvilinear.
10.8-2.2  Lead  Levels  in Tissues.  Of necessity, various relationships  of  tissue lead  to expo-
sure and toxidty 1n humans  must  generally  be  obtained from  autopsy samples.   Limitations on
these  data  include questions of how  such samples represent lead  behavior in  the  living popula-
tion,  particularly with reference  to prolonged  Illness  and disease states.   The  adequate char-
acterization  of  exposure for victims of fatal accidents  is a problem, as is  the  fact  that  such
studies are cross-sectional  in nature, with  different age  groups assumed  to have had similar
exposure in the  past.
10.8.2.2.1  Soft tissues.  After age 20 most soft tissues  (in  contrast to  bone)  in  humans do
not show age-related changes.  Kidney cortex shows  an increase  in  lead with age,  which  may be
associated with  the  formation of nuclear  Inclusion  bodies.   Absence of  lead accumulation in
most soft  tissues results from a  turnover  rate  for lead similar  to  that in blood.
      Based on  several  autopsy studies, soft-tissue  lead content for  individuals  not occupa-
tionally exposed is  generally below 0.5 ug/g  wet weight,  with  higher  values  for  aorta and  kid-
ney cortex.  Brain  tissue  lead  level  is  generally below 0.2 (jg/g  wet weight with  no  change
with increasing age, although  the cross-sectional nature of  these data would make changes in
 low brain  lead  levels  difficult to discern.   Autopsy  data  for  both children and adults  indi
 cate that  lead  is  selectively accumulated in  the hippocampus,  a finding  that is  also consis-
 tent with the regional distribution in experimental  animals.
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     Comparisons of lead levels in soft-tissue autopsy samples from children with results from
adults  Indicate  that  such values are  lower  In  Infants than 1n older children, while children
aged 1-16 years had levels comparable to those for adult women.  In one study, lead content of
brain  regions did not  materially differ  for  infants and older children  compared  to adults.
Complicating  these data somewhat are  changes  1n tissue mass with  age,  although such changes
are less than for  the skeletal system.
     Subcellular distribution of lead in soft tissue 1s not uniform.  High amounts of lead are
sequestered  in  the mitochondria and nucleus of  the  cell.   Nuclear accumulation is consistent
with the  existence of lead-containing nuclear Inclusions in various species, and a large body
of data demonstrate the sensitivity of mitochondria to injury by lead.
10.8.2.2.2   Mineralizing  tissue.   Lead becomes  localized  and accumulates  1n human calcified
tissues, i.e., bones and teeth.  This accumulation in humans begins with fetal development and
continues to  approximately 60 years of age.  The extent of lead accumulation 1n bone ranges up
to 200 mg in  men ages 60-70 years, while in women lower values have been measured.  Based upon
various studies,  approximately 95 percent of total  body  lead 1s lodged 1n the bones of human
adults, with uptake distributed over  trabecular and compact bone.  In  the  human adult, bone
lead  Is both the most Inert and the largest body pool, and accumulation can serve to maintain
elevated  blood  lead  levels years  after  exposure,  particularly  occupational  exposure,  has
ended.
     By comparison to human  adults,  only 73 percent  of body lead is lodged  1n the  bones of
children, which  is consistent with other  information  that  the skeletal  system of children is
more metabollcally active  than that of adults.   Furthermore,  bone tissue 1n children 1s less
dense than in adults.   While the increase  1n bone lead level across childhood is modest, about
twofold  1f  expressed as  concentration,   the  total  accumulation   rate  1s  actually  80-fold,
taking  into  account  a 40-fold increase 1n skeletal mass.   To the extent that some significant
fraction of  total  bone lead 1n children and  adults  Is relatively  labile, in  terms of health
risk  for  the whole organism it 1s more appropriate  to consider the total accumulation rather
than just changes  in concentration.
     The traditional  view  that the skeletal system  was a  "total"  sink for  body lead (and by
implication a biological safety feature to permit significant exposure in Industrialized popu-
lations) never  did agree  with even older  information  on  bone physiology, e.g., bone remodel-
ing.   This view  is now giving way to  the  idea that there are at  least several bone compart-
ments for lead,  with  different mobility profiles.   Bone  lead,  then,  may be more of an Insid-
ious source  of  long-term  internal  exposure than  a  sink for the element.  This  aspect of the
issue  is  summarized more  fully in the  next section.   Available  information  from  studies of
uranium miners  and human  volunteers  who  ingested  stable  isotopes indicates  that  there is a
relatively inert bone  compartment  for lead, having a half-life of several decades, as well as
a rather labile compartment that permits an equilibrium between bone and tissue lead.
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     Tooth lead also Increases with age at a rate proportional  to exposure and roughly  propor-
tional to blood lead 1n humans and experimental  animals.   Dentine lead is perhaps  the most  re-
sponsive component  of  teeth  to lead exposure since  1t  1s laid down from the time of eruption
until shedding.  This characteristic underlies the usefulness of dentine lead levels In asses-
sing long-term exposure.
10.8.2.2.3   Chelatable  lead.   Mobile lead  in organs and  systems is  potentially  more active
toxlcologically 1n  terms  of  being available to biological sites of action.   Hence, this frac-
tion of total body  lead burden is a more significant predictor of imminent toxicity.  In real-
ity, direct  measurement of such a fraction  in  human subjects  would not be possible.   In this
regard, chelatable  lead,  measured as the extent  of  plumburesis 1n response to administration
of  a  chelating agent,  specifically CaNa2EDTA, is now viewed as the most useful probe of undue
body burden  in children and adults.
     A  quantitative description  of the Inputs to the body lead fraction that is chelant-mobi-
Hzable  is difficult to define  fully,  but  1t most likely includes  a  labile lead compartment
within  bone as well  as within  soft tissues.  Support for this  view  includes the following:
(1) the age-dependency  of  chelatable lead, but not lead in blood or soft tissues; (2) evidence
of  removal  of bone lead  in chelatlon  studies with experimental animals; (3) jn vitro studies
of  lead mobilization  1n bone organ  explants under  closely  defined  conditions;  (4)  tracer-
modeling estimates  in human subjects; and (5) the complex nonlinear relationship of blood lead
and  lead  Intake  through various media.  Data  for children and  adults showing a  logarithmic
relationship of chelatable lead  to  blood lead  and the phenomenon of  "rebound"  in blood lead
elevation  after  chelatlon  therapy  regimens (without  obvious  external  re-exposure) offer
further support.
10.8.2.2.4  Animal  studies.   Animal  studies  have helped  to sort  out some of  the relationships
of  lead exposure to _1n  vivo  distribution of the element, particularly the  impact  of  skeletal
lead  on whole body  retention.   In rats, lead'admlnistration results in an initial  increase of
lead  levels  in  soft tissues, followed by   loss  of  lead  from  soft tissue  via  excretion and
transfer  to  bone.   Lead  distribution  appears  to be  relatively independent  of  dose.  Other
studies have  shown that  lead  loss  from organs  follows  first-order kinetics except for loss
from  bone, and that the skeletal  system in  rats  and  mice  is the kinetically  rate-11 mi ting step
in  whole-body lead clearance.
      The  neonatal animal  seems  to  retain proportionally  higher levels of tissue  lead  compared
to  the adult and  manifests slow decay of brain  lead  levels while  showing a  significant decline
over  time  1n other tissues.   This  decay  appears  to result  from enhanced lead entry  to the
brain because of a poorly developed brain  barrier system as  well as from enhanced body reten-
tion of lead by young  animals.
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     The  effects  of such changes as metabolic stress and nutritional status on body redistri-
bution  of lead have been noted.  Lactatlng mice, for example, are known to demonstrate tissue
redistribution  of lead,  specifically  bone-lead resorption  with  subsequent transfer  of  both
lead and  calcium  from mother to pups.

10.8.3  Lead Excretion  and Retention 1n Humans and Animals
10.8.3.1   Human Studies.  Dietary  lead  1n  humans  and animals  that  1s not  absorbed passes
through  the GI tract  and 1s  eliminated  with  feces,  as  1s the fraction of air  lead  that 1s
swallowed and  not  absorbed.   Lead entering  the bloodstream  and  not  retained  Is  excreted
through  the  renal  and  GI  tracts,  the  latter via  biliary clearance.   The amounts  excreted
through  these routes are a function  of  such  factors  as  species,  age,  and exposure  charac-
teristics.
     Based  upon the human metabolic balance data and isotope excretion findings of various in-
vestigators,  short-term  lead  excretion  in adult humans  amounts to 50-60  percent  of  the ab-
sorbed  fraction,  with  the  balance  moving primarily to bone  and  some  fraction (approximately
half)  of  this  stored  amount  eventually  being excreted.   This estimated  overall  retention
figure of 25 percent necessarily assumes that isotope clearance reflects that for body lead in
all  compartments.   The  rapidly  excreted  fraction has  a biological half-life  of 20-25 days,
similar to  that for lead  removal from blood, based on isotope data.   This similarity indicates
a  steady  rate  of lead  clearance  from the body.   In  terms of partitioning of excreted  lead
between  urine  and  bile,  one  study  indicates  that  the biliary clearance  is  about 50 percent
that of renal clearance.
     Lead accumulates  1n the  human body with age,  mainly  in bone,  up to  around 60 years of
age, when a decrease occurs with changes in intake as well  as in bone mineral  metabolism.  As
noted earlier,  the  total amount of  lead  1n  long-term  retention can approach 200 mg,  and even
much higher in the case of occupational exposure.  This rate corresponds to a lifetime average
retention rate of 9-10  pg  Pb/day.   Within shorter  time frames,  however,  retention will  vary
considerably because of such factors as development,  disruption  in  the Individuals'  equilib-
rium with lead intake,  and the onset of such states  as osteoporosis.
     The  age-dependency  of  lead retention/excretion in humans  has not  been well studied, but
most of the available Information indicates that children, particularly infants, retain a sig-
nificantly  higher amount  of lead than adults.   While autopsy data indicate that pediatrk  sub-
jects at  isolated points in time actually have  a  lower fraction of body lead lodged  in bone,
which probably  relates  to the  less dense bones of children as well  as high bone mineral turn-
over, a full  understanding  of  longer-term retention over childhood must consider the  exponen-
tial growth rate  occurring  in  children's skeletal systems over the time period for which bone
lead concentrations have been gathered.   This  parameter  itself  represents  a  40-fold  mass
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Increase.   This  significant skeletal growth  rate has  an  Impact on an obvious  question:   1f
children  take  1n more  lead on a body-weight  basis  than  adults, absorb and retain more  lead
than adults, and show only modest elevations in blood lead compared to adults in the face  of a
more active  skeletal  system,  where  does the lead  go?   A  second factor is the  assumption  that
blood  lead in children  relates  to  body  lead  burden  in  the same quantitative  fashion as  in
adults, an assumption that remains to be proven adequately.
10.8.3.2   Animal Studies.   In  rats  and  other experimental  animals, both urinary and fecal ex-
cretion  appear to  be important routes of lead removal  from the organism.   The  relative parti-
tioning  between  the  two modes is species- and dose-dependent.   With regard to  species differ-
ences, biliary clearance of lead in the  dog  is  but 2 percent of that for the  rat, while  such
excretion  in the rabbit  1s 50 percent that of the rat.
     Lead  movement from  laboratory animals to their offspring via milk constituents is a route
of excretion for the mother as well  as a route of exposure for the young.   Comparative studies
of lead  retention in developing versus adult animals such as rats, mice, and nonhuman primates
make it  clear that retention is significantly greater in the young animal.  These observations
support  those  studies showing greater lead retention  in  children.  Some recent data indicate
that  a differential  retention  of lead  1n  young rats  persists  Into  the  post-weaning period,
calculated as either  uniform dosing  or uniform exposure.

10.8.4  Interactions  of  Lead with Essential Metals and Other Factors
     Toxic elements  such as lead are affected  in their toxicokinetic or toxicological behavior
by interactions  with  a  variety of biochemical  factors, particularly nutrients.
10.8.4.1  Human  Studies.  In  humans, the interactive behavior of  lead and various nutritional
factors  is expressed  most significantly in young  children,  with such interactions  occurring
against  a  backdrop  of rather widespread deficiencies  in  a number of nutritional components.
Various  surveys have  indicated  that iron, calcium, zinc,  and vitamin deficiencies  are  wide-
spread among the pediatric population, particularly the poor.   A  number  of  reports have  docu-
mented the association  of lead absorption with suboptimal  nutritional  states for iron and cal-
cium,  reduced  intake being associated with  increased lead  absorption.
10.8.4.2 Animal Studies.  Reports of lead-nutrient interactions in experimental animals have
generally described  such relationships  for a single  nutrient,  using relative  absorption  or
tissue retention in  the animal  to  index  the effect.   Most of  the  recent  data  are for calcium,
 Iron,  phosphorus,  and vitamin D.   Many  studies have established  that  diminished dietary calci-
 um is associated with  increased blood  and soft-tissue lead content in such  diverse species as
 the rat,  pig, horse,  sheep,  and domestic fowl.   The increased body burden of  lead arises from
 both  increased GI absorption  and  increased retention,  indicating that the lead-calcium inter-
 action operates at  both the  gut wall and within  body  compartments.   Lead appears to traverse
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the gut via both passive and active transfer.  It involves transport proteins normally operat-
ing for calcium transport, but is taken up at the site of phosphorus, not calcium, absorption.
      Iron deficiency is associated with an increase of lead in tissues and increased toxicity,
effects  that  are  expressed  at the  level  of lead  uptake by the gut wall,   Iji vitro studies
indicate an  interaction through receptor-binding competition at a common site, which probably
involves  iron-binding  proteins.   Similarly,  dietary phosphate deficiency  enhances  the extent
of  lead retention  and  toxicity via increased uptake  of  lead at the gut wall,  both lead and
phosphate being  absorbed  at the same site in the small intestine.  Results of various studies
of the resorption  of phosphate along with lead  have not been able to identify conclusively a
mechanism for the  elevation of tissue lead.  Since calcium plus phosphate retards lead absorp-
tion  to a greater  degree than simply the sums of the interactions, an insoluble complex of all
these elements may be the basis of this retardation.
      Unlike the inverse relationship existing for calcium, iron,  and phosphate versus lead up-
take,  vitamin  D levels  appear directly related  to the  rate of lead absorption from the GI
tract, since the vitamin stimulates the same region of the duodenum where lead is absorbed.  A
number of  other nutrient  factors  are  known to have  an  interactive relationship  with lead:

      1.   Increases  in  dietary  Hpids  increase  the extent of lead absorption, with the extent
          of the  increase  being highest with polyunsaturates and  lowest with saturated fats,
          e.g., tristearin.
      2.   The  interactive  relationship  of  lead  and  dietary protein is  not clear  cut,  and
          either suboptimal or excess protein intake will  increase lead absorption.
      3.   Certain  milk  components,  particularly  lactose,  greatly enhance  lead absorption in
          the nursing animal.
      4.   Zinc deficiency promotes lead absorption, as does reduced dietary copper.

      Taken collectively, human and animal data dealing with the interaction of lead and nutri-
ents  indicate that there  are heterogeneous subsets of the human  population.   In terms of ped-
atric  population risk for lead exposure, children having multiple nutrient deficiencies are 1n
the highest exposure risk category.

10.8.5  Interrelationships of Lead Exposure with Exposure Indicators and Tissue Lead Burdens
     Three issues  involving  lead  toxlcokinetics evolve toward a  full  connection between lead
exposure and  its  adverse  effects:   (1) the temporal  characteristics of  Internal  Indices of
lead  exposure;   (2) the biological  aspects  of  the relationship of lead in  various media to
various indicators  in internal exposure; and  (3) the relationship of various Internal indica-
tors of exposure to target tissue lead burdens.

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10.8.5.1   Temporal Characteristics of Internal Indicators of Lead Exposure.    The  biological
half-life for newly absorbed lead in blood may be as short as weeks,  or several months.  Or,  it
may  be  longer,  depending on the mobile lead burden in the body.   Compared to mineral  tissues,
this medium  reflects  relatively recent exposure.  If recent exposure is fairly representative
of  exposure  over  a  considerable period  of  time,  e.g.,  exposure of lead workers,  then blood
lead 1s more useful than for cases where exposure is intermittent or different across  time,  as
fn  the  case  of lead exposure of children.  Accessible mineralized tissue, such as shed teeth,
extend the time frame back to years of exposure, since teeth accumulate lead with age  and as a
function  of  the extent of exposure.  Such measurements are, however, retrospective in nature,
In  that  Identification of excessive exposure occurs after the fact and thus limits the possi-
bility of timely medical intervention, exposure abatement, or regulatory policy concerned with
ongoing control strategies.
     Perhaps  the  most  practical  solution to  the  dilemma posed by both  tooth and blood lead
analyses  is  jji situ measurement of  lead  in  teeth  or bone during the time when active accumu-
lation occurs,  e.g., 2-  to 3-year-old children.  Available data using X-ray fluorescence anal-
ysis do  suggest that such approaches  are feasible and can be reconciled with such issues as
acceptable radiation hazard  risk to  subjects.
10.8.5.2     Biological  Aspects of External  Exposure/Internal Indicator Relationships.     The
literature  Indicates clearly that the relationship  of  lead 1n relevant media for  human expo-
sure to  blood  lead is  curvilinear  when viewed over a  relatively  broad  range  of blood lead
values.   This  curvllinearity  Implies that  the  unit change in blood  lead  per unit intake of
lead In  some  medium varies across  this range  of  exposure,  with comparatively smaller blood
lead changes occurring as  Internal exposure  increases.
      Given  our present knowledge,  such a  relationship cannot  be taken  to mean  that  body  uptake
of  lead  1s  proportionately lower  at higher exposure, because it  may simply mean that blood
lead becomes an increasingly  unreliable  measure of target-tissue lead burden with increasing
exposure.   While the basis of  the  curvilinear relationship remains to  be  identified,  available
animal  data suggest that  it may be  related  to the increasing fraction of blood  lead  in  plasma
as blood lead  Increases above  approximately  50-60  ug/dl.
10.8.5.3  Internal Indicator/Tissue Lead Relationships.   In  living  human subjects, direct  de-
 termination of tissue lead burdens or how these relate to adverse effects  in  target tissues  is
 not possible.   Some accessible Indicator (e.g., lead in  a  medium  such as  blood or a biochem-
 ical surrogate  of lead  such  as erythrocyte  protoporphyHn),  must be employed.   While blood
 lead still  remains the only practical measure of excessive lead exposure and health risk,  evi-
 dence continues  to accumulate  that such an  index has some limitations in  either reflecting
 tissue lead burdens or changes in such tissues with changes in exposure.

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     At present, the  measurement  of plumburesis associated with challenge by a single dose  of
a  lead-chelating  agent  such as  CaNa2EDTA is  considered  the best  Indicator of the  mobile,
potentially toxic fraction  of  body lead.   Chelatable lead is logarithmically related to blood
lead,  such that  an  incremental  increase in  blood  lead  is  associated with  an  increasingly
larger increment of mobilizable lead.   The problems associated with this logarithmic  relation-
ship may  be  seen  in studies of children  and  lead workers in whom moderate elevation 1n blood
lead levels can disguise levels of mobile body lead.   In one recent multi-institution study  of
210 children,  for example,  12  percent of children with blood lead 30-39 ug/dl, and 38 percent
with levels of 40-49  pg/dl,  had a positive EDTA-challenge response and required further eval-
uation or treatment.   At  blood lead  levels  such as these, the margin  of  protection against
severe  intoxication  is  reduced.   The  biological  basis of  the  logarithmic  chelatable  lead/
blood  lead relationship  rests,  in large measure,  with  the existence of a  sizeable  bone lead
compartment that is mobile enough to undergo chelatlon removal and, hence,  potentially mobile
enough to move into target tissues.
     Studies  of  the relative mobility  of  chelatable lead over time indicate  that,  in former
lead workers,  removal  from exposure leads to  a  protracted washing out of lead (from bone re-
sorptlon  of  lead)  to blood  and  tissues,  with  preservation of  a bone  burden amenable  to
subsequent  chelation.   Studies  with  children are inconclusive,  since the  one  investigation
directed  to  this  end  employed  pediatric  subjects who all  underwent chelation therapy during
periods of  severe  lead poisoning.   Animal studies demonstrate that changes in blood  lead with
Increasing exposure do not agree with tissue uptake in a time-concordant fashion,  nor does de-
crease 1n blood  lead  with reduced exposure signal a similar decrease 1n target tissue, parti-
cularly in the brain of the developing organism.

10.8.6  Metabolism of  Lead AlkyIs
     The  lower alkyl   lead  components used as  gasoline additives, tetraethyl  lead  (TEL) and
tetramethyl lead (TML),  may themselves poise a toxic risk to humans.   In particular, there  1s
among children a problem of sniffing leaded gasoline.
10.8.6.1   Absorption  of  Lead Alkyls In  Humans and Animals.   Human  volunteers Inhaling labeled
TEL and TML show lung deposition rates for the lead alkyls of 37 and 51 percent, respectively,
values which  are similar  to those for partlculate inorganic lead.   Significant portions  of
these deposited amounts  were eventually absorbed.  Respiratory absorption of organolead bound
to partlculate matter has not been specifically studied as such.
     While specific data for the GI absorption  of  lead alkyls in humans and  animals are not
available, their close similarity to organotin compounds,  which  are  quantitatively  absorbed,
would argue for  extensive GI absorption.   In contrast to inorganic lead salts, the  lower lead

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alkyls are extensively absorbed through the skin and animal  data show lethal  effects  with per-
cutaneous uptake as the sole route of exposure.
10.8.6.2  Blotransformatlon and Tissue Distribution of Lead Alkyls.   The lower lead alkyls TEL
and  TML  undergo monodealkylatlon  1n  the  liver  of mammalian species via  the P-450-dependent
mono-oxygenase  enzyme system.   Such  transformation  1s very  rapid.   Further  transformation
Involves  conversion  to the  dlalkyl  and Inorganic  lead forms,  the  latter accounting  for the
effects  on  heme biosynthesis  and erythropoiesis observed in alkyl  lead  intoxication.   Alkyl
lead  is  rapidly cleared  from blood and shows a higher partitioning into plasma than Inorganic
lead, with tr1ethyl lead clearance being more rapid than that of the methyl analog.
     Tissue distribution of  alkyl lead in humans  and  animals primarily Involves the trialkyl
metabolites.  Levels are highest  in liver, followed by kidney, then brain.   Of interest 1s the
fact  that there are detectable amounts  of trlalkyl  lead from autopsy  samples  of human brain
even  in  the absence of occupational exposure.   In  humans,  there appear to be two tissue com-
partments for triethyl lead, having half-times of 35 and 100 days.
10.8.6.3  Excretion of Lead  Alkyls.  With  alkyl  lead exposure,  excretion  of  lead through the
renal  tract is  the main route of elimination.  The chemical forms being excreted appear to be
species-dependent.  In humans, trlalkyl  lead in workers chronically exposed to alkyl lead is a
minor component of urine lead, approximately 9 percent.
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     in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin  D  in  children with  increased lead absorption.  N. Engl. J   Med
     302: 1128-1131.

Rosen, J.  F.;  Chesney, R.  W.; Hamstra, A. J.; DeLuca, H. F.; Mahaffey, K.  R. (1981) Reduction
     in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in children with increased  lead  absorption.  In: Brown,  S. S.-
     Davis,  D.  S. , eds. Organ-directed  toxicity:  chemical  indices  and  mechanisms.  New York'
     NY:  Pergamon Press; pp. 91-95.                                                            '

Ryu, J. E.; Ziegler, E. E.; Fomon, S.  J.   (1978) Maternal lead exposure and  blood lead concentr-
     ation in infancy. J. Pediatr. (St. Louis) 93: 476-478.

Saenger, P.; Rosen, J. F.;  Markowitz,  M.   E. (1982) Diagnostic significance  of edetate disodium
     calcium  testing  in  children with   increased  lead absorption. Am.  J. Dis.  Child.  136-
     312-315.

Sartor, F.  A.; Rondia, D.  (1981)  Setting legislative norms  for environmental  lead exposure:
     results of an  epidemiological  survey in the  east of Belgium.  Toxicol. Lett. 7: 251-257.

Scanlon,  J.  (1971) Umbilical  cord  blood lead concentration. Am.  J. Dis.  Child.121: 325-326.

Schroeder, H.  A.;  Tipton,  I.  H.  (1968)  The  human body burden of  lead. Arch. Environ. Healthl
     7: 965978.
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Shapiro, I. M. ;  Burke,  A.;  Mitchell, G.; Bloch, P. (1978) X-ray fluorescence analysis of lead
     in teeth  of urban  children ui  situ:  correlation between  the tooth  lead level  and the
     concentration of blood lead and free erythroporphyrins. Environ. Res. 17: 46-52.

Shelling, D.  H. (1932) Effect of dietary calcium and phosphorus on toxicity of  lead  in therat:
     rationale of phosphate therapy. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 30: 248-254.

Sherlock,  J.;  Smart, G.;  Forbes,  G.  I.;  Moore,  M.  R. ;  Patterson, W.  J.;  Richards,  W.  N. ;
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     exposed to a plumbsolvent water supply. Hum.  Toxicol. 1: 115-122.

Singh,  N.;  Donovan,  C.  M.; Hanshaw,  J.  B.  (1978) Neonatal  lead  intoxication in a  prenatally
     exposed infant. J.  Pediatr. (St.  Louis) 93: 1019-1021.

Smith, C. M.;  DeLuca, H.  F.; Tanaka, Y.; Mahaffey, K.  R.  (1978) Stimulation of  lead  absorption
     by vitamin D administration. J. Nutr. 108: 843-847.

Sobel,  A.  E.; Gawron,  0.;  Kramer,  B.  (1938)   Influence   of vitamin  D in experimentallead
     poisoning. Proc. Soc.  Exp.  Biol.  Med. 38:  433-435.

Sobel, A.  E.;  Yuska, H.;  Peters, D.  0.; Kramer, B.  (1940) The biochemical  behavior of  lead:  I.
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     132:  239-265. Reprinted (1981)  in Nutr. Rev.  39:  374-377.

Sorrel 1, M.; Rosen,  J.  F.;  Roginsky, M.   (1977)   Interactions of  lead, calcium,  vitamin  D,  and
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Steenhout, A.; Pourtois,  M. (1981)  Lead accumulation  in teeth  as  a function of  age with
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Stephens,  R. ;  Waldron,  H.  A.  (1975) The  influence of  milk  and  related dietary  constituents on
      lead  metabolism. Food  Cosmet.  Toxicol.  13:  555-563.

Stevens,  C.  D.;  Feldhake,  C.  J.;  Kehoe,  R.  A.  (1960)  Isolation  of triethyllead ion  from liver
      after inhalation of tetraethyllead.  J.  Pharmacol.  Exp.  Ther.  128:  90-94.

Stowe,  H.  D.; Goyer,  R.  A.;  Krigman, M. M.;  Wilson,  M. ;  Gates, M.  (1973)  Experimental  oral
      lead  toxicity  in young dogs:  clinical  and morphologic  effects.  Arch.  Pathol.  95:  106-116.

Stuik,  E.  J.  (1974) Biological  response  of male and female volunteers to inorganic  lead.  Int.
      Arch.  Arbeitsmed.  33:  83-97.

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      134-141.
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Vitale,  L.  F.;  Joselow,  M.  M.;  Wedeen,  R. P.;  Pawlow, M.  (1975)  Blood lead—an inadequate
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     236-237.

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Ziegler, E. E.; Edwards, B. B.; Jensen, R. L.; Mahaffey, K. R.; Fomon,  S. 0.  (1978)  Absorption
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Zielhuis,  R.  L.;  del  Castilho, P.; Herber,  R.  F.  M.; Wibowo,  A.  A.  E.  (1978)  Levels  of  lead
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     Health Perspect.  25: 103-109.
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             11.   ASSESSMENT OF LEAD EXPOSURES  AND ABSORPTION IN  HUMAN  POPULATIONS

11.1  INTRODUCTION
     This  chapter  describes effects  on  internal body  burdens  of  lead  in human  populations
resulting from exposure to lead in their  environment.   Particular attention is  paid to  changes
in  indices  of internal lead exposure that  follow changes  in external  lead exposures.   Blood
lead is  the  main  index of internal  lead  exposure discussed here, although  other  indices,  such
as levels of lead in teeth and bone, are  also briefly  discussed.
     The following  terms  and  definitions are used in  this  chapter.   Sources of lead are  those
components  of  the  environment  (e.g.,  gasoline combustion,  smelters)  from which  significant
quantities of  lead  are released into various environmental  media  of exposure.  Environmental
media are  routes  by which humans become  exposed to lead (e.g.,  air, soil,  food,  water, dust).
External exposures  are levels  at which  lead  is present  in any or all of the  environmental
media.    Internal  exposures are  amounts  of  lead  present in various body  tissues  and  fluids.
     The present chapter is structured to achieve the  following four main objectives:

     (1)  Elucidation  of  patterns of internal   lead exposures  in U.S.  populations  and
          identification of important demographic covariates.
     (2)  Characterization  of  relationships  between external and internal exposures to
          lead by exposure medium (air, food, water or dust).
     (3)  Identification of  specific  sources of lead  which result in increased internal
          exposure  levels.
     (4)  Estimation  of the relative contributions of  various  sources  of lead in  the
          environment  to total internal 'exposure as indexed by blood lead level.

     The  existing  scientific  literature must  be examined in light  of  the investigators'  own
objectives  and the  quality of the  scientific  investigations performed.   Although all  studies
need to  be evaluated  in regard to their methodology,  the more quantitative studies are evalu-
ated here  in  greater depth.   A  discussion of  the main types  of  methodological  points con-
sidered  in  such evaluations is presented in  Section 11.2.
     Patterns  of internal exposure to lead  in human populations are discussed  in Section 11.3.
This begins with a brief  examination of  the  historical record of  internal  lead exposure in
human  populations.   These  data  serve as  a backdrop  against which  recent  U.S.  levels can be
contrasted  and  define the  relative magnitude  of external  lead  exposures   in the  past and
present.   The contrast  is  structured as follows:  historical data,  recent data from popula-
tions  thought  to   be  isolated  from  urbanized  cultures,  and  then U.S.  populations showing
various  degrees of  urbanization  and  industrialization.

                                            11-1

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     The statistical treatment of  distributions  of blood lead levels  in  human  populations  is
the next topic  discussed.   As  part of that discussion,  the  empirical  characteristics  of  blood
lead  distributions  in  well-defined  homogeneous  populations are  denoted.   Important issues
addressed include the  proper  choice of estimators of central tendency and dispersion,  estima-
tors of percentile  values  and  the potential influence of errors  in  measurement  on  statistical
estimation involving blood lead data.
     Then recent patterns of internal  exposure in U.S.  and other  populations  showing change  in
blood lead levels are  discussed  in detail.  Estimates of internal  lead exposure and identifi-
cation of demographic  covariates  are  made.  Studies examining the  recent  past  for  evidence  of
change  in  internal  exposure levels are presented.   Next is an examination  of  extensive  evi-
dence which  points  towards gasoline  lead  being  an important determinant  of changes  in  blood
lead level associated  with  exposures  to airborne lead of populations  in the  United States and
elsewhere.
     Section 11.4  focuses  on  general  relationships between external  exposures and levels  of
internal exposure.  The  distribution  of lead in man is  diagramatically depicted by the compo-
nent model shown  in Figure 11-1.   Of particular importance  for this document is the relation-
ship between lead  in  air and lead in blood.  If lead in air were the  only medium of exposure,
then the  interpretation  of a statistical   relationship  between lead in air  and lead  in  blood
would be relatively simple.   However, this is not  the  case.   Lead  is present  in  a number  of
environmental media, as described in Chapter 7 and summarized in  Figure 11-1.   There are  rela-
tionships between lead  levels  in  air and  lead concentrations  in food, soil,  dust, and water.
As shown in  Chapters  6,  7, and 8,  lead emitted  into the atmosphere  ultimately comes  back  to
contaminate  the earth.  However,  only limited  data  are currently available  that provide  a
quantitative estimate  of the magnitude of this  secondary lead exposure.   The  implication  is
that an analysis involving estimated lead  levels  in all  environmental  media may  tend to under-
estimate the relationship between lead in  blood and lead in  air.
     The discussion of relationships  between  external  exposure  and  internal absorption  com-
mences with  air lead  exposures.   Both experimental and  epidemiological studies  are discussed.
Several  studies are identified as being of greatest importance in determining the quantitative
relationship between  lead  in  blood  and lead  in air.    The  form of  the  relationship  between
blood lead  and air  lead  is of particular interest and importance.  After  discussion of air
lead versus  blood  lead  relationships,  the chapter  next discusses the relationship  of  blood
lead to atmospheric lead  found in other environmental  media.  Section 11.5  describes studies
of specific  lead  exposure  situations  useful in identifying   specific  environmental sources  of
lead that contribute to  elevated  body burdens of  lead.   The chapter  concludes  with a summary
of key information and conclusions derived from the scientific evidence reviewed.
                                           11-2

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                      I  CRUSTAL  \      I   PAINT   1
                      I WEATHERING]      I          J
                                               SURFACE AND
                                              GROUND WATER
INDUSTRIAL
EMISSIONS
                    FECES  URINE
Figure 11-1. Pathways of lead from the environment to and within man.
                        11-3

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11.2  METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
11.2.1  Analytical  Problems
     Internal lead exposure  levels  in  human populations have been  estimated  by  analyses  of  a
variety of  biological  tissue matrices  (e.g., blood,  teeth,  bone,  and hair).   Lead levels  in
each of  these matrices have particular  biological  meanings  with regard to external  exposure
status; these relationships are  discussed  in  Chapter 10.  The  principal  internal  exposure
index  discussed  in this chapter is  blood  lead  concentration.   Blood lead concentrations  are
most reflective  of recent  exposure  to  lead and  bear a consistent relationship to levels  of
lead in the  external  environment  if the  latter  have been stable.   Blood  lead  levels are vari-
ously  reported as  |jg/100  g,  ug/100 ml,  ng/dl,  ppm,  ppb,  and nmol/1.  The  first  four  measures
are  roughly  equivalent,  whereas ppb values are  simply divisible  by 1000  to be  equivalent.
Actually there is  a  small, but not meaningful, difference in  blood lead levels  reported  on  a
per  volume  versus  per weight  difference.   The difference results from the density  of blood
being  slightly  greater than 1  g/ml.   For  the  purposes of  this  chapter,  data reported  on  a
weight or volume basis are considered equal.  On the other hand,  blood lead  data  reported  on  a
|jmol/l  basis  must  be  multiplied  by 20.72  to get the equivalent pg/dl   value.  Data  reported
originally as umol/1 in studies reviewed  here are  converted to  ug/dl in  this chapter.
     As discussed  in  Chapter 9,  the measurement  of  lead  in  blood has been  accomplished via  a
succession of analytical  procedures over  the years.   The first  reliable analytical  methods
available were  wet  chemistry  procedures,  succeeded  by  increasingly automated  instrumental
procedures.    With  these  changes in  technology  there  has  been increasing recognition of the
importance of controlling  for  contamination in  the sampling  and  analytical  procedures.  These
advances,  as well  as institution  of  external  quality  control  programs, have   resulted  in
markedly  improved  analytical results.    Data summarized in Chapter 9 show that a  generalized
improvement  in  analytical  results across  many  laboratories  occurred  during Federal  Fiscal
Years  1977-1979.    No  further  marked  improvement  was  seen  during   Federal  Fiscal Years
1979-1981.
     Because  of  interest   in being  able  to  attribute specific proportions of blood  lead  as
coming from  specific  environmental  sources, isotopic lead determinations in blood  have become
an  important  analytic  technique.   As difficult  as  it  is  to  determine blood lead  levels accu-
rately, the   achievement  of accurate  lead  isotopic  determinations  is  even   more  difficult.
Experience gained  from the  isotopic  lead  experiment  (ILE)  in Italy (reviewed  in detail  in
Section 11.3.6.2.1) has indicated  that extremely  aggressive  quality control and  contamination
control programs must  be  implemented to  achieve  acceptable  results.  With  proper procedures,
meaningful differences on  the order of  a  single  nanogram are  achievable.
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11.2.2  Statistical  Approaches
     Many studies have summarized the distribution  of  lead levels in humans.  These  studies
usually report measures of central  tendency (means)  and  dispersion (variances).   In  this  chap-
ter, the term  "mean"  refers  to the arithmetic mean  unless  stated otherwise.   This  measure  is
always an estimate of the average value,  but it estimates the center of the distribution  (50th
percentile)  only  for symmetric  distributions.   Many authors  provide  geometric means,  which
estimate the center of the distribution if the distribution  is lognormal.   Geometric means are
influenced less by unusually large values than are arithmetic means.   A complete discussion  of
the lognormal  distribution is given by Aitchison and Brown (1966), including formulas for con-
verting from arithmetic to geometric means.
     Most studies also  give  sample variances or standard deviations in addition to  the means.
If  geometric  means  are given, then  the  corresponding measure of dispersion  is  the geometric
standard deviation.   Aitchison and Brown (1966) give formulas for the geometric standard devi-
ation  and,  also,  explain how to estimate percentiles and construct confidence intervals.  All
of  the measures  of  dispersion actually include three sources of variation:  population varia-
tion,  measurement variation, and variation due to sampling error.  Values for these  components
are  needed  in  order  to  evaluate  a study  correctly.   There are  also sources of variation
related to the inclusion of predictive variables in the model, or their exclusion.   Such vari-
ables  include  different  lead  uptakes attributable  to  exposure to lead in  dust, soil,  food,
water,  paint   in  deteriorated housing,  and other  pathways.   If  included in the  model,  the
remaining sources of variation are due to  unmeasured differences in intrinsic metabolism and
behavior.  It has been the general goal in this chapter to  include all attributable  sources  of
variation, thus reducing the estimates of variability to biological differences, uncertainties
in  exposure,  and  measurement variations that cannot  be further attributed.  We recognize that
if  only air lead exposure is controlled, then there will be additional variation in blood lead
response  due  to  imperfectly  controlled covariation  of lead  exposure  from related pathways.
This  additional  variation can be  dealt with in practice by use of a larger geometric standard
deviation.
     A separate issue  is  the  form  of  the distribution of blood lead values.  Although the nor-
mal  and lognormal  distributions are commonly  used, there  are  many other possible distribu-
tions.   The form is  important for two reasons:  1)  it  determines  which is more appropriate,
the arithmetic or geometric mean, and 2)  it determines estimates of the fraction of a popula-
tion  exceeding given  internal  lead  levels  under various  external  exposures.   Both of these
questions arise  in  the discussion of the  distribution of  human  blood  lead levels  and  are  of
importance, ultimately,  for deriving  a rationale  for standard-setting  purposes.
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11.2.3  Confounding of Relevant Variables
     Failure to include  relevant  variables  is the most serious difficulty in evaluating  stud-
ies on  lead  in  human populations.   This usually occurs when the blood  lead response  is wholly
attributed to  some observed variable,  e.g.,  the  lead concentration in air, dust,  or water.
Typical confounders for air lead include the following:  (1) inhalation exposures  not captured
by  stationary  air  lead monitors,  particularly  those that occur  from personal  exposure  to
leaded gasoline or  its  combustion products; (2)  noninhalation  exposures  to  air lead not cap-
tured  by  stationary  monitors,  e.g.,  ingestion of  food  products  contaminated by lead fallout,
leaded dust, and  soil;  (3) ingestion of lead  in  water and food that is inadvertantly associ-
ated  with  air  lead exposure.   Socioeconomic  factors  may  be important  here  also.    See
Brunekreef (1984) and Snee (1982b,c) for additional comments.
     Air lead concentrations are typically highest in urban centers  where the concentration of
motor  vehicles  is  greatest.   (Communities  with lead smelters are an exception).   Suburban and
rural  areas  have much  lower air  lead concentrations.   However, suburban  and rural  residents
may  spend  more time  in motor  vehicles  due to  longer trips to work,  school,  and  shopping.
There  is  some  reason to believe that higher  lead concentrations may be found near and  inside
automobiles  (see  Spengler  et  al.,  (1984),  Section 11.3.6.2.1),  thus offsetting the  decreased
ambient  air  lead  concentrations  measured  by  stationary monitors  in non-urban areas.   Un-
fortunately, there is no way at this time to separate the response to average ambient air lead
levels from variations in personal lead exposure patterns.
     Children are known to ingest quantities of dust and soil by normal hand-mouth contact.  In
studies  in which  dust lead concentrations or hand lead quantities are measured, their contri-
bution  is  very large  -- usually much  larger  than the lead intake  by  direct  inhalation.   In
smelter communities all of these variables -- ambient air lead, dust lead, soil  lead, and lead
on children's hands -- are likely to be high.   It may then be difficult to separate the  contri-
butions  of  each of  these  components, and if  any  one  is not measured,  then  its  influence on
blood  lead may be attributed to the other variables.  This may cause little difficulty when in
fact  there  is  a single  source  for  all  exposure pathways, but  positive confounding  may  cause
difficulty in extrapolating the relationship to situations in which air and dust lead are less
strongly coupled.  Similarly,  the  particle  size distribution may change with distance from the
source  (smelter,  highway,  etc.) and particle size is known to affect the fraction of lead ab-
sorbed  by  the lungs.   However, air  and dust lead concentrations also  decrease with distance
from  the source,  thus  leading to  potential  confounding  of  concentration and size effects.
This may  be  a  factor in some smelter studies, e.g., the Silver Valley, Idaho, study discussed
later.
                                           11-6

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     Socioeconomic status (SES), sex,  age,  and race are also confounded with air lead.   Lower
SES populations tend to  be  found in areas  with high air lead concentration such as  urban cen-
ters and  smelter  communities.   There may also be  systematic SES differences in use of  lead-
soldered food and beverage cans and in exposure to  food products with high lead  content and  in
personal and household cleanliness, as well.   The latter is important because dust control can
substantially reduce blood lead burdens in  children (Charney et al.,  1983).   Lower SES  is also
associated  with  older housing stocks  and  increasing  risk of encountering lead  paint  in poor
condition  and  lead pipes  in  water systems.   Lower  SES is also more likely  to be  associated
with inadequate dietary calcium, iron, and  vitamins, all of which increase lead absorption and
the likely  toxic  effects of any given level of lead exposure.   In addition,  lower SES  is also
more likely  to  imply  reduced  awareness of  lead hazards and reduced resources for dealing with
such hazards.  Other  factors,  such as the  presence  of pets in a  household  and the amount  of
time spent playing outside, are not obviously related to SES.
     Males  have  higher  blood  lead levels than females,  at least beyond ages 10-11.  The most
plausible explanations suggest differential exposure, with older boys and men typically spend-
ing more  time  in contact with motor  vehicles,  in  jobs with potential lead exposure, and more
often outdoors.   The  risk factors have  not  been fully identified.  Black children also  often
have higher blood leads than  do white children, even after adjusting for SES and other covar-
iates;  the  reason for this difference  has also not been clarified, but may be related to  posi-
tive confounding  factors.
     For modelling purposes, the appropriate geometric  standard deviation removes a portion of
the total variation in blood lead  due  to differences  in air  lead exposure without removing the
variance  due to  these  other  factors.   Controlling for  race,  urbanization,  age,  income, and
location may overcontrol  in this case, since it  may remove variance due to environmental  expo-
sure factors that will  remain after air  lead is  controlled to any  given level.   It may thus be
prudent and conservative to compensate  for  this overcontrol by  increasing the  geometric stan-
dard deviation when only air lead  is  used as a predictor  variable.
     All of the  above factors make it difficult  to  analyze adequately such a  highly confounded
environmental  exposure   variable as  air  lead.   However,  there  appear to  be  enough studies in
which  several  of the possible  confounding  factors were  also measured  that  it is possible to
obtain  reasonable estimates of blood  lead changes  in  response to  differences  in concentrations
of lead in  air,  dust,  soil,  water, and diet, seasonal  variations,  and personal risk factors
such  as household quality, occupational exposure,  and motor vehicle exposure.  The remaining
sections  of this chapter discuss  studies  from which  such estimates  are derived.  Experimental
studies are much  less  subject to confounding,  and where available, are  generally preferred.
Unfortunately,  experimental  studies do  not  provide information about  total  environmental  air
                                            11-7

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lead exposure, which  includes  multiple exposure pathways and possible time lags of many years
due to  passage of  lead through the soil, the food chain, and water supplies.   It is thus also
necessary to obtain information about total air lead exposure from observational studies.   All
observational studies  suffer confounding problems.   This chapter focuses  mainly  on those ob-
servational  studies in  which a substantial number of  the  probable  important confounding fac-
tors are  either  measured  or  are controlled by  the  design of the study.   Less  importance is
assigned to  those  studies  in  which too  many important covariates have been omitted,  or which
otherwise seem critically deficient.
11.3  LEAD IN HUMAN POPULATIONS
11.3.1  Introduction
     This descriptive section presents information on dimensions of current internal  exposures
to  lead  for United  States  populations.   Several  aspects of the  current  situation  regarding
internal lead exposures are addressed.  First, attention is focused on showing how current in-
dices of  internal  exposure compare with  indices derived from  historical  samples.   Also,  the
question of  how  contemporaneous  populations compare with one another with respect to internal
exposures  is  addressed.   The primary data  involved  in this discussion are blood  lead  levels
from populations  showing varying  degrees  of urbanization.   Blood lead levels are  lowest in
populations living remotely from urban influences and increase as one goes from rural to urban
areas,   suggesting  that higher  blood  lead  levels  are linked to  urban  lifestyles.   Following
this discussion, data  are  presented on several  large studies in the United States and a large
worldwide study.   These  data  address  two principal questions:   1) are there identifiable sub-
populations  in  the United  States  which exhibit  higher than average  blood  lead  levels,  and
2) how  do  United  States blood  lead  levels  compare  with other countries?  This  section next
presents studies which examine  recent time  trends in blood lead levels in the United  States
and elsewhere, and then  concludes  with a discussion of evidence which points  towards gasoline
lead being an  important  determinant of changes  in blood lead levels associated with  exposures
to airborne lead of populations  in the United States  and elsewhere.

11.3.2 Ancient and Remote Populations
     One question  of much  interest in understanding environmental pollutants  is the  extent to
which current ambient  exposures  exceed background levels.  Because lead is a  naturally occur-
ring element  it can be  surmised  that some  level  has  been  and  will always be present  in the
human body; the question of interest is what is  the difference between body burdens of current
subgroups of  the  United States  population  and  those  "natural"  levels.  Information  regarding

                                           11-8

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this issue has been  developed  from studies of populations  that  lived  in  the  past  and  popula-
tions that currently  live  in  remote areas far from the influence of industrial  and urban  lead
exposures.
     Man has  used  lead since  antiquity for a  variety  of purposes.   These uses have afforded
the opportunity  for  some  segments  of the human population  to  be exposed to lead  and  subse-
quently absorb it  into  the body.   Because lead accumulates  over a lifetime  in bones and teeth
and because bones  and teeth stay intact  for extremely  long times,  it  is  possible  to estimate
the extent to which  populations  in the past have  been  exposed  to lead.   Because of the prob-
lems of scarcity of samples and little knowledge of how representative  the samples  are  of  con-
ditions at the time,  the data  from these studies provide only rough estimates  of the extent of
absorption.   Further  complicating the  interpretation  of these  data are debates  over proper
analytical procedures  and  the  question of whether skeletons and teeth  pick up or release  lead
from or to the soil in which they are interred (Waldron et al.,  1979; Waldron, 1981).
     Waldron  et  al.  (1979) have  argued that  any  lead  found in ancient  bones  probably is an
accurate reflection of exposure during life.   They reported a small study which  showed  no cor-
relation between bone and soil  lead concentrations.  Later,  however, Waldron (1981) reported a
study  in  which  the  postmortem bone  lead levels appeared  to  be much  too high to have  been
developed  during  life.   The   bones  were  recovered from  lead  coffins.   Electron microprobe
analysis on one  bone from a lead coffin showed that the lead was concentrated on the surfaces
of  the  bone.   This suggested  that the lead in bones came from the lead coffin and  led  Waldron
(1981)  to  suggest  that "in any further study of the lead content of bones from archaeological
sites,  steps  must be  taken to  assess  environmental  lead  levels and  if these are unusually
high, the  results of the analyses should be viewed with suspicion."  Barry and Connolly (1981)
express further  concern over  the use of  paleontological  remains as doubtful criteria  for the
u»  vivo assessment of  lead exposure in past populations.
     Despite  these methodological difficulties,  several studies provide data by which to esti-
mate internal exposure  patterns among ancient  populations,  and some  studies have included  data
from  both past  and  current populations for comparisons.   Data  from specific studies  of  bone
and teeth  in  ancient  populations  are  summarized  below in Section 11.3.2.1.  In contrast to the
study  of  ancient populations   using bone  and teeth  lead  levels, several studies have looked at
the issue  of  lead  contamination  from  the  perspective of  comparing blood lead  levels in  current
remote  and urbanized  populations.   These  studies using blood lead  levels  as an  indicator  found
mean  blood concentrations in  remote  populations between 1 and 5 ug/dl (an order  of magnitude
below  current U.S. urban  population means),  as discussed in Section  11.3.2.2  below.
                                            11-9

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11.3.2.1  Ancient Populations.   Table 11-1  summarizes  several  studies that analyzed bones  and
teeth to yield  approximate estimates of lead absorption  in  the past.  Some of  these  studies
also analyzed contemporary current samples  so that a comparison between past and  present could
be made.  Studies  summarized  in Table 11-1 show an  increase of lead levels in bone and teeth
from older to contemporary samples.
     Samples from  the  Sudan  (ancient Nubians) were collected  from  several  different archaeo-
logical  periods  (Grandjean et  al. ,  1979).   The  oldest sample  (3300-2900 B.C.)  averaged 0.6
ug/g for bone and  0.9  ug/g for teeth.   Data from the later time of 1650-1350 B.C.  show a sub-
stantial increase in absorbed lead.   Comparison  of even the most recent ancient samples with a
current Danish sample showed a four- to  eightfold increase over time.
     The Shapiro  et al.  (1975) study compared  the tooth lead  content  of  ancient  populations
with  that  of  current  remote  populations   and,  also,  with  current  urban  populations.   The
ancient Egyptian samples  (1st  and 2nd millenia) exhibited the lowest tooth lead levels, with
a mean of 9.7 ug/g.  The more recent Peruvian Indian samples  (12th century) had similar levels
(13.6  ug/g).    The  contemporary  Alaskan  Eskimo  samples had a  mean  of  56.0 ug/9,  while
Philadelphia samples had  a mean of  188.3 ug/g.   These data  suggest  an  increasing  pattern of
lead absorption from ancient populations to current remote and urban populations.
     Data have  also  been  obtained from ancient  Peruvian  and  Pennsylvanian samples (Becker et
al., 1968).  The  Peruvian  and Pennsylvanian samples for American Indian populations were from
approximately the  same era (~1200-1400  A.D.).   Little  lead was used  in these cultures as  re-
flected by chemical  analysis  of bone lead  content.  The values were less than 5  ug/g for both
samples.   In  contrast, values  obtained for  modern  samples  from  residents of  Syracuse,  New
York, ranged  from 5 to  110 ug/g.   Ericson  et  al. (1979) also analyzed bone  speciments from
ancient Peruvians.   Samples  from  4500-3000 years  ago  to  about 1400 years ago were reasonably
constant (<0.2 ug/g).
     Fosse and Wesenberg (1981) reported a  study of Norwegian teeth samples from several eras.
The  older  material from  1200-1800  A.D. was  significantly  lower in  lead (1.22  to  1.81 ug/g)
than modern samples (3.73 to 4.12 ug/g).
     Aufderheide et  al.  (1981)  report  a study  of 16  skeletons  from  colonial  America.   Two
social  groups,  identified as  plantation  proprietors  and laborers,  had distinctly different
exposures to  lead as  shown  by the  analyses of  the  skeletal   samples.  The proprietor group
averaged 185 ug/g bone ash while the laborer group averaged 35 ug/g.
     Changes in  bone and  tooth lead concentrations  over  time  (as determined  by the above or
other studies)  have been evaluated  by  Angle and Mclntire (1982),  as  graphically  depicted in
Figure 11-2.  Lead  concentrations in human bones  apparently markedly increased  among ancient
                                           11-10

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                                         TABLE  11-1.   SUMMARY  OF  REPRESENTATIVE  STUDIES OF PAST EXPOSURES TO  LEAD
Population studied
Nubians1 vs. Modern Danes
Nubians
A- group
C-group
Pharonic
Merotic, X-group and Christians
Danes

Ancient Peruvians2
Ancient Pennsylvania!! Indians
Recent Syracuse, NY
Uvdal3
Modern Buskend County
Bryggen
Norway
Ancient Egyptian4
Peruvian Indian
Alaskan Eskimo
Philadelphian
Age of sample
3300 B.C. to 750 A.D. (5000 yrs. old)
3300 to 2900 B.C.
2000 to 1600 B.C.
1650 to 1350 B.C.
1 to 750 A.D.
Contemporary
500-600 yrs. old
500 yrs. old
Contemporary
Buried from before 1200 A.D. to 1804
Contemporary
Medieval Bergen
Contemporary
1st and 2nd millennia
12th century
Contemporary
Contemporary
Method of analysis
PASS, ASV
PASS, ASV
PASS, ASV
PASS, ASV
FASS, ASV
PASS, ASV
Arc emission spectroscopy
Arc emission spectrosocpy
Arc emission spectroscopy
AAS
AAS
AAS
AAS
ASV
ASV
ASV
ASV
Lead
M9/9
Bone
0.6t
i.ot
2.0t
1.2t
5.5t
<5tt
N.D.
5-110tt


levels,
dry weight
Tooth
0.9*
2.1*
5.0*
3.2*
25.7*

1.22**
4. 12**
1.81**
3.73**
9.7
13.6
56.0
188.3
!Grandjean et al. (1979).
2Becker et al. (1968).
3Fosse and Wesenberg  (1981).
"Shapiro et al. (1975).
"Circunpulpal dentine.
•(•Temporal bone.
TtTibia/femur.
**Whole tooth, but values corrected  for enamel and dentine.

-------










,
f-
A PERU / \
O EGYPT / \
0 NUBIA / \
• DENMARK / \
A BRITAIN-ROMAN. / >
ANGLO SAXON / /^N T
• u.s. / / V
O BRITAIN, contemporary ' f \



!
» ,
/ i
\
\
\
\

\

/ /j ii
/ ^ m
.._n 	 A 	 -^~ 	 ^^ 	 	 •*-" A M A V
r r rn^Fn r r r i


— 200


—150

-100

—50
hi 0
                                                                         O)
                                                                         O
                                                                         CD
5500 5000  4500  4000  3500   3000   2500   2000   1500   1000   500  PRESENT
 BP
                        YEARS BEFORE PRESENT
 Figure 11-2. Estimated lead concentrations in bones (//g/g) from 5500
 years before present (BP) to the present time, from ancient Peru (Ericson
 et al. 1979) and Egypt, Nubia, and Denmark (Grandjean et al. 1979).
 Britain in the Roman and Anglo-Saxon (Waldron 1980) eras, contem-
 porary British children (Barry 1981), and U.S. adults in the 1950s
 (Schroeder and Tipton 1968).

Source: From Angle and Mclntire (1982).
                  Early (Britain-Roman, Anglo-Saxon) with soil
                  possibly contaminated with lead.
                  Early (Britain-Roman, Anglo-Saxon) with soil
                  believed not to be contaminated with lead.
                  Represents range of values.
                                   11-12

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populations with the  introduction  of metallurgic processes and  dramatic  increases  in produc-
tion and utilization of lead.   For example, bone lead concentrations consistently below 3 ug/g
were found for premetallurgic  societies in Peru, Egypt, Nubia, and Denmark,  whereas  concentra-
tions  of  lead in  bones  from  England  during the  early  Roman Empire  era are  reported  to  be
10-fold higher and  to have reached 300 to  400  ug/g by the time  of the  Norman invasion.   The
Danish bone  lead  levels  also  increased during medieval times and reached peak levels of about
40-50  ug/g  in  the  eighteenth  century.   The  data  available  for more recent contemporary popu-
lations in  the twentieth  century appear to  be  widely  variable,  ranging from  0.1 to 5.4 ug/g
reported for  contemporary  adults in Denmark to 7.5 to 195 ug/g reported for U.S. adults dying
in  the 1950's.   Overall,  the  available data (despite analytic  errors  in individual studies)
collectively  suggest  that  contemporary Americans, especially  urban populations, absorb mani-
fold higher  levels of lead than did members of premetallurgic societies.
11.3.2.2  Remote Populations.   Several studies have looked at the blood lead levels  in current
remote populations  (Piomelli  et al., 1980;  Poole  et  al.,  1980).  These studies are important
in  defining baseline  levels of internal lead exposures found in the world today.
     Piomelli et  al.  (1980)  studied blood  lead levels of natives in a remote  (far from indus-
trialized  regions)  section of Nepal.   Portable air samplers were  used  to  determine air lead
concentrations in  the region.   The  lead content of the air samples proved to  be less than the
detection  limit,  0.004 ug/m3.   A  later study  by  Davidson et al. (1981)  found an average air
lead concentration of 0.00086 ug/m3  in remote areas of Nepal, thus  confirming  the low air lead
levels reported by Piomelli et al.  (1980).
     Blood  lead  levels  reported by  Piomelli et al.  (1980)  for the Nepalese natives were low;
the geometric  mean blood  lead for  this population was 3.4 ug/dl.   Adult males  had a geometric
mean of  3.8 ug/dl  and adult females,  2.9 ug/dl.   Children had a geometric mean blood lead of
3.5 ug/dl.   Only 10 of 103 individuals  tested had a  blood  lead level  greater  than 10 ug/dl.
The blood samples, which were collected on  filter  paper discs, were analyzed by a modification
of  the Delves cup atomic absorption spectrophotometric method.   Stringent quality control pro-
cedures  were followed  for both the blood and air samples.  To  put  these  Nepalese values in
perspective,  Piomelli  et al.  (i960) reported  analyses of blood  samples collected and analyzed
by  the same methods from  Manhattan,  New  York.   New York blood  leads averaged about 15 ug/dl,
fivefold higher than  the Nepalese  values.
     Poole  et al.  (1980)  reported  another study of a remote  population, using contamination-
free micro-blood sampling and chemical analysis  techniques.   They reported acceptable  preci-
sion at blood  lead concentrations  as  low  as  5  ug/dl,  using spectrophotometry.  One  hundred
children  were sampled  from  a  remote  area of  Papua,  New Guinea.   Almost all  of the  children
came  from  families  engaging  in  subsistence agriculture.   The  children ranged from 7  to  10
                                            11-13

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years  and  included both  sexes.   Blood  lead levels ranged from  I  to 13 ug/dl with  a  mean of
5.2.  Although the  data  appear to be somewhat skewed to the right, they are in good agreement
with those of Piomelli for Nepalese subjects.

11.3.3  Levels of Lead and Demographic Covariates in U.S.  and Other Populations
     Several large  surveys  of  blood lead levels give information on the major demographic co-
variates  in  U.S.  populations  (see also sections  7.3.2.2 and  7.3.2.3.)   In  addition  to the
obvious covariates  of age,  sex,  race,  and  urban-rural  differences,  there  is a  more subtle
effect of  seasonality.   Children  show a strong midsummer  peak  (hence the characterization of
lead poisoning as  "the  summer disease"  (Hunter, 1978)).   This  peak may be attributed to many
causes:   1)  gasoline  lead consumption  and  lead concentrations  are higher  in  the  summer; 2)
many people, especially children,  spend more time outside during the summer; 3) more beverages
are consumed in the summer, increasing exposure from lead-soldered beverage cans;  and 4) other
seasonal variations  in diet,  climate, and health  status  may affect blood lead levels.  Thus,
seasonality  has an  effect on all  of the demographic studies.  The extent to which these demo-
graphic studies adjust for seasonality varies.
11.3.3.1   The  NHANES  II  Study.   The National  Center for  Health Statistics has  provided the
best currently available picture of blood lead levels among United States residents as part of
the  second  National  Health  and  Nutrition  Examination  Study  (NHANES   II)  conducted  from
February,  1976 to February, 1980 (Mahaffey et al.,  1982; McDowell et al., 1981; Annest et al.,
1982;  Annest and  Mahaffey, 1984).  These are the  first national estimates  of lead levels in
whole blood  from a representative sample of the non-institutionalized U.S. civilian population
aged 6 months to 74 years.
     From  a  total  of 27,801 persons  identified through  a stratified, multi-stage probability
cluster  sample of  households throughout the United States,  blood  lead  determinations were
scheduled  for  16,563  persons including  all  children ages 6 months to 6 years, and one-half of
all persons  ages  7-74.   Sampling  was scheduled in 64 sampling areas over the four-year period
according  to a previously determined itinerary to maximize operational efficiency and response
of  participants.    Because  of the  constraints  of  cold weather,  the  examination trailers
traveled  in  the moderate climate  areas during the  winter, and the more northern areas during
the summer (McDowell et al., 1981).
     All  reported  blood  lead  levels  were  based on  samples  collected by venipuncture.  Blood
lead levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a modified Delves cup
micro-method.  Specimens  were  analyzed  in duplicate, with both  determinations done independ-
ently  in  the  same  analytical  run.   Quality  control was  maintained by  two systems,  a bench
system and a blind insertion of samples.   If the  NHANES  II replicates  differed  by more than
                                           11-14

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7 |jg/dl,  the analysis was  repeated  for the specimen  (about  0.3  percent were reanalyzed).   If
the average of  the  replicate  values of either "bench"  or  "blind"  control  specimens  fell  out-
side previously  established  95 percent confidence  limits,  the entire run was  repeated.   The
estimated coefficient of variation for the "bench"  quality  control  ranged from 7 to 15 percent
(Mahaffey et al., 1979).
     The reported blood  lead  levels were  based on  the  average of  the replicates.   Blood  lead
levels and  related  data were  reported as population  estimates;  findings for each person  were
inflated by the reciprocal of  selection  probabilities, adjusted  to account  for  persons  who
were not examined and  poststratified by race, sex,  and age.   The  final estimates closely ap-
proximate the U.S.  Bureau  of  Census estimates for  the  civilian  non-institutionalized popula-
tion of the United States as of March 1, 1978, aged 1/2-74  years.
     Participation  rates varied  across age  categories;  the  highest  non-response  rate  (51
percent) was for  the youngest age  group, 6 months  through 5 years.   Among medically examined
persons, those  with  missing  blood  lead values were  randomly distributed by race, sex, degree
of  urbanization,  and annual  family income.   These  data are  probably  the  best estimates now
available  regarding  the degree  of  lead absorption  in  the  general  United States population.
     Forthofer  (1983) has  studied the potential  effects of non-response bias in the NHANES II
survey and  found no  large biases  in  the  health  variables.    This was  based on the excellent
agreement of the  NHANES II examined data, which  had a  27 percent non-response rate, with the
National Health Interview Survey data, which had a 4 percent non-response rate.
     The national estimates  presented below are based  on 9933 persons whose blood lead levels
ranged from 2.0 to  66.0 ug/dl.  The  median blood lead  for the  entire U.S. population is 13.0
ug/dl.  It  is readily apparent that blacks have a higher blood lead  level than whites (medians
for blacks  and whites were 15.0 and 13.0 ug/dl, respectively).
     Tables  11-2  through 11-4 display the observed distribution of  measured blood lead levels
by  race,  sex,  and age.   The  possible  influence  of measurement  error on the percent distribu-
tion  estimates  is  discussed  in Section  11.3.4.   Estimates of  mean blood lead levels differ
substantially with  respect to race, age, and sex.  Blacks have  higher  levels than whites, the
6-month to  5-year group is higher  than the  older age  groups, and men  are higher than women.
Overall, younger children  show only a  slight  age effect, with  2- to  3-year-olds having slight-
ly  higher blood lead levels than older children or adults  (see Figure 11-3).   In the  6-17 year
grouping  there  is  a decreasing trend  in lead levels  with  increasing  age.   Holding age con-
stant,  there are  significant  race  and  sex differences;  as  age  increases,  the difference
between males and females  in  mean blood lead  concentrations  increases.
                                            11-15

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           TABLE 11-2.  NHANES II BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF PERSONS 6 MONTHS-74 YEARS, WITH WEIGHTED ARITHMETIC MEAN, STANDARD ERROR OF THE
                        MEAN, WEIGHTED GEOMETRIC MEAN, MEDIAN, AND PERCENT DISTRIBUTION, BY RACE AND AGE, UNITED STATES, 1976-80
Blood lead level pg/dl



Race and age
All racesd
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
White
Al 1 ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Black
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Estimated
population
in
thousands

203,554
16,852
44,964
141,728

174,528
13,641
37,530
123,357

23,853
2,584
6,529
14,740
Percent distribution0

Number b
exarai ned

9,933
2,372
1,720
5,841

8,369
1,876
1,424
5,069

1,332
419
263
650
Arith-
metic
mean

13.9
16.0
12.5
14.2

13.7
14.9
12.1
14.1

15.7
20.9
14.8
15.5
Standard
error of
the mean

0.24
0.42
0.30
0.25

0.24
0.43
0.30
0.25

0.48
0.61
0.53
0.54


Geometric
mean

12.8
14.9
11.7
13.1

12.6
14.0
11.3
12.9

14.6
19.6
14.0
14.4
Median

13.0
15.0
12.0
13.0

13.0
14.0
11.0
13.0

15.0
20.0
14.0
14.0
Less
than
10

22.1
12.2
27.6
21.2

23.3
14.5
30.4
21.9

13.3
2.5
12.8
14.7


10-19

62.9
63.3
64.8
62.3

62.8
67.5
63.4
62.3

63.7
45.4
70.9
62.9


20-29

13.0
20.5
7.1
14.3

12.2
16.1
5.8
13.7

20.0
39.9
15.6
19.6


30-39

1.6
3.6
0.5
1.8

1.5
1.8
0.4
1.8

2.3
10.2
0.7
2.0


40+

0.3
0.4
-
0.4

0.3
0.2
-
0.4

0.6
2.0
-
0.9
aAt the midpoint of the survey, March 1, 1978.
ntfith lead determinations from blood specimens drawn by venipuncture.
GNumbers may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
 Includes data for races not shown separately.

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            TABLE 11-3.  NHANES II BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF HALES 6 MONTHS-74 YEARS, WITH WEIGHTED ARITHMETIC MEAN, STANDARD ERROR OF THE
                         MEAN, WEIGHTED GEOMETRIC MEAN, MEDIAN, AND PERCENT DISTRIBUTION, BY RACE AND AGE, UNITED STATES, 1976-80
Blood lead level ug/dl
Race and age
All racesd
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
White
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Black
All ages
6 ionths-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Estimated
population
in
thousands

99,062
8,621
22,887
67,555

85,112
6,910
19.060
59,142

11,171
1,307
3,272
6,592
Number .
examined

4,945
1,247
902
2,796

4,153
969
753
2,431

664
231
129
304
Arith-
metic
mean

16.1
16.3
13.6
16.8

15.8
15.2
13.1
16.6

18.3
20.7
16.0
19.1
Standard
error of
the mean

0.26
0.46
0.32
0.28

0.27
0.46
0.33
0.29

0.52
0.74
0.62
0.70
Geometric
mean

15.0
15.1
12.8
15.8

14.7
14.2
12.4
15.6

17.3
19.3
15.3
18.1
Median

15.0
15.0
13.0
16.0

15.0
14.0
13.0
16.0

17.0
19.0
15.0
18.0

Less
than
10

10.4
11.0
19.1
7.6

11.3
13.0
21.4
8.1

4.0
2.7
8.0
2.3
Percent
10-19

65.4
63.5
70.1
64.1

66.0
67.6
69.5
64.8

59.6
48.8
69.9
56.4
distribution
20-29

20.8
21.2
10.2
24.2

19.6
17.3
8.4
23.3

31.0
35.1
21.1
34.9
30-39

2.8
4.0
0.7
3.4

2.6
2.0
0.7
3.3

4.1
11.1
1.0
4.5
40+

0.5
0.3
-
0.6

0.4
0.1
-
0.6

1.3
2.4
-
1.8
aAt the midpoint of the survey, March 1, 1978.
nrfith lead determinations from blood specimens drawn by venipuncture.
cNunbers nay not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
 Includes data for races not shown separately.

-------
                               TABLE 11-4.  NHANES II BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF FEMALES 6 MONTHS-74 YEARS, WITH WEIGHTED ARITHMETIC MEAN,
                   STANDARD ERROR OF THE HE AN, WEIGHTED GEOMETRIC MEAN, MEDIAN, AND PERCENT DISTRIBUTION, BV RACE AND AGE, UNITED STATES, 1976-80
oc
Blood lead level
Race and age
All racesd
All ages
6 months -5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
White
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Black
All ages
6 months-5 years
6-17 years
18-74 years
Esti Bated
population
in a
thousands

104,492
8,241
22,077
74,173

89,417
6,732
18,470
64,215

12,682
1,277
3,256
8,148
Number .
examined

4,988
1,125
818
3,045

4,216
907
671
2,638

668
188
134
346
Arith-
metic
mean

11.9
15.8
11.4
11.8

11.7
14.7
11.0
11.7

13.4
21.0
13.6
12.7
Standard
error of
the mean

0.23
0.42
0.32
0.22

0.23
0.44
0.31
0.23

0.45
0.69
0.64
0.44
Geometric
mean

11.1
14.6
10.6
11.0

10.9
13.7
10.3
10.9

12.6
19.8
12.8
12.0
Median

11.0
15.0
11.0
11.0

11.0
14.0
11.0
11.0

13.0
20.0
13.0
12.0

Less
than
10

33.3
13.5
36.6
33.7

34.8
16.1
40.0
34.6

21.5
2.2
17.7
24.7
, M9/dl
Percent
10-19

60.5
63.2
59.3
60.6

59.6
67.3
56.9
59.9

67.3
41.6
71.9
68.1



distribution0
20-29

5.7
19.8
3.9
5.2

5.0
14.8
2.9
5.0

10.3
45.3
10.0
7.2
30-39

0.4
3.0
0.2
0.3

0.4
1.6
0.2
0.4

0.7
9.2
0.4
"
40+

0.2
0.5
-
0.2

0.2
0.2
-
0.2

0.1
1.7
-
"
          aAt the Midpoint of the survey, March 1, 1978.
          Trfith lead determinations fro* blood specimens drawn by venipuncture.
          GNumbers may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
           Includes data for races not shown separately.

-------
5
O)
UJ

UJ
O
o
O
§
o
   25
   20
15
10
                                  Black
                                 White
                                     AGE, yean

    Figure 11-3. Geometric mean blood lead levels by race and age for
    younger children in the NHANES II study. EPA calculations from
    data furnished by the National Center for Health Statistics.

    Source: Annest and Mahaffey (1984).
                                    11-19

-------
     For adults 18-74 years, males have greater blood lead levels than females for both whites
and  blacks.   There is a significant relationship  between age and blood lead,  but  it differs
for  whites  and  blacks.   Whites have increasing blood lead levels until 35-44 years  of age and
then decline, while blacks have increasing blood lead levels until 55-64.
     This study showed  a clear relationship between blood lead level and family income group.
For  both blacks  and whites,  increasing family  income  is associated  with lower blood  lead
level.  At  the  highest  income level the difference between blacks and whites is the  smallest,
although blacks  still have  significantly  higher  blood  lead  levels  than whites.  The racial
difference was greatest for the 6-month to 5-year age range.
     The NHANES II  blood lead data were also examined with respect to the degree of  urbaniza-
tion  at  the place of residence.  The  three  categories used were  urban  areas  with  population
greater  than  one  million,  urban areas with population less than one million, and rural areas.
Geometric mean blood lead levels increased with degree of urbanization for all  race-age groups
except for blacks 18-74 years of age (see Table 11-5).  Most importantly, urban black children
aged  6  months - 5 years  appeared to  have  distinctly higher  mean blood lead  levels  than any
other population subgroup.
11.3.3.2  The Childhood Blood  Lead Screening Programs.   In  addition  to the  nationwide picture
presented by  the  NHANES II  (Annest et al., 1982) study regarding important  demographic corre-
lates of blood  lead levels, Billick et al. (1979, 1982) provide large scale analyses of blood
lead  values  from  childhood  blood lead screening programs in specific cities that also address
this  issue.
     Billick et al. (1979) analyzed data from New York City blood lead screening programs from
1970  through  1976.   The data  include age  in months,  sex, race, residence expressed  as health
district, screening  information, and  blood  lead  values  expressed in  intervals  of  10 ug/dl.
Only  the venous blood lead  data (178,588 values), clearly identified as coming from the first
screening of  a  given child, were used.  All blood lead determinations were done by  the same
laboratory.   The geometric means of the children's blood lead  levels by age, race, and year of
collection  are presented in Table 11-6.   The annual means were calculated from the  four quar-
terly means which were estimated by the method of Hasselblad et al. (1980).
     The data obtained  for  New York are generally consistent  with the nationwide results from
the NHANES II study.  For example, all  racial/ethnic groups show an increase in geometric mean
blood level  with  age for the  first  two  years  and a general decrease in the older age groups.
These  age-related patterns  are seen  in  Figure 11-4,  which  shows  the  trends for  all  years
(1970-1976)  combined.   Also,  the childhood screening data  described  by  Billick et  al. (1979)
show  higher geometric mean  blood lead values  for blacks  than for  Hispanics  or for whites.
Table 11-6  presents  these geometric means for the three racial/ethnic groups for seven years.

                                           11-20

-------
                   TABLE  11-5.  WEIGHTED GEOMETRIC MEAN BLOOD  LEAD  LEVELS
                 FROM  NHANES  II  SURVEY  BY DEGREE OF URBANIZATION OF  PLACE OF
                RESIDENCE  IN  THE U.S. BY AGE AND RACE, UNITED STATES 1976-80
                                   (micrograms/deci1iter)
Race and age
All races
All ages
6 months-5
6-17 years
18-74 years

Whites
Al 1 ages
6 months-5
6-17 years
18-74 years

Blacks
All ages
6 months-5
6-17 years




Degree
Urban,
^1 million


years

- men:
women:


years

- men:
women:


years

18-74 years - men:

women:

14.
16.
13.
16.
12.

14.
15.
12.
16.
12.

14.
20.
14.
17.
11.

0
8
1
9
2

0
6
6
9
4

4
8
6
4
8

(2,395)a
(544)
(414)
(677)
(760)

(1,767)
(358)
(294)
(531)
(584)

(570)
(172)
(111)
(132)
(155)

12.
15.
11.
15.
11.

12.
14.
11.
15.
10.

14.
19.
13.
18.
12.
of urbanization
Urban,
<1 million

8
4
7
7
0

5
4
4
4
8

8
2
6
6
4

(3,869)
(944)
(638)
(1,050)
(1,237)

(3,144)
(699)
(510)
(889)
(1,046)

(612)
(205)
(113)
(134)
(160)

11.
13.
10.
15.
9.

11.
12.
10.
14.
9.

14.
16.
13.
18.
11.
Rural

9
0
7
1
8

8
7
5
8
8

4
5
0
3
3

(3


(1
(1

(3


(1
(1







,669)
(884)
(668)
,069)
,048)

,458)
(819)
(620)
,011)
,008)

(150)
(42)
(39)
(38)
(31)
 Number with lead determinations from blood specimens drawn by venipuncture.

Source:  Annest and Mahaffey, 1984;  Annest et al.,  1982.
                                           11-21

-------
TABLE 11-6.  ANNUAL GEOMETRIC MEAN BLOOD LEAD LEVELS FROM THE NEW YORK BLOOD LEAD SCREENING STUDIES
          OF BILLICK  ET AL.  (1979).  ANNUAL GEOMETRIC MEANS ARE CALCULATED FROM QUARTERLY
                GEOMETRIC MEANS ESTIMATED BY THE METHOD OF HASSELBLAD ET AL. (1980)
                                         (micrograms/deciliter)
Ethnic group
Black






Hispanic






White






Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

1-12 mo
25.2
24.0
22.2
22.9
22.0
19.8
16.9
20.8
19.9
18.7
20.2
19.8
16.3
16.0
21.1
22.5
20.1
21.5
20.4
19.3
15.2

13-24 mo
28.9
29.3
26.0
26.6
25.5
22.4
20.0
23.8
22.6
20.5
21.8
21.5
18.7
17.4
25.2
22.7
21.6
21.8
21.7
17.9
18.2

25-36 mo
30.1
29.9
26.3
26.0
25.4
22.4
20.6
24.5
24.6
21.8
22.5
22.7
19.9
18.1
26.0
22.7
20.7
21.7
21.3
16.1
17.1
Age
37-48 mo
28.3
29.3
25.4
25.3
24.3
21.9
20.2
24.7
24.4
22.2
22.8
22.5
20.1
18.2
24.8
23.5
20.8
20.2
21.1
18.5
16.6

49-60 mo
27.8
28.2
24.7
24.4
23.4
21.2
19.5
23.8
23.9
21.8
22.0
21.9
19.8
18.0
26.0
21.6
21.0
21.3
20.6
16.8
16.2

61-72 mo
26.4
27.2
23.9
24.1
21.8
21.4
18.2
23.6
23.4
21.8
21.5
20.5
19.2
16.7
22.6
21.3
20.2
20.7
19.5
15.4
15.9

73- mo
25.9
26.5
23.3
23.3
21.9
18.9
18.4
23.0
23.5
21.0
21.7
20.2
17.2
17.2
21.3
19.5
17.3
18.4
17.3
15.9
8.8

All ages
27.5
27.7
24.5
24.6
23.4
21.1
19.1
23.4
23.1
21.1
21.8
21.3
18.7
17.4
23.8
21.9
20.2
20.8
20.2
17.1
15.1

-------
   30
   25  —
•o  20

•3
O
o
O

03

2
O  IP
   15 —
D  BlHcks


O  Whites


&  Hispanics
               123456


                                 AGE ye,irs


       Figure 11-4. Geometric mean blood lead values by race and age

       for younger children in the New York City screening program
       (1970-1976).


       Source: Adapted from Hasselblad etal. 1980.
                                11-23

-------
Using the method of Hasselblad et al.  (1980), the estimated geometric standard deviations were
1.41, 1.42, and 1.42 for blacks, Hispanics, and whites, respectively.
11.3.3.3  Levels of Lead and Demographic Covariates Worldwide.   An international study conduc-
ted under  the  auspices  of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Health Organi-
zation provides the  first analytically comparable blood lead  data  set available to infer the
current similarities and  differences  in lead absorption from  country  to country (Friberg and
Vahter, 1983).   Extensive attention was  paid to  quality  control issues, with the resulting
blood lead determinations being very comparable from country to country.   School teachers were
chosen as  study  subjects  since they would be  unlikely to  have occupational  exposures to lead
and also  because they  would  have similarities in socioeconomic  characteristics.   A detailed
interview was administered to the subjects to obtain background data.
     Figure  11-5,  derived from  data  in the  paper,  displays the variability  from  country to
country.   Unweighted geometric  mean blood lead levels ranged from a low of 5.8 ug/dl in Japan
to 22.3 ug/dl  in  Mexico.   Teachers in China, Israel, Japan, Sweden,  and the United States all
had geometric mean blood leads below 8.0 yg/dl.
     In general,  males  showed  higher  blood  lead  levels than  females;  on the  average, male
teachers had blood  lead levels 30 percent higher than females regardless of cigarette smoking
status.   In most cases  cigarette  smokers  had  10  percent  higher blood  lead levels  than
nonsmokers.

11.3.4  Distributional  Aspects of Population Blood Lead Levels
     The importance of the form of the distribution of blood lead levels was briefly discussed
in Section 11.2.2.  The distribution form determines which  measure of central  tendency (arith-
metic mean,  geometric mean,  median) is most  appropriate.   It  is even more important in esti-
mating percentiles in the upper tail of the distribution, an issue of much importance in esti-
mating percentages (or  absolute numbers)  of  individuals in  specific population groups likely
to be experiencing various lead exposure levels.
     Distribution  fitting requires  large numbers of samples  taken from a  relatively homo-
geneous  population.   A  homogeneous population  is  one in  which  the distribution  of  values
remains constant  when  split  into subpopulations.    These  subpopulations could  be  defined by
demographic  factors  such as  race,  age, sex,  income, degree  of urbanization,  and  degree of
exposure.    Since  these  factors  always have some  effect, a  relatively homogeneous  population
will  be defined as one with minimal effects from any factors that contribute to differences in
blood lead levels.
                                           11-24

-------
     24
2 5  22
     20
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111 K
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00

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CM
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K
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                              STUDY LOCATION
        Figure 1 1 -5. Unweighted geometric mean blood lead level for male and

        female nonsmoking teachers (M9/dl) for several countries.


        Source: Derived from Friberg and Vahter (1983).
                              11-25

-------
     Several authors have  suggested  that the distribution of  blood  lead levels for any rela-
tively homogeneous population closely  follows  a lognormal distribution  (Yankel  et al., 1977;
Tepper and  Levin,  1975; Azar  et al. ,  1975).   Lognormality  has been noted  for  other metals,
such as 90Sr, 144Ce,  Pu, and Ti  in various tissues of human populations  (Cuddihy et al., 1979;
Schubert et al., 1967).   Yankel  et al.  (1977),  Tepper and Levin (1975),  and Angle and Mclntire
(1979) all found their blood lead data to be lognormally distributed.  Further analysis by EPA
of the Houston  study  of Johnson et  al.  (1974),  the study of  Azar et al.  (1975), and the New
York  children  screening program  reported by Billick  et al.   (1979) also  demonstrated  that a
lognormal distribution provided a good fit to the data.
     The only nationwide survey of  blood lead  levels  in the  U.S.  population is the NHANES II
survey (Annest  et al.,  1982).    In order to obtain a  relatively homogeneous subpopulation of
lower  environmental  exposure,  the analysis was restricted  to whites  not living  in  an SMSA
(Standard Metropolitan  Statistical Area), with a family  income greater than $6,000 per year,
the poverty  threshold for  a family of four at the midpoint of study as  determined by the U.S.
Bureau of  Census.   This subpopulation was  split  into  four  subgroups  based on  age and sex.
The summary statistics for these subgroups are in Table 11-7.

                TABLE 11-7.  SUMMARY OF UNWEIGHTED BLOOD LEAD  LEVELS IN  WHITES
                 NOT LIVING IN AN SMSA, WITH FAMILY INCOME GREATER THAN  $6,000
Unweighted mean
Subgroup
Age 1/2 to 6
Age 6 to 18
Age 18+, men
Age 18+, women
Sample
size
752
573
922
927
Arith.
mean,
ug/dl
13.7
11.3
15.7
10.7
Geom.
mean,
ug/dl
12.9
10.6
14.7
10.0
Sample
median,
ug/dl
13.0
10.0
15.0
10.0
99th
percentile,
ug/dl
32.0
24.0
35.8
23.0
Arith.
std. dev. ,
ug/dl
5.03
4.34
5.95
4.14
Geom.
std. dev.
1.43
1.46
1.44
1.46
     Each  of  these four  subpopulations were fitted to  five  different distributions:  normal,
lognormal,  gamma,  Weibull,  and Wald   (Inverse  Gaussian)  as  shown  in Table  11-8.   Standard
chi-square  goodness-of-fit  tests  were computed  after  collapsing  the  tails  to  obtain  an
expected cell  size of five.   The goodness-of-fit  test  and likelihood functions indicate that
the  lognormal  distribution  provides  a better  fit than  the  normal,  gamma, or  Weibull.   A
histogram  and  the lognormal  fit for  each  of the four  subpopulations  appear in Figure 11-6.
                                           11-26

-------
                 TABLE 11-8.  SUMMARY OF FITS TO NHANES II BLOOD LEAD LEVELS
              OF WHITES NOT LIVING IN AN SMSA, WITH INCOME GREATER THAN $6,000,
                       FOR FIVE DIFFERENT TWO-PARAMETER DISTRIBUTIONS
Children <6 years


Normal
Lognormal
Gamma
Weibull
Wald




Normal
Lognormal
Gamma
Weibull
Wald

Chi-square
75.52
14.75
17.51
66.77
15.71



Chi-square
39.58
3.22
4.88
24.48
2.77

D.F.*
8
10
9
8
10
Children 6


D.F.*
6
8
7
6
8

p-value
0.0000
0.1416
0.0413
0.0000
0.1083
years S17


p-value
0.0000
0.9197
0.6745
0.0004
0.9480
log-
likelihood
-2280.32
-2210.50
-2216.51
-2271.57
-2211.83


log-
likelihood
-1653.92
-1607.70
-1609.33
-1641.35
-1609.64
deviation**
at 99th
percenti le
6.61
2.57
4.68
5.51
2.76

deviation**
at 99th
percent! le
2.58
-1.50
-0.64
1.72
-1.30
Men S18 years



Normal
Lognormal
Gamma
Weibull
Wald




Normal
Lognormal
Gamma
Weibull
Wald


Chi-square
156.98
12.22
34.26
132.91
14.42



Chi-square
66.31
7.70
11.28
56.70
10.26


D.F.*
10
13
12
11
13
Women £18


D.F.*
5
8
7
6
8


p-value
0.0000
0.5098
0.0006
0.0000
0.3450
years


p-value
0.0000
0.4632
0.1267
0.0000
0.2469

log-
likelihood
-2952.85
-2854.04
-2864.79
-2934.14
-2855.94


log-
likelihood
-2631.67
-2552.12
-2553.34
-2611.78
-2556.88
deviation**
at 99th
percentile
6.24
1.51
4.00
4.88
1.72

deviation**
at 99th
percentile
2.68
-1.18
0.90
1.73
-1.01
 *D.F.  = degrees of freedom.
**observed 99th sample percentile minus predicted 99th percentile.
                                           11-27

-------
                                                      7.6
                                      15.5
                                      23.5
                                                                            31.5
           BLOOD LEAD LEVELS, pg/dl.
     FOR 6-MONTH TO 6-YEAR-OLD-CHILDREN
                                BLOOD LEAD LEVELS, /ug/dl,
                             FOR 6-TO 17-YEAR OLD CHILDREN
u
ui
O
               15.5
23.5
31.5
            BLOOD LEAD LEVELS. M9/dl,
            FOR MEN ^18 YEARS OLD
7.5
15.5
23.5   31.5
                               BLOOD LEAD LEVELS,
                               FOR WOMEN ^ 18 YEARS OLD
             Figure 11-6. Histograms of blood lead levels with fitted lognormal
             curves for the NHANES II study. All subgroups are white, non-SMSA
             residents, with family incomes over $6000/year.

             Source: (EPA calculations from data supplied by National Center
             for Health Statistics.)
                                        11-28

-------
The Wald  distribution  is quite similar to  the  lognormal  distribution and appears  to  provide
almost as  good a  fit.   Table 11-8  also  indicates that the  lognormal  distribution estimates
the 99th percentile as  well  as any other distribution.
     Based on  the examination of  the NHANES II data,  as  well  as the results of  the  several
other studies  discussed  above,  it appears that the  lognormal  distribution  is the most appro-
priate for  describing  the distribution of  blood  lead  levels in  homogeneous  populations  with
relatively constant  exposure levels.   The  lognormal distribution appears to  fit  well  across
the entire range of the distribution, including the right tail.
     The lognormal distribution describes  both  the mean and  the  variation  of the populations
under study.   It  is obvious that even  relatively  homogeneous populations  have considerable
variation among  individuals.   The estimation of this variation is important for determination
of the proportion of individuals above a given blood lead level.  This variation is the result
of both analytic variation and population variation.
     Analytic  variation,  which exists  in any  measurement of any kind, has  an  impact on the
bias and precision of statistical  estimates.  For this  reason,  it is important to estimate the
magnitude  of variation.   Analytic  variation consists  of  both measurement  variations (vari-
ation between  measurements run at the same time) and variation  created by analyzing samples at
different times (days).  This kind of variation for  blood  lead  determinations has been discus-
sed  by  Lucas  (1981).  The measurement  variation  alone does  not  follow a lognormal distribu-
tion, as was shown by Saltzman et al. (1983).
     Values  for  the  variation within groups (or mean square  error) are available from several
studies  discussed above, including the NHANES  II  Survey,  the  N.Y. Childhood Screening Study,
the  Tepper-Leven  Seven City Study,  and the  Azar  et al. study.   Variation, including analytic
variation,  ranged from  about 1.3 to  1.4 when expressed  as a geometric standard deviation.
This  value depends  on  the  uniformness  of the populations and the  magnitude of the analytic
variation.
     The NHANES  II study provides  excellent  data for the study  of this  variation,  since it has
excellent  quality control and extensive information on demographic  covariates.    In order to
minimize  the effects of location,  income,  sex, and age, an analysis of variance procedure was
used to  estimate  the variation for several  age-race groups.   The  variables just mentioned were
used  as main  effects,  and  the  resulting mean  square  errors  of the  logarithms are shown in
Table 11-9.   The estimated  geometric standard  deviations  have  been  adjusted  for  sex,  age,  in-
come,  and place of  residence.  As a result, the values for  geometric  standard deviations tend
to be smaller than the  unadjusted values  for specific  subgroups  as  reported by Annest  and
Mahaffey (1984).
                                            11-29

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                   TABLE 11-9.   ESTIMATED MEAN SQUARE ERRORS RESULTING FROM
                        ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE ON VARIOUS SUBPOPULATIONS
                            OF  THE NHANES II DATA USING UNWEIGHTED DATA
White,
Age Non-SMSA
0.5 to 6 0.0916
(1.35)*
6 to 18 0.0814
(1.33)
18+, men 0.1155
(1.40)
18+, women 0.1083
(1.39)
White, SMS A,
not central city
0.0839
(1.34)
0.0724
(1.31)
0.0979
(1.37)
0.0977
(1.37)
White,
central city
0.1074
(1.39)
0.0790
(1.33)
0.1127
(1.40)
0.0915
(1.35)
Black,
central city
0.0978
(1.37)
0.0691
(1.30)
0.1125
(1.40)
0.0824
(1.33)
Note:   Mean square errors are based on the logarithm of the blood lead levels.
*Estimated geometric standard deviations are given in parentheses.

     The  analytic  variation was  estimated  specifically for  this  study  by  Annest et  al.
(1983b).  The analytical  variation was estimated as the  sum  of components  estimated from the
high and  low blind  pool  and from the replicate  measurements  in the study of  Griffin  et al.
(1975).   The overall  estimate  of  analytic  variation  for  the  NHANES  II  study  was  0.02083
(estimated mean square error based on logarithms).
     Analytic variation  causes  a  certain  amount of misclassification  when estimates  of the
percent of  individuals  above or below a given  threshold  are  made.   This is because  the  true
value of  a  person's blood lead could be below the threshold,  but the contribution from analy-
tic variation may  push  the observed value over  the  threshold.   The reverse is also possible.
These two types of misclassifications do not necessarily offset each other.
     Annest et al. (1983b) estimated this misclassification rate for several subpopulations in
the NHANES II data using a threshold value of 30 ug/dl.  In general, the percent truly greater
than this threshold was  approximately 24 percent less than the prevalence of blood lead levels
equal  to  or  greater than 30 ug/dl, estimated  from  the weighted NHANES II data.  This is  less
than the values predicted by Lucas (1981) which were based on some earlier studies.
     The studies reviewed here provide estimates of geometric standard deviations for observed
blood lead distributions  which  consistently fall in the  range  of 1.3 to 1.4.  The  NHANES II
study,   thought  to provide  the  best available data  set  in terms of  good quality control and
                                           11-30

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other  features  such as  sample  size, yields  estimates of  geometric  standard deviations  for
various subgroups of young  children  (0.5 to 6 years old)  in the range of 1.34 to  1.39  (uncor-
rected for analytic error).   Variations  in the site means  of  log(blood lead) were  calculated
after controlling for  race,  income,  and degree of urbanization.   The  remaining standard  devi-
ation  of  0.183  for site  means  indicates  substantial variation  in  baseline exposure  after
accounting for the  major proxies  for air lead.   The geometric  standard deviation  attributable
to the  non-air  lead exposure sources can  be  estimated by adjusting the NHANES II  blood  lead
levels  for  the  impact of gasoline  lead by  use  of linear  regression.   Since gasoline  lead
during 1976-1980 accounted  for  85 to 90 percent of  air lead,  the effect at gasoline  lead =  0
was reduced by  an  additional  15 percent to account for all  air lead.   The resulting geometric
standard deviation  was  1.428.   If this calculation  is done only for  children with  blood lead
< 40 ug/dl (who are more likely to be helped by an air lead standard)  then the geometric  stan-
dard deviation is 1.419.  Thus, a geometric standard deviation  for the NHANES II population of
children without  attribution of any  source of  lead exposure except  gasoline  lead  and indus-
trial air lead emissions may be taken as approximately 1.42.

11.3.5  Time Trends in Blood Lead Levels Since 1970
     In the  past few  years a  number  of  reports  have appeared  that  examined trends  in  blood
lead  levels during  the 1970's.   In several of these reports some environmental exposure esti-
mates are available.
11.3.5.1  Time  Trends  in NHANES II  Study Data.   Blood lead data from  NHANES II  (see section
11.3.3.1  for  full  discussion of methodology) show  a significant downward trend over time for
nationwide  blood lead  levels  in  the United States  (Annest  et  al.,  1983a).   After accounting
for  the effects  of race, sex,  age,  region of country, season, income, and degree of urbaniza-
tion,  a statistically  significant negative association with date of  sampling was found.  Using
regression  model-predicted blood lead levels,  a  37 percent drop from  14.6  to 9.2  ug/dl from
the  beginning to the end of  the  study was found.   Overall  nationwide  mean blood lead levels
from  these  data presented in 28-day intervals  from February,  1976 to  February,  1980 are dis-
played  in Figure 11-7.   Similar decreases  in  average blood  lead  levels were  noted for a number
of  subgroups  which compose the total  sample  (see  Figure  11-8),  with  the declines ranging  from
31 to  42 percent for various  subgroups.
      A variety  of possible  explanations  for  the  nationwide  decline  in  average  blood  lead
 levels  were examined.   Analysis of  quality control  samples  indicated  that  laboratory  drift was
 not  the cause of the observed decline.   Further statistical analyses  ruled out the  possibility
 that the  decline was entirely due to season,  income, geographic region,  or urban-rural differ-
 ences.  Annest et al.   (1983a)  suggested  that although strong  correlation does not  prove  cause
 and  effect,  the  most   reasonable explanation for  this  trend  appears  to be  reduction  in the
                                            11-31

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                25
T5  20
5
_r

§
Q  15
CO
ro
             Q
             O
             O
             I
             UI
                10
                   WINTER 1976
                      (FEB.)
WINTER 1977
   (FEB.)
WINTER 1978
   (FEB.)
FALL 1978 WINTER 1979
  (OCT.)      (FEB.)
WINTER 1980
   (FEB.)
                                                     I
                        I
           I
      I
                                   10       15       20       25       30       35

                                                 CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, 1 unit = 28 days
                                                  40
                                    45
                               50
           55
                    Figure 11 -7. Average blood lead levels of U.S. population aged 6 months—74 years. United States,
                    February 1976—February 1980, based on dates of examination of NHANES II examinees with
                    blood lead determinations.
                    Source: Annest et al. (1983a).

-------
Wj DU
Ul
0 40
s-
ca
5 20
O
1.
O
c
Z 0

—

—
—

















OVERALL BLACK





























































—

—
—

WHITE MALE FEMALE 0.5-5 6-17 18-74
CL RACE BEX AGE IN YEARS
Figure 11 -8. Reduction in mean blood lead levels, according to race, sex,
and age. Data on sex and age are for whites.

Source:  Annest et al. (1983a).
                          11-33

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amount  of lead  used  in gasoline production  over  the same time period  (as  discussed in more
detail  in Section 11.3.6.1).
11.3.5.2   Time Trends in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Screening Programs.    Billick  and  col-
leagues  have  analyzed the results of  blood  lead screening programs conducted  by  the City of
New York  (Billick et al., 1979; Billick, 1982).  Most details regarding this data set were al-
ready described, but Table 11-10 summarizes relevant methodologic information for these analy-
ses and for  analyses  done on a  similar data  base from Chicago, Illinois.   The discussion of
the New York data  below  is limited to an exposition of  the time trend in  blood  lead levels
from 1970 to 1977.
     Geometric mean blood lead levels decreased for all three racial groups and for almost all
age groups  in the  period 1970-76  (Table  11-6).   Table  11-11  shows  that  the  downward trend
covers  the  entire  range of  the  frequency  distribution of blood lead  levels.   The decline in
blood  lead  levels   showed  seasonal  variability, but  the  decrease in  time  was  consistent for
each season.  The 1977 data were supplied to EPA by Dr. Billick.
     In addition to this time trend observed in New York City, Billick (1982) examined similar
data from Chicago and Louisville.  The Chicago data set was much more complete than the Louis-
ville  one,  and  was much  more methodologically consistent.  Therefore,  the  Chicago data will
mainly  be discussed here.   The lead poisoning screening program in Chicago may be the longest
continuous program  in the  United  States.   Data  used in  this report  covered the  years 1967-
1980.    Because  the data  set was so  large,  only  a  1 in  30 sample of  laboratory  records was
coded  for statistical  analysis  (similar to  procedures  used for  New York  described above).
     The blood lead data for Chicago contains samples that may be repeats,  confirmatory analy-
ses, or even  samples  collected during treatment,  as  well  as initial  screening samples.  This
is a major  difference from the New York City data,  which had  initial  screening  values only.
Chicago blood lead  levels were all  obtained on venous samples and were analyzed by one labora-
tory,   the Division of  Laboratories,  Chicago  Department of  Health.   Lead  determinations were
done by atomic absorption.  Racial  composition was described in more detail  than for New York,
but analysis  showed there was no difference  among the non-blacks,  so they were pooled in the
final  analysis.
     Table 11-10 displays important characteristics of the Chicago and New York screening pro-
grams,   including the number of observations involved in these studies.   From tables in the ap-
pendices  of  the report  (Billick,  1982), specific  data  on geometric  mean  blood  lead values,
race,   sex, and  sampling data for both  cities  are  available.  Consistency of the  data across
cities   is  depicted in Figure 11-9.   The  long-term trends are quite consistent,  although the
seasonal  peaks  are somewhat  less apparent.   Although the data displayed are only for blacks
aged 25 to 36 months,  very similar data are  available for whites and other groups covered by
the study.
                                           11-34

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        1970 1971  1972 1973 1974 1976 1970  1977 1978  1979 1980

                        YEAR (Beginning Jan. 1)

Figure 11-9. Time dependence of blood lead levels for blacks, aged
25-36 months, in New York City and Chicago.

Source: Adapted from Billick (1982).
                              11-35

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       TABLE 11-10.  CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING SCREENING DATA
                                      New York
                             Chicago
Time period

Sampling technique

Analytic technique


Laboratory

Screening status

Race classification
  and total number of
  samples used in
  analysis*



Raw data

Gasoline data
1970 - 1979

Venous

AAS
  (Hasel method)

In house

Available/unknown
Unknown
White
Black
Hispanic
Other
TOTAL
 69,658
  5,922
 51,210
 41,364
  4,398
172,552
Decade grouped

Tri-state (NY, NJ, CT)
  1970 - 1979
SMSA 1974 - 1979
1967 - 1980 (QTR 2)

Venous

AAS
  (Hasel method)

In house

Unavailable

Nonblack  6,459
Black    20,353
TOTAL    26,812
                    Ungrouped

                    SMSA
*New York data set only includes first screens while Chicago includes also
 confirmatory and repeat samples.
                 TABLE 11-11.  DISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD LEAD LEVELS FOR 13- TO 48-
               MONTH-OLD BLACKS BY SEASON AND YEAR* FOR NEW YORK SCREENING DATA
                     January - March
                         Percent
     Year   <15Mg/dl   15 - 34ug/dl   >34ug/dl
                     July - September
                          Percent
             <15ug/dl  15 - 34ug/dl     >34ug/dl
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
(insufficient sample size)
3.8
4.4
7.3
9.2
11.1**
21.1
28.4
69.5
76.1
80.3
73.8
77.5**
74.1
66.8
26.7
19.5
12.4
17.0
11.4**
4.8
4.8
3.4
1.3
4.3
2.7
8.2
7.3**
11.9
19.9
54.7
56.0
72.2
62.4
65.4
81.3**
75.8
72.9
42.0
42.7
23.4
34.9
26.4
11.4**
12.3
7.2
* data provided by I.H. Billick (1982).
**Percentages estimated using interpolation assuming a lognormal distribution.
                                           11-36

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11.3.5.3  Newark.   Cause  et al.  (1977) present  data  from Newark, New Jersey, that  reinforce
the findings of Billick and coworkers.   Gause et  al.  studied the levels  of blood  lead among  5-
and 6-year-old  children tested by  the Newark Board  of  Education  during the academic  years
1973-74, 1974-75, and  1975-76.  All  Newark schools participated  in  all  years.   Participation
rates were  34,  33,  and 37 percent of the eligible children for the three years,  respectively.
Blood  samples  collected by  fingerstick onto filter  paper were  analyzed  for lead  by  atomic
absorption spectrophotometry.  The authors point  out that fingerstick samples are more subject
to contamination than venous samples; and that because erythrocyte protoporphyrin confirmation
of blood  lead  values greater than 50 ng/dl  was  not done until 1974, data from  earlier years
may contain somewhat higher proportions of false  positives than later years.
     Blood  lead levels declined markedly  during the 3-year study period.   The  percentage  of
children with  blood lead  levels  less than 30 ug/dl went from 42 percent for blacks in 1973-74
to  71  percent  in  1975-76;  similarly,  the percentages  went from 56 percent  to  85  percent  in
whites.   The  percentage of  high  risk  children  (>49 ug/dl)  dropped from 9  to  1  percent  in
blacks  and  from 6  to 1 percent  in  whites during the  study period.    Unfortunately, no com-
panion  analysis was  presented regarding concurrent trends in environmental exposures.
     Foster et al.  (1979), however,  reported a study from Newark that examined the effective-
ness of the city's  housing  deleading program, using the current blood lead status of children
who  had earlier been identified as  having confirmed  elevated blood lead  levels; according to
the  deleading  program,  these children's homes should  have been treated to alleviate the lead
problem.    After intensive  examination,  the investigators found that  31  of the 100 children
studied had lead-related  symptoms at the  time of Foster's study.   Examination of the records
of  the program  regarding  the  deleading activity indicated a  serious  lack of compliance with
the  program requirements.   Given  the  results of Foster's study,  it  seems  unlikely that the
observed  trend was  primarily caused  by  the deleading program.
11.3.5.4   Boston.    Rabinowitz and  Needleman (1982) studied  umbilical  cord blood lead  levels
from 11,837 births  between  April, 1979  and  April,  1981 in  the Boston area.   These  represented
97  percent  of the  births  occurring  in  a  hospital  serving a diverse  population.  Blood samples
were  analyzed for  lead by  anodic stripping  voltammetry after  stringent  quality  control  proce-
dures  were  used.   External  quality control checks were  done by participation  in  the  Blood Lead
Reference  Program,  conducted  by  the  Centers   for  Disease Control.   The average  difference
between the investigators'  results and the reference  lab was  1.4  ug/dl.
     The overall  mean blood lead  concentration was 6.56 ± 3.19 uQ/dl (standard deviation) with
a range  from  0.0  to  37.0 (jg/dl.   After  regression of  the   individual  values  of blood  lead
against the date  of birth, a significant downward  trend in  blood  levels was observed  (~0.89
ug/dl/yr),  representing a  decrease  of 14 percent per  year (Figure  11-10).   Figure 11-10 also
                                            11-37

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   12.0
s  10.0
2
    8.0
O
o
O
*
c
ui

Q
O
O
    6.0
    4.0
                        Model Predicted


                        Actual Data





                           I         I
                                             I
        4/79      7/79     10/79      1/80     4/80      7/80


                          MONTH AND YEAR OF COLLECTION
                                                             10180
1/81
4/81
    Figure 11-10.  Modeled umbilical cord blood lead  levels by date of
    sample collection for infants in Boston.


    Source: Rabinowitz and Needleman (1982).
                                     11-38

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illustrates  the  complicating  aspect  of  seasonal  trends  in evaluating  underlying  secular
trends.   The observed trend is  similar to that noted  in the  NHANES  II  study  described earlier.
Rabinowitz and Needleman  (1982) list  the following as  possible  causes of the decline:   (1)
modification of  the water  supply  to decrease the lead  content;  (2)  reduction of the  use of
lead in gasoline; (3) reduction in  contamination  of  food by  solder;  and 4)  changes  in prenatal
practices, such as  smoking or iron  supplementation.
     Rabinowitz  and  Needleman  (1983)  then  sought to evaluate statistically possible  reasons
for  the  observed two-year  downward  trend in  umbilical  cord blood lead levels.   The  authors
used pairwise  product moment  correlations  for the  monthly cord lead  levels  (about  500  per
month) and monthly amounts of gasoline  lead  in  Massachusetts.   A strong correlation  was  ob-
served:  with the same month's  data,  the correlation coefficient was 0.716,  which  increased to
a peak correlation  coefficient of  0.758 when  a  1-month  lag time was used.   The authors indi-
cate that they did  not observe  similar  trends in maternal   tobacco  smoking, education level,
and alcohol consumption.  They did observe a positive (instead of negative) trend in tap water
lead concentrations.   They  conclude  that  gasoline lead exposure  changes were  probably  the
cause of  the observed trend in blood lead levels.
     From the  ongoing surveillance of consecutive births, Rabinowitz et al. (1984) also iden-
tified a  cohort of  249 infants who were enrolled  in an  ongoing  cohort  study after meeting
certain  eligibility standards.  Indoor  air  was  sampled for lead from  the homes  of children
when each child was  6, 18,  and 24 months of age.   Tapwater was collected after a 4-liter flush,
at  1 and  6 months of age.   Seasonal biases  in indoor/outdoor air lead ratios and the amounts
of  time  spent  indoors may  have been confounding variables which may have distorted upward the
underlying inhalation slope to the observed value near nine.
     For  each  month there was generally  available  a mean air lead  from 12 homes, water lead
from 23 homes, and blood leads for 500 births.  The  study period covered March, 1980 to April,
1981.  The blood  leads  were  then correlated with  gasoline  lead sales, indoor air, and tap-
water.  A linear (although somewhat  scattered) trend was found between lead in indoor air and
gasoline  lead  sales.  Forty-eight percent of  the variance  in air  lead could be accounted for
by  the  gasoline  lead sales.   Air  lead and blood  lead  levels  were highly correlated.  The best
linear fit (r  =  0.71) has  a slope  of 9 ug/dl/ug/m3 and an intercept of  4.9  ug/dl.  No correla-
tion was  observed  between water and blood lead  levels.   Interestingly,  a higher correlation
was found between gasoline  lead sales  and blood lead levels than  between  air lead and blood
lead.
      Karalekas et al.  (1983)  report additional  data  from  the  Boston metropolitan  area.  Re-
sults  of  the  lead  screening  program indicate that the percentage of screened children  with
elevated  blood lead levels declines  over the  period  1976-1981.   Data on lead  in water for  this

                                            11-39

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period are also presented.  Water lead levels began to decline after the decline in blood lead
levels.  This relationship in this data warrants further research.
11.3.5.5   Lead  Studies  in the United  Kingdom.   There has  been  a  series  of  publications from
various workers  in  England who  have been examining the question of whether or not time trends
in  blood   lead  levels  exist  there  as  well  as in  the United  States (Oxley,  1982;  Elwood,
1983a,b; Quinn,  1983).    These  papers cover a variety of  exposure  situations  and populations
studied. All  of  them  obtained findings analogous  to  those described  above  for  the  United
States, in that  there has been a general  decline  in blood lead levels over the decade of the
1970's; they  differ,  however,  with regard  to  the  magnitude of the decline, when the  decline
began,  and to what  extent the decline  may be  attributable to a  particular  source of lead.
     Oxley (1982) reported an  analysis  of blood lead levels found in blood samples drawn as a
part of preemployment medical  examinations conducted by a major U.K.-based oil company during
1967-69 and  1978-80.   Blood samples  were  collected  by  venipuncture and  analyzed  for  lead by
two  different methods.   A comparative laboratory study also  reported  by Oxley suggested that
the data could be adjusted from one method to the other.   Geometric mean blood lead levels de-
clined from 20.2 to 16.6 ug/dl.
     Elwood  (1983a)  reported a time  trend analysis  of blood  lead levels observed in adult
women  studied over  a  10-year period  in  eight  surveys  conducted in a  variety  of locations in
Wales.  These were  analyzed and examined for trends in blood lead levels.  All women included
in this analysis  came from surveys which were  designed  to generate representative samples of
adult women  in  residential areas.   A high  response  rate  (90 percent or more)  was obtained in
each  of  the  surveys.   Venous  blood  samples were  collected and analyzed  for  lead.  A single
laboratory performed  all  of the  analyses  with an  external reference  laboratory performing
quality control  checks in  some of the surveys.   Overall  mean blood lead levels for the  various
surveys fell  more than  30 percent over the period  1972-1982.   Two of the  surveys  were con-
ducted  in  the same area.   Between 1974 and 1982,  the  mean blood  lead  concentration  fell 37
percent.  Surveys from  mining  areas showed that women there had higher blood lead levels than
in non-mining areas.
     Elwood acknowledges  that  laboratory drift may be present  in  the data and  also that the
surveys did not generate strictly comparable samples.   Still, the observed decline was  thought
to be  real.   No  statistical  analysis of the data is presented to examine the possible  reasons
for the observed  decline,  but  a number  of possible environmental reasons were discussed.  Re-
duced gasoline lead  exposures as a reason were dismissed on the basis that while the lead con-
centration  in  gasoline  had  indeed declined,  the  overall  use  of petrol  in England  had in-
creased, therefore  balancing the  reduction.   However,  no data  regarding  traffic patterns or
gasoline usage in Wales  were presented  to  verify this  reasoning.   A portion (amount unspeci-

                                           11-40

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fied) of the reduction was  attributed to a drop  in  dietary intake  of  lead due  to  the  reduced
use of canned foods.
     Elwood (1983b) also  presents data from a  more homogeneous  setting.   In 1969 a  hematologic
survey of a  random sample  of 4070 women was conducted in one town in Wales.   Detailed  studies
were made of 121  of these  women whose hemoglobin levels were below 10.5 g/100 ml.   Samples  of
their whole blood  were deep frozen, and follow-up samples  were  obtained for some  of the  same
women in 1982.  Follow-up  and loss of original  samples  resulted in there being 26 women  with
an available blood lead at  both times and who  were still living at the  same address.   The  mean
fall in blood  lead levels  for these women  was  23 percent,  representing a fall  of 3.5 ug/100
ml.  Again Elwood  does not attribute the decline to  changes in gasoline lead or water supply,
but instead suggests that it may be due to changes in dietary intake although noting there are
no data on which to base  a  judgment.
     King  (1983),  in commenting on the  results  of Elwood (1983a), noted  that  the blood  lead
values before  1975 were  probably falsely elevated due to matrix problems in the chemical  ana-
lysis.  This means the magnitude of the observed decline is probably less than that quoted by
Elwood  (1983b).   King (1983)  further  examined  the question of  the  time  trend  by  controlling
for region of Wales and reported that Elwood1s data showed a 50 percent increase in blood lead
levels from  1981  to 1982,  a most unlikely outcome.   Pirkle and Annest (1984) have also criti-
cized  the  Elwood  (1983a)  paper and concluded that various  factors  make reliable  interpreta-
tions of Elwood1s  data extremely difficult.
     Quinn (1983)  reports on the summarized findings  of two large-scale survey effects in 1979
and 1981.  Broad comparisons within the  same authority showed an overall reduction approaching
10  percent (1 ug/100 ml).    Quinn  himself  states, however,  that  these  two survey  efforts are
not  strictly comparable  in that the first round focused on representative population groups
while  the  second  round focused  on  areas where  lead  may  have  presented  a problem.  No effort
was made to attribute the decline  in blood  lead  levels to a particular source.
11.3.5.6   Other Studies.   Okubo et al.  (1983)  examined  a total  of 1933 children  from 5 to 18
years  of  age for  blood lead  using the Hessel method over  the period 1975 to 1980 in an urban
area  of  Tokyo  and in a  nearby suburban area.  The analysis of  all blood  lead was done by the
same  laboratory.   Over  the time  period of the  study  an  apparent  decrease in blood lead is
shown.  A  part of  the difference in blood  lead  between  urban and suburban  groups is  related to
the  difference in average  lead  concentrations  between  the  two areas.  The difference  of blood
lead  between urban and suburban  becomes greater when the comparison of  blood lead between  the
two  areas  is executed only  among  children who have  lived  in  the same  areas from  their birth.
      In  an international study discussed in detail earlier,  Friberg and Vahter (1983)  compared
data on  blood  lead levels  obtained in 1967 with data  for 1981  (see Table 11-12).   For areas of
                                            11-41

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     TABLE 11-12.   COMPARISON OF MEDIAN BLOOD LEAD LEVELS (|jg/dl)  IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES
         FROM STUDIES OF GOLDWATER AND HOOVER (1967)  AND FRIBERG AND VAHTER (1983)

Country
Japan
Israel
United States
Yugoslavia
Median blood lead
1967
21.0
15.0
18.0
15.0
Median blood lead
1981
6.0
8.2
7.5
9.2
% change
from 1967
71
45
58
39
the world where there were data collected by Goldwater and Hoover (1967) as well  as the UN/WHO
study, there  has been  a  substantial reduction  in  reported blood lead  levels.   A cautionary
note must be  made,  however,  that the analytic and  human  sampling procedures are not the same
in  the  two  studies.   Therefore  these  data  should  be  thought of  as  providing  further  but
limited evidence supporting a recent downward trend  in blood lead levels worldwide.

11.3.6  Gasoline Lead as an Important Determinant of Trends in Blood  Lead Levels
     As noted  in  the  preceding section,  explanations have been sought for declining trends in
blood lead  levels observed  among  population groups  in  the  United  States and  certain other
countries since the  early  1970s.   Also  noted  was  evidence  presented  by  some  investigators
which strongly  suggests that gasoline lead usage is a major determinant of the reported down-
ward trends  in blood lead levels.  The present section examines additional, extensive evidence
which points  towards gasoline  lead being  an  important  determinant  of changes  in blood lead
levels associated  with exposures  to airborne lead  of populations  in  the United States  and
elsewhere.
11.3.6.1  NHANES II Study Data.  Blood lead data from the second National Health  and Nutrition
Examination  survey  (NHANES  II) were described earlier in Sections 11.3.3.1 and 11.3.5.1.  One
striking feature of the NHANES II data was a dramatic decline in nationwide average blood lead
levels in the United  States during the  period  (1976 to  1980) of the  survey.   In evaluating
possible reasons  for  the  observed  decrease in the  NHANES  II blood lead values,  Annest et al.
(1983a) found  highly  significant associations between the declining  blood lead concentrations
for the overall  U.S.  population and decreasing  amounts of lead used in gasoline  in the U.S.
during the  same time period  (see  Figure 11-11).  The associations  persisted  after adjusting
for race, age, sex,  region  of  the  country,  season,  income, and degree  of urbanization (see
Table 11-13).   Analogous  strong associations  (r = 0.95;  p < 0.001) were  also  found for blood
lead levels  for  white children aged 6 months  to 5  years in the NHANES II sample and gasoline
lead usage (Annest et al., 1983a).
                                           11-42

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                  £
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                  a
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         11-13.  PEARSON CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE AVERAGE BLOOD LEAD LEVELS
             FOR SIX-MONTH PERIODS AND THE TOTAL LEAD USED IN GASOLINE PRODUCTION
                        PER SIX MONTHS, ACCORDING TO RACE, SEX, AND AGEa


Overall (all races)
All
All
By

By


black6
whites
sex: Male
Female
age: 0.5-5 yr
6-17 yr
18-74 yr
Coefficients
January-June
and July-December
0.920
0.678
0.929
0.944
0.912
0.955
0.908
0.920
for 6-month periods
April -September .
and October-March
0.938
0.717
0.955
0.960
0.943
0.969
0.970
0.924
Averages
0.929
0.698
0.942
0.952
0.928
0.962
0.939
0.922
 The lead values used to compute the averages were preadjusted by regression analysis to
 account for the effects of income, degree of urbanization, region of the country, season,
 and, when appropriate, race, sex, and age.
 All correlation coefficients were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except those for
 blacks (p < 0.05).
cAverages were based on six-month periods, except for the first and last time periods ,
which covered only February 1976 through June 1976 and January 1980 through February 1980,
respectively.
 Averages were based on six-month periods, except for the last time period, which covered
only October 1979 through February 1980.
eBlacks could not be analyzed according to sex and age subgroups because of inadequate sample
 sizes.

     Questions have been  raised by some commentors regarding whether or not (1) the NHANES II
survey  design  was adequate  to  allow  for  credible definition  of time trends  for nationwide
average blood lead concentrations, (2) the reported significant associations between NHANES II
blood  lead  data  and U.S.  gasoline usage  are  credible and reflect a  causal  relationship, and
(3) the entire decline in blood  lead  values  is  attributable to decreased gasoline lead usage
versus changes in  other  sources of lead exposure.  These issues and alternative analyses con-
cerning the NHANES II blood lead/gasoline lead relationships were evaluated by an expert panel
(the NHANES II Time-Trend Analysis Review Group) convened by EPA.
                                           11-44

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     The NHANES  II  Time-Trend Analysis Review Group  (1983)  found the following:   (1)  strong
evidence that there was  a  substantial  decline in the  average  level  of blood lead in the  U.S.
population during the NHANES  II  survey period;  (2) after  adjustment for relevant demographic
covariables,  the magnitude  of the change can be  estimated for the  total U.S.  population and
for some major subgroups, provided careful  attention is given to underlying  model  assumptions.
The  Review Group also found  a  strong  correlation between gasoline-lead  usage  and blood-lead
levels, and  noted  that  in  the  absence of scientifically  plausible  alternative explanations,
the  hypothesis  that gasoline lead  is  an  important causal factor for blood-lead  levels  must
receive  serious consideration.   Nevertheless,  despite the  strong  association   between  the
decline in  gasoline-lead usage and the decline  in  blood-lead levels, the  survey  results and
statistical analyses do  not confirm the causal hypothesis.   Rather, this finding is based on
the qualitatively consistent results of extensive analyses done in different but complementary
ways.
     Further support for strong,  likely causative,  relationships  between gasoline lead usage
and  blood  lead  levels  in  the U.S.  is provided  by analyses  carried out by  Schwartz  et al.
(1984).  Those  analyses not  only evaluated  NHANES  II data, but,  also,  additional blood lead
data such  as  blood lead values from U.S.  childhood lead-screening programs.  Results obtained
were quite  similar to  those of  Annest  et  al.  (1983b),  even  after controlling  for possible
alternative  contributors to  the  blood lead decline,  e.g.,  deleading of lead-painted housing
units  or  decreased food lead intake.   Large numbers  (thousands)  of children were also esti-
mated  by the analysis to have blood lead levels in excess of 30 pg/dl due in part  to exposures
to  lead emitted  as a consequence of leaded gasoline usage  in the United States.
     Still  further  evidence  for  causative relationships  between  gasoline   lead  usage and
changes in  human blood  lead  levels is provided by  isotope studies of the type  described  next.
11.3.6.2  Isotope Studies.  Two field  investigations have  attempted  to derive estimates of the
amount of  lead from gasoline that  is  absorbed by the  blood of  individuals.   Both  of these in-
vestigations used the fact  that non-radioactive isotopes of  lead are stable.  The  varying pro-
portions of the  isotopes present  in blood and environmental  samples  can  indicate  the source  of
the lead.  The  Isotopic  Lead  Experiment (ILE) is  an extensive  study  that  attempted to use dif-
fering proportions  of  the  isotopes in geologic  formations to  infer the  proportion  of  lead  in
gasoline  that is absorbed  by the  body.   The other study  used existing  natural shifts  in iso-
topic  proportions  in an  attempt to  do  the  same thing.
11.3.6.2.1   Italy.   The ILE  is a large-scale community study  in  which  the geologic source  of
lead for  antiknock  compounds  in gasoline was manipulated  to  change the isotopic composition  of
the atmosphere  (Garibaldi  et  al., 1975;  Facchetti,  1979;  Facchetti,  1985).   Preliminary inves-
tigation  of the environment  of Northwest Italy, and  the blood of  residents  there,  indicated
                                            11-45

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that the  ratio  of  206Pb/207Pb  in blood was a  constant,  about 1.16,  and the ratio in gasoline
was about 1.18.  This  preliminary study also suggested that it would  be possible to substitute
for the currently  used  geologic  sources of lead  for  antiknock production a geologically dis-
tinct source of  lead  from Australia that had  an  isotopic  206Pb/207Pb ratio of 1.04.   It was
hypothesized that  the resulting  change in blood lead 206Pb/z07Pb ratios (from 1.16 to a lower
value) would indicate the proportion  of lead  in the blood  of exposed human populations attri-
butable to lead in the air contributed by gasoline combustion in the  study area.
     Baseline sampling  of both the environment and  residents in the geographic  areas  of the
study was conducted in  1974-1975.   The sampling included air, soil,  plants, lead  stock, gaso-
line  supplies,  etc.   Human  blood  sampling was done  on a  variety of  populations  within the
area.   Both environmental  and  human samples were analyzed  for lead  concentrations as well  as
isotopic 206Pb/207Pb composition.
     In August,  1975, the  first switched (Australian lead-labeled)  gasoline  was introduced;
although  it was  originally intended to get a  100  percent substitution, practical  and logisti-
cal problems resulted in  only  a 50 percent substitution being achieved by this time.   By May,
1977,  these problems  were worked out and the  substitution  was practically complete.   The sub-
stitution was maintained  until  the end of 1979,  when  a  partial return to use of  the original
sources of  lead began.    Therefore,  the project  had  four  phases:   phase  zero - background;
phase one - partial switch; phase two - total  switch;  and phase three - switchback.
     Airborne lead measurements  were  collected in a number  of sites  to generate  estimates of
the lead exposure that was experienced by residents of the  area.  Turin, the major city of the
region, was found  to  have a much greater level of atmospheric lead than the surrounding coun-
tryside.   There also appeared to be fairly wide seasonal  fluctuations.
     The  isotopic  lead  ratios  obtained in the samples analyzed are displayed in Figure 11-12.
It can easily  be seen that the airborne particulate lead rapidly changed its isotope ratio in
line  with expectations.   Changes in the isotope  ratios  of the blood samples  appeared to lag
somewhat  behind.   Background blood lead ratios for adults  were 1.1591 ± 0.0043 in rural areas
and 1.1627 ± 0.0022  in  Turin in 1975.   For Turin adults,  a mean isotopic ratio of 1.1325 was
obtained  in  1979,  clearly  less  than  background.    Isotopic ratios  for Turin schoolchildren,
obtained  starting  in 1977,  tended to  be  somewhat lower  than the  ratios for Turin adults.
     Preliminary analysis  of the isotope ratios in air lead allowed  for the estimation of the
fractional contribution  of gasoline in the city of Turin, in small communities within 25 km of
Turin, and  in  small  communities beyond 25 km (Facchetti   and Geiss, 1982).  At the time of
maximal use of  Australian lead isotope in gasoline (1978-1979), about 87.3 percent of the air
                                           11-46

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  1.20
            12
                    24
                           36
                                  48
                       TIME, months
                         60      72
                                        84
      96
108
                    120
               132
  1.18
  1.16
  1.14
K
£
  1.12
  1.10
  1.08
   1.06
       — PHASED
>•[•«  PHASE 1-
 I   1
                                  1       I       I        I
                            O GASOLINE
                            D BLOOD, ADULTS, TURIN
                            A BLOOD, ADULTS, >25 km
                            O BLOOD, ADULTS, <26 km
                            • BLOOD. SCHOOL CHILDREN
                            • BLOOD, TRAFFIC WARDENS
                            A AIRBORNE PARTICULATE, TURIN
                            • AIRBORNE PARTICULATE, RURAL
                                    -PHASE 2-
                                                                -PHASE 3-
                                           I
I
   1.04
    1974    1975   1976    1977    1978    1979   1980   1981    1982   1983   1984
                                                YEAR
   Figure 11-12.  Change in 206Pb/207Pb ratios in gasoline, blood, and airborne particulate from
   1974 to 1984.
   Source:  Facchetti (1985).
                                         11-47

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lead in Turin  and  58.7 percent of the  air  lead in the countryside was  attributable  to  gaso-
line.  The  determination  of  lead  isotope ratios was  essentially  independent  of air lead con-
centrations.   During  that time,  air  lead averaged  about  2.0 ug/m3 in  Turin  (from 0.88-4.54
ug/m3 depending on  location  of the sampling site), about 0.56 ug/m3 in the nearby communities
(0.30-0.67  ug/m3) and  about  0.30  ug/m3 in more distant  (>  25 km) locations.   It is important
to note that  the  contribution calculations  are for  local  lead in gasoline,  not all lead from
gasoline.    Large  movements of air masses brought  in air lead from other  regions,  especially
for  the suburban  and  urban areas.  In the absence of nearby lead industrial  sources,  this air
lead was  at least  substantially composed of non-Australian gasoline  lead  and would therefore
lead to an  underestimate of the total  contribution of gasoline lead to blood lead.
     Blood  lead concentrations and isotope ratios  for 63 adult subjects were determined on two
or more occasions  during  phases 0-2 of the  study.   Their  blood lead isotope  ratios decreased
over time  and  the  fraction of lead in their blood attributable to the Australian lead-labeled
gasoline  could be  estimated  independently  of  blood lead concentration  (see  Appendix  C  for
estimation  method).   The  mean  fraction of  blood  lead attributable  to  the Australian  lead-
labeled gasoline  ranged  from 21.4 ± 10.4 percent  in Turin to  11.4 ±7.3 percent in the nearby
(< 25 km) countryside and 10.1 ±9.3 percent in the remote countryside.  These  likely represent
minimal  estimates  of  fractions  of  blood  lead derived  from gasoline  due  to  the following
reasons:    (1)  use of  some non-Australian lead-labeled gasoline brought  into  the  study area
from outside;  (2)  probable insufficient time to have achieved steady-state blood lead isotope
ratios by  the  time  of the switchback; and (3)  probable insufficient time to fully reflect de-
layed movement  of  the Australian  lead from gasoline via environmental  pathways in addition to
air.
     These  results  can  be combined with the actual  blood  lead concentrations to estimate the
fraction  of  gasoline uptake  attributable   or  not  attributable  to  direct  inhalation.    The
results  are shown  in Table  11-14 based  upon the  concept  outlined  in Facchetti and  Geiss
(1982).   From  Section 11.4.1,  we conclude  that  an  assumed  value  of 6=1.6  is  plausible for
predicting  the amount of  lead absorbed into  blood  at air lead  concentrations  less  than 2.0
ug/m3.   The predicted values  for lead from gasoline  in air  (in the ILE) range  from  0.28 to
2.79 ug/dl  in  blood  due  to  direct inhalation.   The total   contribution  to  blood lead from
gasoline  is much  larger,  from 3.21  to 4.66 ug/dl,   suggesting  that  the  non-inhalation con-
tribution of gasoline  increases from  1.88 ug/dl in Turin to 2.33 ug/dl in the near region and
2.93 ug/dl  in  the  more distant region.  The non-inhalation sources  include  ingestion of dust
and  soil  lead,  and  lead in food  and  drinking  water.   Efforts are being made  to quantify the
magnitude  of  these  sources.   The average direct  inhalation of lead in  the air from  gasoline
                                           11-48

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                TABLE 11-14.  ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION OF LEADED GASOLINE TO BLOOD LEAD
                               BY INHALATION AND NON-INHALATION PATHWAYS



Location
Turin
<25 km
>25 km

Air Pb
fraction
from
??so(a)
linev '
0.873
0.587
0.587

Mean
air
Pb (b)
cone. ,v •*
pg/m3
2.0
0.56
0.30

Blood Pb
fraction
from
0.214
0.114
0.101

Mean
blood
Pb , .
cone. ,
pg/dl
21.77
25.06
31.78
Blood
Pb
from
) gaso"(e)
' line/6'
pg/dl
4.66
2.86
3.21
Pb
from
gaso-
I1ne. (f)
in air,v J
pg/dl
2.79
0.53
0.28
Non-
inhaled
Pb from
gaso (g)
pg/dl
1.88
2.33
2.93

Estimated
fraction
gas-Pb
inhalaT
tion(R)
0.60
0.19
0.09
(a)
(b)
Fraction of air lead in Phase 2 attributable to lead in gasoline.
Mean air lead in Phase 2,  pg/m3.
'c'Mean fraction of blood lead in Phase 2  attributable  to  lead in  gasoline.
(d)
   Mean blood lead concentration in Phase 2,  pg/dl.
^Estimated blood lead from gasoline = (c)  x (d)
' ^Estimated blood lead from gasoline inhalation = B x (a)  x (b),  B = 1.6.
^Estimated blood lead from gasoline, non-inhalation = (f)-(e)
^Fraction of blood lead uptake from gasoline attributable to direct inhalation = (f)/(e)
Data: Facchetti and Geiss (1982); Facchetti  (1985).

is  9 to 19 percent  of the total  intake attributable  to  gasoline in the  countryside  and an
estimated  60  percent in the  city  of Turin.   Note  that  in this sample, the  blood  lead con-
centrations were lowest  in  the  city  and  highest  in the  more remote  areas.   This  is  not
obviously  attributable to sex because  the  city  sample was all male.  Facchetti  (1985) notes
that  factors  unaccounted for  are  presumably  acting  on the population of  the  ILE  test area.
The  lead  concentration in tapwater  in  Turin  is  approximately 4 pg/1, while it  ranges  in the
country from  12 to  20 pg/1.   Also,  lead concentrations in Piedmont  wines  averaged 155 ± 67
pg/1.  Daily wine consumption for rural drinkers ranges from 0.5 to 1 liter per day.   Thus the
importance of wine consumption becomes  evident.  Other differences between city and county may
play  a role.  A more detailed statistical investigation is needed.
      Spengler  et al.  (1984)   have   developed a  modeling  approach  to try to  explain these
results.   Their  hypothesized  model suggests that  in-vehicle lead exposure is important  and may
explain  part  of the  apparent  anomaly of the  blood  lead  levels  in this study.   That is,
Spengler  et  al.  (1984) hypothesized  that there  is a  large  component  of personal  lead exposure
associated with gasoline  use that  is  not captured  by  stationary ambient air  lead monitors:

                                            11-49

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personal exposure  while riding in and working  around motor vehicles using  leaded  gas.   More
work  on this  problem  is  needed, particularly conduction of  near-  and  in-vehicle  studies.
     Lead  uptake  may  also be  associated with occupation, sex,  age,  smoking, and  drinking
habits.  The  linear exposure  model  used in  Section  11.4  was  also used here to estimate the
fraction of  labeled blood lead from  gasoline attributable to exposure via  direct  inhalation
and other  pathways.   EPA  used the data in Facchetti  and  Geiss (1982) for  the 35  subjects for
whom  repeated  measurements allowed estimation  of  the change  in isotope ratios in  the  blood.
Their  blood  lead  concentrations in Phase 2  were also determined, allowing  for estimation of
the  total  gasoline contribution  to  blood  lead.    Possible  covariates  included  sex,  age,
cigarette  smoking,  drinking  alcoholic  beverages,  occupation,  residence  location, and  work
location.  In  order to  obtain some crude comparisons  with  the inhalation  exposure  studies of
Section  11.4.1,  EPA analyses  assigned  the  air lead  values listed in Table  11-15  to  various
locations.   Lower values for air lead in Turin would increase  the estimated blood  lead inhala-
tion  slope above  the  estimated  value of  1.70.   Since  the   fraction  of  time subjects  were
exposed  to workplace  air  was not known, this  was also  estimated from the data as  about 41
percent  (i.e., 9.8  hours/ day).   The results are  shown  in Figure 11-13 and  Table  11-16.   Of
all the available  variables,  only location, sex,  and inhaled air lead from gasoline  proved
statistically  significant  in predicting  blood  lead attributable  to  gasoline.   The  model
predictability is  fairly  good,  with  an R2 value of 0.654.  It should be noted  that a certain
amount  of  confounding  of  variables  was unavoidable  in  this  small  set of  preliminary data,
e.g.,  no female subjects  in  Turin or  in occupations of  traffic wardens,  etc.  There was a
systematic increase in estimated  non-inhalation contributions  from  gasoline use  for  remote
areas,  but the  cause  is  unknown.   The  following interpretation for  these results  may be
offered:   The  air  lead measurements  used here  represent community or  ambient  exposures.   In
addition to the ambient air lead, there may have also been systematic differences  in personal
exposure.  Nevertheless,  the  estimated  non-inhalation contribution of gasoline to  blood lead
in the  ILE study is significant (i.e., 1.8-3.4 ug/dl).

                    TABLE 11-15.   ASSUMED AIR LEAD CONCENTRATIONS FOR MODEL
Residence or workplace code
Location
Air lead concentration
1-4
outside Turin
(a)
5
Turin residential
1.0 ug/m3(b)
6
Turin central
2.5 ug/m3(c)
(a) Use value for community air lead, 0.16 - 0.67 ug/m3.
(b) Intermediate between average traffic areas (1.71 ug/m3) and low traffic areas (0.88 ug/m3)
    in Turin.
(c) Intermediate between average traffic areas (1.71 ug/m3) and heavy traffic areas (4.54
    ug/m3) in Turin.
                                           11-50

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             Uj

             3
             O
             isi
             <
             (3
              uj  3
              CD
              t-
              25km <25km
                                 0.5
                                        TURIN
                                                1.0
                              1.5
2.0
                   AVERAGE AIR LEAD CONCENTRATION ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASOLINE
               Figure  11-13.  Estimated direct and indirect contributions of lead in
               gasoline to blood lead in Italian men, based on EPA analysis of ILE data
               (Table 11 -16).
            TABLE 11-16.   REGRESSION MODEL FOR BLOOD LEAD ATTRIBUTABLE TO GASOLINE
   Variable
                                                                   Coefficient ±  standard error
Air lead from  gas

Location
 Turin
 <25 ton
 >25 km

Sex
                                   1.70 4 1.04 pg/dl per


                                   1.82 t 2.01 pg/dl
                                   2.56 t 0.59 pg/dl
                                   3.42 ± 0.85 pg/dl
                                   •2.03 ± 0.48
                                                                                       for women
                                             11-51

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     The  preliminary  linear analysis  of the  overall  ILE data  set  (2161  observations)  found
that  total  blood  lead  levels  depended on  other covariates  for  which there were  plausible
mechanisms of  lead  exposure,  including location, smoking, alcoholic beverages, age,  and  occu-
pation  (Facchetti and  Geiss,  1982).   The difference between total  blood lead uptake  and  blood
lead uptake attributable to gasoline lead has yet to be analyzed in detail, but these analyses
suggest that  certain  important  differences may be found.   Some reservations have been expres-
sed about the  ILE  study, both by the authors themselves and by Elwood (1983c).  These include
unusual conditions of meteorology and traffic in Turin, and demographic characteristics of the
35  subjects  measured  repeatedly  that  may  restrict  the  generalizabi1ity  of  the study.
Facchetti (1985) reports additional analysis which increases the number of  blood  leads from 35
to 63,  alleviating  this concern to some extent  since  the new results confirm the old.   How-
ever, it is clear that changes in air lead attributable to gasoline were tracked  by changes in
blood lead  in  Turin residents.   The airborne  particulate  lead isotope ratio quickly achieved
new equilibrium levels as the  gasoline  isotope  ratio  was changed, and  maintained that  level
during  the  2%  years of Phase 2.  The blood lead isotope ratios fell  slowly during the change-
over period,  and  rose  again afterwards as shown in Figure 11-12.  Equilibrium was not clearly
achieved  for  blood lead  isotope ratios,  possibly  due to large endogenous pools of  old lead
stored  in  the  skeleton  and  slowly mobilized  over time.   Even  with  such  reservations, this
study provides  a  useful  basis  for relating blood lead and air lead derived from  gasoline com-
bustion.  Colombo  and  Fantechi  (1983)  have presented an analysis of the ILE  study  using a
dynamic model.  The results of their analysis suggest that an appropriate estimate of the con-
tribution of  locally consumed  gasoline lead to  blood  lead is 26,  17, and  14  percent for the
subject groups of Turin, and near and far countryside,  respectively.   These values are similar
to  but  somewhat  larger  than  those presented by  Facchetti   and  Geiss  (1982)  and  Facchetti
(1985).
11.3.6.2.2  United  States.   Manton (1977)  conducted  a long-term  study of  10 subjects  whose
blood lead  isotopic composition was  monitored for comparison with  the isotopic composition of
the air they  breathed.   Manton  had observed that  the  ratio of 2oepb/204pb in the a^r van-ed
with  seasons  in Dallas,  Texas; therefore,  the  ratio  of  those isotopes  should vary in  the
blood.   By comparing the observed  variability, estimates  could  then  be made of  the  amount of
lead in air that is absorbed by the blood.
     Manton took monthly blood samples  from all 10 subjects from April, 1974 until June,  1975.
The blood samples were  analyzed for both  total  lead  and isotopic  composition.  The  recruited
volunteers included a  mix of males and  females,  and  persons highly and moderately exposed to
lead.   However, none of the subjects was thought to be exposed to more than 1 ug/m3 of lead in
air.   Lead  in  air  samples was collected by hi-vol samplers primarily from  one site in Dallas.
That site, however,  had been shown earlier to vary in isotopic composition  paralleling another
                                           11-52

-------
site some 16 miles  away.   All  analyses were carried  out  under clean  conditions with  care  and
caution being exercised to avoid lead contamination.
     The isotope ratio  of  206Pb/204Pb  increased linearly  with time  from about 18.45 to  19.35,
approximately a  6  percent increase.   At least  one  of the two isotopic  lead  ratios increased
linearly in  4  of  the  10  subjects.   In one other,  they  increased, but erratically.    In  the
remainder of the  subjects,  the  isotopic   ratios  followed  smooth  curves showing  inflection
points. The  curves obtained for  the two subjects born in  South  Africa were 6 months  out of
phase with the  curves  of the native-born Americans.   The  fact that  the isotope ratios in 9 of
the 10 subjects varied regularly was thought to indicate that the  non-airborne sources of lead
varied in isotopic composition  very slowly.
     The blood  lead levels  exhibited  a variety  of patterns,  although  none of  the  subjects
showed more  than a 25 percent  change from initial levels.  This suggests a reasonably steady-
state external  environment.
     Manton  carried his analyses  further  to  estimate  the percentage  of  lead in  blood that
comes  from air.   He estimated  that  the  percentage  varied from 7  to 41 percent,  assuming that
dietary  sources  of lead  had a constant isotopic ratio while air  varied.   He calculated the
percent contribution according to the following equation.
                                         — ,    where
                         100+q            a                                    (11-1)
              b    =    rate of change of an isotope ratio in blood,
              a    =    rate of change of the same ratio in the air, and
              q    =    constant defined as the number of atoms of the isotope in the
                        denominator of the airborne lead ratio mixed with 100 atoms of
                        the same isotope of lead from non-airborne sources.

     The  results  are  shown in Table 11-17.  Slopes were obtained by least squares regression.
Percentages of airborne lead in blood varied between 7 ± 3 and 41 ± 3.
     Stephens (1981)  extended  the analysis of data  in  Manton1s  study (Table 11-18).  He used
the  observed air lead  concentrations  based on  actual  24-hour  air  lead exposures  in three
adults.   He  assumed  values for breathing  rate,  lung deposition,  and absorption into blood to
estimate  the  blood lead uptake attributable to  204Pb  by the direct inhalation pathway.  Sub-
jects  5,  6,  and 9 absorbed far  more  air lead in fact than was calculated using the values in
Table  11-17.  The total air lead contribution for those subjects was 8.4, 4.4, and  7.9  times,
respectively, larger  than  the direct  inhalation.  These estimates are sensitive to the  assumed
parameter values.

                                           11-53

-------
                 TABLE 11-17.  RATE OF CHANGE OF 206pb/204pb AND 206pb/207pb
   IN AIR AND BLOOD, AND PERCENTAGE OF AIRBORNE LEAD IN BLOOD OF SUBJECTS 1, 3, 5, 6,  AND 9
Subject

(Air)
1
3
5
6
9*
Rate of change per day
206pb/204pb 206pb/207f>b
X 10" X 10"
17.60 ± 0.77 9.97 ± 0.42
. . . 0.70 ± 0.30
5.52 ± 0.55 ...
... 3.13 ± 0.34
6.53 ± 0.49 4.10 ± 0.25
3.25 2.01
Percentage of airborne lead in blood
From From
206pb/207pb 206Pb/207Pb
... ...
... 7 ± 3
31.4 ±3.4 ...
. . . 31.4 ± 3.7
37.1 ± 2.8 41.1 ± 3.0
18.5 20.0
Note:  Errors quoted are one standard deviation
*From slope of tangent drawn to the minima of subject's blood curves.   Errors
 cannot realistically be assigned.
      TABLE 11-18.  CALCULATED BLOOD LEAD UPTAKE FROM AIR LEAD USING MANTON ISOTOPE STUDY
Blood uptake from air


Sub-
ject
5
6
9




Concen-
tration
0.22
1.09
0.45
ug/m3
M9/m
Mg/m


Expo-
sure*
15 m3/day
15 m3/day
15 m3/day


Deposi-
tion*
37%
37%
37%


Absorp-
tion*
50%
50%
50%




0.
3.
1.
Calcu-
lated
inhala-
tion
61 ug/d
0 ug/d
2 ug/d
Fraction of
lead uptake
from gasoline


Observed
5.1
13.2
9.9
ug/d
Mg/d
ug/d
by
direct
inhalation
0
0
0
.120
.229
.126
*assumed rather than measured exposure, deposition and absorption.
Source:  Stephens, 1981, based on Manton, 1977; Table III.
     In  Manton  (1985)  the earlier  isotope  studies  were  greatly extended  and  the  results
were  reinterpreted.   The  recent  study  emphasized  time  changes  in  blood  lead  and  in
206pb/207pb isotope  ratios  in  three subjects in Dallas, Texas, from 1974 to 1983.   Two of the
subjects .described  earlier (Manton, 1977) were  included here, a husband (subject  8)  and his
first wife  (subject 9).   The  more recent  subject  was  the husband's second wife.  The husband
                                           11-54

-------
had grown up  in  South  Africa and in England;  thus he  had deep bone  pools  of  lead  that reflec-
ted the  Australian lead  isotope  ratio.   As  noted earlier,  the husband's seasonal minima  in
isotope ratio appeared to be the opposite of  the two  women with whom he shared  a  very similar
pattern of  environmental  exposures.  Manton (1985) now  attributes  this to a large efflux  of
lead  from  the skeletal pool.   The husband's estimated  dietary intake was 55 ug/day.   If  10
percent of this is absorbed into blood (5.5 jjg/day), mean residence  time of 40 days and volume
of  distribution  of 75 dl imply a dietary contribution  to blood lead of about 3  ug/dl,  much
less  than his  observed average of 17 ug/dl.  There was  little indication of large changes  in
diet  lead isotope  ratio  during this period,  hence the changes in blood lead  isotope ratio may
be  attributed to  changes  in the air lead particulate  isotope ratio, and to changes in isotope
ratio  for  endogenous  sources.   Manton  attributes  the  large changes in  isotope  ratio  in the
husband to changes in isotope ratio from lead resorbed from bone into the blood.   His  estimate
is  that  approximately  70  percent of the  daily  blood  input is due  to  the endogenous  skeletal
pool  of  this subject.   The  subject's wife also exhibited a variety of  fluctuations  in blood
lead  level and isotope ratio due to childbirth and to short-term fluctuations in dietary lead.
The  apparent effect of  childbirth was  to  increase  resorption  of  both  skeletal  calcium and
skeletal lead into blood.  The contribution of airborne lead to blood lead isotope ratios thus
did  not  require  correction for long-term secular  changes  in dietary lead isotope ratios.  On
this  basis  the  direct inhalation contribution was  again calculated as about 20 to 60 percent
of  the total uptake  of  atmospheric  lead using p = 4.1.  Manton's calculations  are  shown  in
Table 11-19.  The  cumulative effects of  long-term  lead absorption on the mobilizable  lead pool
in  the skeleton have been ignored,  but are apparently not  negligible.
      In  summary,  the direct inhalation  pathway  accounts  for only a fraction of the  total air
lead  contribution to  blood,  the direct inhalation contribution being on the  order  of 12-23
percent  of  the total uptake  of  lead attributable to gasoline,  using Stephen's assumptions, and
20-60 percent based  on  Manton1s analysis.   This  is  consistent with estimates  from the ILE
study, taking into account the  much higher air  lead levels in  Turin.
11.3.6.3   Studies of Childhood Blood Lead Poisoning Control  Programs.   Billick et al.   (1979)
presented   several  possible  explanations  for   the observed  decline  (described  in  Section
11.3.5.2)  in blood lead  levels  in  New York City  children as  well  as evidence  supporting and
refuting each.   The suggested  contributing factors include  the active  educational  and  screen-
 ing program of the New  York City Bureau of Lead Poisoning Control, the decrease  in the amount
of lead-based paint exposure  as  a result of rehabilitation or removal  of older  housing,  and
changes  in  environmental  lead exposure.
                                            11-55

-------
                       TABLE 11-19.   RESPIRED AND OTHER INPUTS  OF AIRBORNE Pb TO BLOOD FOR SOME DALLAS RESIDENTS IN 1975"

1 — »
1
tn
cr>

Subject
no.
3
6
8
9
Blood Pb,
ug/dl
8.4
12.6
5.5
17.4
Total Pb input,
ug/day
15
30
9.3
45
Percent
airborne Pb
in blood
31
39
>33
20
Total input
airborne Pb,
ug/day
4.5
11.7
9.0
Airborne Pb, 24- hr
concentration,
ug/-3
0.22
1.09
0.45C
0.45
. Respired
p ug/day
12 0.91
4.5 4.5
>4.1 1.9
7.7 1.9
Ai rborne
other,
ug/day
3.6
7.2
7.1
Pb
Respired

V
Respired & othe?
20
38
21



 Data in first five col inns for subjects 3,  6,  and 9 recalculated.

 B is defined as the increment in blood Pb concentration (ug/dl) per unit increment  in  airborne Pb concentration
GFraction of airborne Pb in subject 8 calculated fro* Measured isotope ratios  of air,  blood,  and diet on two
 occasions in 1976.   Figures quoted are ninina because skeletal  input, which would  have had an  isotope
 ratio less than that of the diet, has been ignored.

-------
     Information was only available to partially evaluate the  last source  of  lead exposure  and
particularly only Jor ambient air  lead  levels.   Air lead measurements were  available  during
the entire  study period  for only one station which  was  located on the west  side of  Manhattan
at a height  of  56  m.   Superposition of  the  air lead and blood  lead  levels  indicated a simi-
larity in seasonal  cycle and long-term decline.  The authors  cautioned against overinterpre-
tation because  of  the necessary assumptions  in  this analysis and because one  air monitoring
site was  used to be representative of the air lead exposure of New York City residents.  With
this in  mind,  the  investigators  fitted a  multiple  regression  model  to  the  data  to try  to
define the   important  determinants of  blood lead  levels for  this  population.  Age,  ethnic
group,  and  air  lead level were all found to be  significant determinants of blood lead levels.
The authors  further point  out the possibility  of a change  in the nature  of  the population
being  screened  before and  after 1973.  They reran this  regression  analysis  separately  for
years  both  before  and after 1973.   The  same results were still  obtained, although  the exact
coefficients varied.
     Billick et al.  (1980)  extended their previous analysis of the data from the single moni-
toring site mentioned above.   The investigators examined  the  possible  relationship between
blood  lead  level and the amount of lead in gasoline used in the area.   Figures 11-14  and 11-15
present  illustrative  trend  lines  in blood leads  for blacks  and Hispanics versus air lead and
gasoline  lead, respectively.  Gasoline lead was  estimated by multiplying the sales of gasoline
by  the estimated concentrations of lead in gasoline.   Semiannual concentrations of lead  for
the Mid-Atlantic Coast were interpolated to  get  quarterly  values.   Sales were computed using
figures  for New York, New York plus  New Jersey,  New York plus  Connecticut,  or New  York plus
New Jersey  plus Connecticut:  all  gave  similar  results.   The lead in  gasoline trend line ap-
pears  to fit the  blood  lead  trend line better  than the  air  lead trend,  especially in  the
summer of 1973.
     Multiple regression analyses were calculated using  six separate models.  The best fitting
model  had an R2 =  0.745.  Gasoline lead content was  included  rather than air lead.   The gaso-
line lead content  coefficient was  significant  for  all  three  racial groups.  Partial correla-
tions  with  gasoline alone were not provided.   The authors state a number of  reasons  for gaso-
line lead providing a better  fit  than air  lead,  including the fact that the  single monitoring
site might  not  be  representative.
     Nathanson  and Nudelman (1980) provide  more  detail  regarding air  lead  levels in  New  York
City.   In 1971, New  York City began  to regulate the lead  content of  gasoline  sold.   Lead  in
gasoline was to be totally  banned by 1974,  but  supply  and distribution problems delayed  the
effect of  the  ban.   Ultimately,  regulation of  lead  in gasoline  was taken over by  the  U.S.
Environmental  Protection Agency.
                                            11-57

-------
O
       I  I  I   I  I  I
T
T
11''  11''  I
                                i BLACK

                          _ _-. HISPANIC
                          — • — AIR LEAD
       I  I  I I I  I  I I I  I I  I
                                                           E
                                                           a.
                                                           _i
                                                           UJ

                                                      2.5   §
                                                      2.0
                                                      1.5
                                                      10
                                                      0.0
    1970    1971    1972    1973    1974   1"75

                  OUARTERLY SAMSUNG DATE
               1976
                                                          o
                                                          <
                                                          K
                                                          UJ
Figure 11-14. Geometric mean blood lead levels of New York City
children (aged 25-36 months) by ethnic group, and ambient air lead
concentration versus quarterly sampling period, 1970-1976.

Source:  Billick et at. (1980).
                                  11-58

-------
I  I
                            I I
I  I I  I  I  I I  I  I I
                          ——— BLACK

                          — — — HISPANIC
                          —. — GASOLINE LEAD

                                                           B>
                                                          O)
                                                           O
                                                           r-

                                                           Q

                                                      6.0   2
                                                       5.0 g
                                                          O
                                                       4.0
                                                       3.0
     Ol  I I I  I I I  I  I I  I  I I  I  t  I I  I  I I I  I  I I  I  I I  I  IPO
     1970   1971    1972    1973    1974   1975   1976

                   QUARTERLY SAMPLING DATE

Figure 11-15. Geometric mean blood lead  levels of New York City
children (aged 25-36 months) by ethnic group, and estimated amount of
lead present in gasoline sold in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
versus quarterly sampling period, 1970-1976.

Source:  Billick et al. (1980).
                             11-59

-------
     New York City measured air lead levels during the periods June 1969 to September 1973 and
during 1978  at  multiple sites.   The earlier monitoring  was  done by 40 rooftop samplers using
cellulose filters  analyzed  by AAS.   The latter sampling was done by 27 rooftop samplers using
glass  fiber  filters  analyzed by  X-ray  fluorescence (XRF).   There was  excellent  agreement
between  the  XRF and  atomic absorption analyses  for  lead (r =  0.985).   Furthermore,  the XRF
analyses were  checked against EPA AAS  and again excellent agreement was  found.   The  authors
did,  however,  point  out that cellulose filters  are  not as efficient as  glass  fiber filters.
Therefore, the earlier results tend to be underestimates of air lead levels.
     Quarterly citywide  air lead  averages generally declined during the years 1969-1978.   The
maximum quarterly citywide average obtained was about 2.5 (jg/m3 for the third quarter of 1970.
The citywide trend corresponds to the results obtained from the single monitoring site used in
Billick et al.'s  (1979) analysis.   The citywide  data suggest that the single monitoring site
in Manhattan  is  a responsible indicator of  air  lead  level trends.  The graph in Figure 11-16
reinforces this  assertion by displaying  the geometric mean blood lead  levels  for blacks and
Hispanics in the 25- to 36-month age groups and the quarterly citywide air lead levels for the
periods of interest.   A good correspondence was noted.
     As part of  a detailed investigation of the relationship of blood lead levels and lead in
gasoline covering  three cities, Billick  (1982)  extended the time trend analyses  of New York
City  blood  lead data.   Figure  11-17 presents  the time  trend line for  geometric mean blood
leads  for  blacks aged  25-36 months extended  to 1979.  Similar results held  for other ages.
The downward trend  noted earlier was still continuing, although the slopes for both the blood
and  gasoline lead  seem  to be  somewhat  shallower  toward the  most  recent  data.   A  similar
picture  is  presented by  the percentage  of  children with  blood lead  levels  greater  than 30
(jg/dl.  In the early 70's, about 60 percent of the screened children had these levels;  by 1979
the percentage had dropped between 10 and 15 percent.
11.3.6.4  Frankfurt, West Germany.   Sinn (1980; 1981) conducted a study specifically examining
the environmental  and biological  impact  of the  gasoline lead  phasedown  implemented  in West
Germany  on  January  1,   1976.   Frankfurt  am  Main provided  a good  setting  for such  a study
because of its physical  character.
     Air and dustfall  lead  levels  at several  sites  in and about the city were determined be-
fore  and after  the  phasedown  was  implemented.   The mean  air lead  concentrations obtained
during the study  are presented in Table 11-20.  A substantial decrease in air lead levels was
noted  for the  low-level  high traffic site (3.18 ug/m3 in 1975-76 to 0.68 ug/m3 in 1978-1979).
No change  was  noted  for the background  site  while  only minor changes were  observed  for the
other  locations.    Dustfall  levels  fell  markedly  (218  mg/cm2-day  for 1972-1973  to  128
mg/cm2'day for 1977-1978).   Traffic  counts were essentially  unchanged  in  the area during the
course of study.
                                           11-60

-------
    I I  I I I  I I  I I  I I  I
                                 BLACK
                         — — — - HISPANIC
                         — . —• AIR LEAD
                     i  i i  i I  i i  i I
J I  I I  I I  l Inn
                                                  O
 1970    1971    1972   1973   1974   1975   1976
             QUARTERLY SAMPLING DATE
Figure 11-16. Geometric mean blood levels for blacks and Hispanics in
the 25-to-36-month age group and  rooftop  quarterly averages  for
ambient citywide lead levels.
Source: Nathanson and Nudelman (1980).
                         11-61

-------
   50
E

§  «
\



$?

25»
92
   20



o
Ul
(9
   10
i  i   n   rn   i

  ———  QEO. MEAN BLOOD Pb
  — — — —  GASOLINE LEAD
           V- 'v
vv\A   VW,

       ">>\/Vv.
         •
                                  "•v'V-x
                                   ^V
                                                TRISTATE x 4
                                    *•• SMSA x 20
        I   I   I   I  I
                                   I   I   I
     66 66 67 68  69 70  71  72  73  74  75  76  77 78 79 80 81


                             YEAR




       Figure 11-17. Time-dependence of blood lead and gas lead for blacks,

       aged 25 to 36 months, in New York.



       Source: Billick (1982).
                         11-62

-------
        TABLE 11-20.   MEAN AIR LEAD CONCENTRATIONS  DURING THE  VARIOUS  BLOOD  SAMPLING
                      PERIODS AT THE MEASUREMENT SITES DESCRIBED IN THE  TEXT


1975-1976
1976-1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
Residential
low traffic
0.57
0.39
0.32
0.39
High traffic
(>20m)
0.59
0.38
0.31
0.31
High traffic
(3m)
3.18
1.04
0.66
0.68
Background
site
0.12
0.09
0.10
0.12
Source:  Sinn (1980, 1981).

     A number of  population  groups  were included in the  study of the blood lead levels;  they
were selected for having  either occupational or residential exposure  to high density automo-
bile  traffic.   Blood samples  were  taken  serially  throughout  the  study  (three phases  in
December-January  1975-1976,   December-January  1976-1977,  and  December-January  1977-1978).
Blood  samples  were collected  by venipuncture and  analyzed by  three  different laboratories.
All  the  labs  used AAS  although sample preparation  procedures  varied.   A  quality control
program  across  the laboratories  was  conducted.   Due  to differences  in laboratory analyses,
attrition,  and  loss  of  sample, the  number  of  subjects who could be  examined throughout the
study was considerably reduced  from the initial  number recruited (124 out of 300).
     Preliminary  analyses indicated  that the  various  categories of subjects  had different
blood  lead  levels, and that males and females within the same category differed.  A very com-
plicated series of analyses then ensued that made it difficult to  draw conclusions because the
various  years'  results were  displayed separately by each  laboratory  performing the chemical
analysis  and by  different  groupings  by  sex and category.   In  Sinn's  later report (1981),  a
downward trend was shown  to exist for males  and females who were  in all years  of the  study and
whose  blood  levels were analyzed  by the  same  laboratory.
 11.4  STUDIES  RELATING  EXTERNAL DOSE  TO  INTERNAL  EXPOSURE
      The  purpose of  this section  is  to assess  the  importance of environmental exposures  in
 determining the level of  lead in human populations.   Of  prime interest are those studies  that
 yield quantitative estimates  of the  relationship between  air lead exposures  and blood  lead
 levels.   Related to this question is the evaluation of which environmental  sources  of airborne
 lead play  a  significant role  in determining the overall  impact of air lead exposures on blood
 lead levels.

                                            11-63

-------
     A factor that  complicates  the analysis presented here  is  that lead does not remain sus-
pended in the atmosphere  but rather falls to the ground, is incorporated into soil, dust, and
water, and enters the  food chain over time  (see Figure  11-1).   Since man  is  exposed  to lead
from all  of these media, as will be demonstrated below, studies that relate air lead levels to
blood  lead  levels  (especially  experimental  exposure  studies)  may underestimate  the  overall
impact of airborne  lead on blood  lead levels.   In observational  studies, on  the  other hand,
the effects of  air  lead will thus be confounded with lead exposures from other pathways.   The
simultaneous presence  of  lead  in multiple  environmental  media requires the  use  of multiple
variable analysis techniques  or surrogate assessment of  all other external  exposures.   Virtu-
ally no assessments  of simultaneous exposures to all media have been done.
     There are  several  key  features that characterize good studies relating external exposure
to internal  exposure of lead:

     (1) The study population is well-defined.
     (2) There is a  good measure of the exposure of each  individual.
     (3) The response  variable  (blood lead) is measured with  adequate  quality control,
         preferably  with replicates.
     (4) The statistical analysis  model  is biologically  plausible and is consistent with
         the data.
     (5) The important covariates are either controlled for or measured.

Some studies of  considerable importance  do  not  address  all  of these factors adequately.   Key
studies selected  for discussion here are  those  which address enough of  these factors  suffi-
ciently well  to establish meaningful relationships.
     The choice of  the statistical  analysis model is important in determining these relation-
ships  (for a more detailed discussion see Appendix 11B).  The model used is especially criti-
cal  in situations  where  lead  is  present  in  relatively  low concentrations  in one or  more
environmental  media.   A large  number  of  statistical  models have been used  to predict blood
lead from various environmental  media.   For simplicity, let PbB =  blood lead, E. = environmen-
tal exposure  from  source j,  and b.  =  the  regression coefficient for source  j.   Using  this
notation,  the  more common models can be written as follows:
     Linear Model:   PbB = b0 + bx Et + . . .  + bg Eg + "error"                           (11-2)
     Linear Model  (log form):   log(PbB) = Iog(b0 + bt  Ej  + . . .  + b$ Eg) + "error"       (11-3)

     Log-log Model:   log(PbB)  = 1og(b0) + bi log(Et) + . . .  + bg log(Es) + "error"       (11-4)

     Log Total  Exposure Model:   log(PbB)  = b Iog(b0 +  b^  Ex + ...  + bc Ec) + "error"    (11-5)
                                                                     S  5>
                                           11-64

-------
     Power-Function Model:   PbB  = b0 + (bi  Et  + ...  + bg  Eg)C  +  "error"                 (11-6)
     Cube-root Model:   PbB  = bQ  + bt (E^^3  + "error"                                 (11-7)

     There is no question  that  the relationship between  blood lead and  environmental  exposure
is nonlinear across the entire range of potential  exposures,  from very low to high levels.   At
lower levels of exposure,  however, the various models all provide adequate descriptions of  the
observed data.  The choice  of a model must be based at least in part on the biological mecha-
nisms.   At  the  very least, no model  should  be adopted which is  inconsistent  with  biological
reality.
     The  compartment-type   metabolic models  described  in Section  10.3.4  predict a  linear
response to total  lead intake.  Compartment models are described by a system of coupled first-
order linear  differential  equations for the quantity of  lead in various kinetically distinct
body pools,  (see Appendix  11-A).   These compartments or  kinetic pools  may or may not corres-
pond to distinct  physiological  systems.   It  is  well  known  that  if  the  kinetic  rate coeffi-
cients  and  absorption coefficients  in  such  a model are constant, then  the equilibrium blood
lead in a steady-intake environment is

     p.R _ (lead absorbed into blood, ug/d)_ (Pb mean residence time in blood, d)       (11-8)
                              (PbB  volume of distribution, dl)

The  only  allowable places  for nonlinearity in  intake are either  in the absorption process, or
in  the  kinetics of lead distribution  affecting the residence time.   Nonlinearities affecting
distribution  volume are less  plausible.  Some of  the  evidence relating to these mechanisms was
reviewed  in  Chapter 10.   Chamberlain  (1983)  and U.S.  EPA  (1983) have  concluded that after
several  months of  steady  exposure  to  environmental lead, blood lead  levels achieve a near-
equilibrium  concentration  that  increases  linearly  with  the ambient concentration no matter
what the  exposure  pathway  (directly  by air  inhalation,  or by  ingestion  of food, water, dust,
soil,  or  paint),  provided  the  total  exposure does  not cause  blood lead to  exceed 30-40 |jg/dl.
However,  when  total   lead  exposure by  any  pathway becomes  so  great that blood lead levels
greatly exceed 60-80  ug/dl,  then the blood  lead  concentrations  increase  much more  slowly  with
increasing exposure concentration than they  did at  lower levels.
      On the other  hand, the  log-log and cube  root  models have slopes  which approach infinity
as  the exposure  approaches  zero.   The curves are  so highly nonlinear at  low doses  that the
models  attribute  nearly  all of  the increase  of blood  lead  levels to  the lowest exposures,
and attribute  relatively  little  increase to any additional  exposures.  However,  the data of
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Piomelli et al.  (1980) on a population of Nepalese exposed to an air lead of 0.00086  pg/m3  had
a geometric mean blood lead level  of 3.4 pg/dl.   This is similar to the value predicted by  the
log-log model of Goldsmith-Hexter.
     The following  sections give  the  models as  presented by the original  authors.   In many
cases, EPA has  fitted other models in order to  show the sensitivity of analysis  to  the model
selected.

11.4.1  Air Studies
     The studies emphasized in this section are those most relevant to answering the  following
question:    If  there  is  moderate  change in average  ambient air  lead concentrations  due  to
changes in environmental  exposure  (at or near existing  EPA  air lead standards),  what changes
are expected in blood lead levels of individual  adults and children in the population?  Longi-
tudinal studies  in  which changes  in blood lead  can  be measured in single  individuals  as  re-
sponses to changes  in air lead are discussed first.   The cross-sectional relationship between
blood  lead and  air lead  levels in an  exposed  population provides a useful  but different kind
of information,  since the population "snapshot"  at some  point  in time does not directly mea-
sure  changes  in blood lead levels or  responses to  changes  in air  lead exposure.    In this
chapter consideration  is  also  restricted to those individuals without known excessive occupa-
tional or  personal  exposures  (except,  perhaps,  for some children in the Kellogg/Silver Valley
study).
     The previously published analyses of relevant  studies  have not agreed on a  single form
for the relationship between air lead and blood lead.   All of the experimental  studies have at
least partial individual  air lead exposure measures,  as does the cross-sectional observational
study  of Azar  et al.  (1975).   The 1974  Kellogg/Silver Valley study (Yankel et al.,  1977)  has
also  been  analyzed  using several  models.  Other population  cross-sectional  studies  have been
analyzed by Snee (1981).   The most convenient method for summarizing these diverse studies  and
their  several analyses is by  use of the blood lead - air lead slope (p), where p  measures  the
change in  blood  lead  that is  expected for a unit change in air lead.   If determined  for indi-
vidual subjects  in  a  study population, this slope is  denoted p..   If the  fitted  equation is
linear, then p or p.. is the slope of the straight line relationship at any air lead level.   If
the fitted relationship is nonlinear, then the slope of the relationship measures  the expected
effect on  blood  lead  of  a small  change in air lead at some given air lead value and  thus will
be somewhat different at  different air lead levels.
     A basic assumption  here  is  that the distribution of blood lead in human populations with
homogeneous  exposure  (same geometric  mean  blood lead)  is lognormal; a  second assumption is
that all such  lognormal  distributions  have the  same  geometric  standard deviation (g.s.d.) or
                                           11-66

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coefficient of  variation  (c.v.)   It is then possible  to  calculate the fraction of  the  popu-
lation in  excess  of  any specific level of blood lead.   Most subpopulations not occupationally
exposed to lead have geometric mean blood lead < 20 ug/dl,  at which level  the effects of  a few
ug/dl change  in  blood  lead can be well approximated by a  linear function.   On the  other  hand,
many  important  experimental  studies  involve  subjects  with  much higher blood  lead.   The re-
sponse relationships derived  from lead-exposed subjects (blood  lead >  30  (jg/dl) usually show
much  lower slopes  b.  when blood  lead  exceeds  40  ug/dl.   These two uses of  blood  lead versus
                    J
intake models --  to  predict  the  fraction of an exposed population at risk and to  predict the
change in  blood  lead  of subjects exceeding a criterion blood lead level when blood lead  expo-
sure  changes  — may  require  different blood  lead  slopes  b..   These two  uses  are  not neces-
                                                            J
sarily inconsistent, e.g.,  if there was a corresponding increase in biological variability of
response to high  levels of intake offsetting  the  decreased slope.    For this reason we  sepa-
rately analyze the single-subject and population studies.
11.4.1.1  The Griffin et al.  Study.  The study of Griffin et al. (1975) has the largest number
of  human  subjects exposed  to atmospheric particulate lead  at  near-ambient conditions,  under
conditions  of  long-term  controlled exposure.  In two  separate  experiments conducted at the
Clinton Correctional  Facility in 1971 and 1972,  adult male prisoner volunteers were sequest-
ered  in  a prison  hospital unit  and  exposed  to  approximately constant  levels of lead  oxide
(average 10.9 ug/m3  in the first study and 3.2 ug/m3  in the second).  Volunteers were exposed
in  an exposure  chamber to an  aerosol of submicron-sized particles of  lead oxide,  which was
prepared by burning tetra-ethyl   lead  in a propane flame.   There was an approximate additional
10-15 percent exposure  to  ambient organic lead  vapor.  All volunteers were introduced into the
chamber  2  weeks before the initiation of the exposure; the  lead  exposures  were scheduled to
last  16  weeks,  although the  volunteers could  drop out whenever  they wished.  Twenty-four vol-
unteers,  including 6  controls, participated in the  10.9 ug/m3 exposure study.  Not all volun-
teers  completed the exposure regimen.  Blood  lead  levels were found to stabilize after appro-
ximately  12 weeks.  Among 8  men  exposed  to 10.9  ug/m3 for  at  least 60  days, a  stabilized mean
level  of  34.5 ±5.1 ug/dl blood  was obtained,  as  compared with  an  initial level of 19.4 ± 3.3
ug/dl.   All but two of the 13 men exposed at  3.2 ug/m3 for at  least 60 days  showed  increases
and an overall  stabilized level  of 25.6  ± 3.9 ug/dl was found,  compared with  an initial  level
of  20.5  ±4.4 ug/dl.   This  represented an increase of about  25 percent above  the base  level.
      The  aerosols used  in this experiment were  somewhat  less  complex  chemically, as well as
somewhat  smaller,  than those  found  in  the ambient environment.   The particle size  obtained was
0.05-0.10  urn, which  is smaller than true  urban aerosol of  0.3 urn.   Griffin et al.  (1975),  how-
ever, pointed out that good agreement  was achieved on  the  basis of the  comparison  of their ob-
served blood  lead levels  with  those  predicted by Goldsmith and Hexter's  (1967) equation; that
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is, Iog10 blood lead = 1.265 + 0.2433 Iog10 atmospheric air lead.   The average diet content of
lead was measured  and blood lead levels were  observed at 1- or 2-week  intervals  for several
months.  Eight  subjects received the  maximum 4-month  exposure to 10.9 |jg/m3;  nine subjects
were exposed  for 1 - 3 months.  Six subjects  had the maximum  4-month exposure  to 3.2 ug/m3,
and eight others had shorter exposures.
     Compartmental   models  have been fitted to these  data by 0'Flaherty et al.  (1982)  and by
EPA.  The basis  of these  models is  that the mass of lead in each of several  distinct pools or
compartments within the body  changes  according to a system of coupled first-order linear dif-
ferential equations with constant fractional  transfer rates (Batschelet et al.,  1979; Rabino-
witz et al., 1976).  Such a model predicts that when the lead intake changes from one constant
level to another,  then the relationship between the mass of lead in each compartment and time
with constant intake has a single exponential  term.
     The subjects  at 3.2 pg/m3  exhibited  a smaller increase in blood lead,  with correspond-
ingly less  accurate estimates  of the parameters.  Several of the lead-exposed subjects failed
to show an increase.
     EPA has reanalyzed these data using a two-compartment model for two reasons:

     (1)  Semi logarithmic plots of blood lead versus time for most subjects showed a two-
          component exponential decrease of blood lead during the postexposure or washout
          phase of the experiments.   Rabinowitz et al. (1977) show that at least  two pools
          are necessary to model blood  lead kinetics accurately.  The first pool  is tenta-
          tively identified with blood  and the most labile soft tissues.   The second pool
          probably  includes soft tissues and labile bone pools.
     (2)  Kinetic models are  needed to  account for the  subjects'  lead burdens not being
          in equilibrium at any phase of the experiments.

     Previously  published  analyses  have not  used data for all 43  subjects,  particularly for
the same six  subjects (labeled 15-20 in both  experiments)  who  served as controls both years.
These  subjects  establish  a baseline for non-inhalation  exposures  to lead, e.g.,  in diet and
water,  and  allow an independent assessment of within-subject variability over time.  EPA ana-
lyzed data  for  these  subjects  as well  as  others  who  received lead exposures of  shorter dura-
tion.
     The estimated  blood lead  inhalation slope,  p,  was calculated for each individual subject
according to the formula

                _  (Change in intake, ug/day)  x (mean  residence time in blood, day)    (11-9)
              p    (Change in air exposure, ug/nr*) x (Volume of distribution, dl)
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The changes in air exposure were 10.9-0.15 = 10.75 ug/m3  for 1970-71  and 3.2-0.15 =  3.05 pg/m3
in 1971-72.  Paired  sample  t-tests  of equal means were  carried  out  for the six controls and
five subjects with exposure  both years,  and independent sample  t-tests  were  carried  out com-
paring the  remaining 12  subjects  the first year  and  nine different subjects the  next year.
All standard error estimates include within-subject parameter estimation uncertainties as well
as between subject differences.   The following are observations:

     (1)  Non-inhalation  lead intake  of  the control subjects varied  substantially  during the
          second experiment  at  3.2  ug/m3, with clear  indication of  low intake during the 14-
          day pre-exposure period  (resulting  in a net decrease  of blood lead).   There was  an
          increase in lead intake  (resulting in either equilibrium  or  net increase  of blood
          lead)  during  the exposure  period.   Subjects  16 and  20 had  substantial  increases,
          subjects 15 and 19 had moderate  increases,  and  subject  18 had no increase  in blood
          lead during exposure.   Subject 17 had a marked  decline  in blood lead,  but  the  rate
          of decrease was much  faster in the  pre-exposure  period,  suggesting an apparent in-
          crease of  intake  during exposure periods even for this subject.   These subjects had
          not  apparently  achieved equilibrium  in either blood  or tissue  compartments.   Even
          though these subjects were not exposed to air lead, the estimated difference between
          blood  lead intake  before and during exposure of the other subjects was used to  cal-
          culate the apparent  inhalation slope at that exposure.  The pooled inhalation slope
          estimated  for  all six  controls  (1.48 ± 0.82 s.e.) was  significantly  positive  (Z =
          1.76,  one-tailed p <0.05),  as shown  in Table  11-21.   No explanation for the in-
          creased  lead  intake  during the winter  of  1971-72 can be advanced at this  time, but
          factors  such  as changes in  diet  or  changes  in resorption of bone lead are  likely to
          have had an equal  effect on  the  lead-exposed subjects.  No statistically  significant
          changes  in the  controls were found during  the  first experiment at 10.9 pg/m3.
      (2)  Among  the  controls,  the estimated mean  residence time in blood was slightly longer
           for  the  first year than the  second year, 41.8 ±  9.2 days versus 34.6 ± 6.5  days, but
           a  paired sample Z-test found  that  the mean difference for the controls  (7.2 ± 11.2
           days)  was  not  significantly  different from zero  (see Table 11-22).
      (3)   Among  the  five subjects  exposed to  10.9  ug/m3 the  first  year and  3.2 ug/m3 the
           second year,  the mean residence time  in  blood  was  almost  identical  (43.9  ± 9.4
           versus 44.7  ±8.7 days).
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           TABLE 11-21.   GRIFFIN ET AL.  (1975)  EXPERIMENT INHALATION SLOPE ESTIMATES
Group
Controls
All exposed
At 3.2 ug/m3
1.48 ± 0.82 (n =
3.00 ± 0.76 (n =

6)*
14)
At 10.9 ug/m3
-0.20 ± 0.27 (n =
1.57 ± 0.26 (n =

6)
17)
          Difference                    1.52 ± 1.12                    1.77 ± 0.37
          (Exposed controls)
          Pooled:   (all  subjects)                            1.75 ± 0.35
          (without subjects 1,6)**                          1.78 ± 0.35
*n = number of subjects.
**Subjects 1 and 6 were  "non-responders."
          TABLE 11-22.   GRIFFIN ET AL.  (1975) EXPERIMENT MEAN RESIDENCE TIME IN BLOOD

Control
Exposed
3.2 ug/m3
experiment
34.6 ±6.5 days
40.8 ±4.4 days
10.9 ug/m3
experiment
41.8 ±9.2 days
40.6 ±3.6 days
     (4)  The average  inhalation slope  for  all 17  subjects  exposed to 10.9 ug/m3  is  1.77 ±
          0.37 when  the  slope  for the controls is subtracted.  The corrected inhalation slope
          for all  14 subjects  exposed  to 3.2  ug/m3 is  1.52 ± 1.12, or 1.90 ±  1.14 without
          subjects 1 and  6  who were "non-responders."  These are not significantly different.
          The pooled slope  estimate for all  subjects  is  1.75 ± 0.35.  The  pooled mean resi-
          dence time for all subjects is 39.9 ±2.5 days.

     Thus, in spite of  the large estimation variability at the lower exposure level, the aver-
age inhalation slope estimate  and blood lead half-life are not significantly different at the
two exposure  levels.  This  suggests that blood lead response to small changes in air lead in-
halation is approximately linear at typical ambient levels.
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11.4.1.2  The Rabinowitz et al. Study.   The  use of  stable lead  isotopes  avoids many of  the
difficulties encountered in the  analysis of  whole blood  lead  levels  in experimental  studies.
Five adult  male  volunteers  were housed  in the  metabolic  research wards of the  Sepulveda  and
Wadsworth VA  hospitals in  Los  Angeles  for  extended periods  (Rabinowitz et al., 1974;  1976;
1977).   For much of the time they were given  low-lead diets with controlled lead  content,  sup-
plemented by tracer lead salts at different times.
     Four subjects were initially observed in the ward for several weeks.   Each subject was in
the semi-controlled ward about  14 hours per day and was allowed outside for 10 hours  per day,
allowing the blood lead concentration to stabilize.
     Subjects B,  D,  and E  then spent 22-24 hours per day for 40, 25,  and 50 days, respective-
ly,  in  a low-lead  room with total  particulate and vapor  lead  concentrations that were much
lower than  in  the metabolic wards or outside (see Table 11-23).  The subjects were thereafter
exposed to  Los Angeles air with much higher air lead concentrations than in the ward.
     The calculated changes  in  lead intake upon entering and leaving the low-lead chamber are
shown in Table  11-24.   These were based on the assumption that the change in total blood lead
was  proportional to  the change  in  daily  lead  intake.   The  change  in calculated  air lead
intakes (other than cigarettes) due to removal  to the clean room were also calculated indepen-
dently  by  the  lead balance and  labeled  tracer  methods (Rabinowitz et al., 1976) and are con-
sistent with these direct estimates.
     Rabinowitz  and  coworkers assumed that the amount of  lead  in compartments within the body
evolved  as  a coupled system  of  first-order  linear  differential equations with  constant frac-
tional  transfer  rates.   This  compartmental  model   was  fitted  to  the  data.   This  method of
analysis is described  in Appendix 11A.
     Blood  lead  levels  calculated  from the  three  compartment model  adequately predicted the
observed  blood  lead  levels over periods  of several hundred  days.  There  was no evidence to
suggest  homeostasis  or other mechanisms  of  lead metabolism not  included  in the model.  There
was  some  indication (Rabinowitz et  al.,  1976)  that  gut absorption  may  vary from time to time.
     The calculated volumes of  the  pool  with  blood  lead (Table 11-24) are much larger than the
body  mass  of blood (about  7  percent of body weight,  estimated respectively as  4.9, 6.3,  6.3,
4.6,  and 6.3 kg  for  subjects  A-E).   The blood lead  compartment must include a  substantial  mass
of other tissue.
      The  mean residence time  in  blood in Table 11-24 includes both loss  of  lead from blood  to
 urine and  transfer of a fraction of blood lead to other tissue pools.   This  parameter reflects
 the speed  with  which  blood lead concentrations approach  a new quasi-equilibrium level.   Many
 years may  be needed before  approaching a genuine equilibrium level  that includes lead that can
 be mobilized from bones.
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   TABLE 11-23.  AIR LEAD CONCENTRATIONS* (ug/m3) FOR TWO SUBJECTS IN THE RABINOWITZ STUDIES

                              Environment                Average                Range
     Subject A           Outside (Sepulveda VA)            1.8                (1.2-2.4)
                         Inside (Sepulveda VA,
                         air-conditioned without
                         filter)                           1.5                (1.0-2.7)
                         Inside (Wadsworth VA,
                         Open air room)                    2.1                (1.8-2.6)

     Subject B           (Wadsworth VA)
                         Outside                           2.0                (1.6-2.4)
                         In room (air conditioner
                         with filter, no purifier)         0.97               (0.4-2.1)
                         In room (with purifiers,
                         "clean air")                      0.072            (0.062-0.087)
                         Open-air room                     1.9                (1.8-1.9)
                         Organic vapor lead
                         Outside                           0.10
                         "Clean air"                       0.05

*  5-20 days exposure for each particulate lead filter.

     One  of  the greatest difficulties in using  these  experiments is that the  air  lead  expo-
sures of  the  subjects  were not measured  directly, either  by personal monitors or by restric-
ting  the  subjects  to the metabolic  wards.   The  times  when the subjects were  allowed  outside
the wards  included  possible  exposures to ground  floor and  street level  air,  whereas the out-
side air  lead  monitor  was  mounted outside the third-floor  window of the ward.   The VA  hospi-
tals are  not  far from  major streets  and  the subjects'  street level  exposures could have been
much higher than those  measured at about 10 m elevation (see Section  7.2.1.3).   Some estimated
ratios between  air  concentrations  at elevated and street  level  sites are given in Table 7-6.
     A  second  complication  is  that  the  inside ward  value  of ug/m3  (Rabinowitz  et  al.,  1977)
used for  subject B  may be appropriate for the Wadsworth  VA hospital, but not  for subject A in
the Sepulveda  VA hospital  (see Table 11-23).  The changes  in air lead values  shown  in  Table
11-24 are  thus nominal,  and are likely  to  have  systematic inaccuracies much  larger  than the
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            TABLE  11-24.   ESTIMATES  OF  INHALATION  SLOPE, P,  FOR  RABINOWITZ STUDIES
Subject
A
B
C
D
E
Changes in
intake*,
ug/day
17 ± 5*
16 ± 3
15 ± 5*
9 ± 2
12 ± 2
Volume,**
kg
7.4 ± 0.6
10.0 ± 0.8
10.1 ± 1**
9.9 ± 1.2
11.3 ± 1.4
Residence!
time, days
34 ± 5
40 ± 5
37 ± 5
40 ± 5
27 ± 5
Changes in
air lead1',
ug/m3
2.5tt
2.0
2.2tt
2.0
2.0
Inhalation
slope, ug/d£
per ug/m3
2.98 ± 1.06
3.56 ± 0.93
2.67 ± 1.04
2.02 ± 0.60
1.59 ± 0.47
Maximujp
slope
4.38 ± 1.55
5.88 ± 1.54
4.16 ± 1.62
3.34 ± 0.99
2.63 ± 0.78
 *From Rabinowitz et al.  (1977),  Table VI.   Reduced intake by low-lead method for subjects
  B, D, E,  tracer method  for A,  balance method for C.   Standard error for C is assumed by EPA
  to be same as A.
**From Rabinowitz et al.  (1976),  Table II.   EPA has assumed standard error with coefficient
  of variation same as that for quantity of tracer absorbed in Table VI, except for subject C.
 ''"Estimates from Rabinowitz et al.  (1976) Table II.  Standard error estimate from combined
  sample.
*+
"See text.  For A and C, estimated from average exposure.  For B, D, and E reduced by
  0.2 ug/m3 for clean room exposure.   Coefficient of variation assumed to be 10%.
 """Assumed density of blood 1.058 g/cm3.
  Assuming outside air exposure is 2.1 ug/m3 rather than 4 ug/m3 for 10 hours.

nominal 10  percent coefficients  of variation stated.   The  assumption is that for subjects B,
D, and E, the exposure to street level air for 10 hours per day was twice as large as the mea-
sured  roof  level air, i.e., 4 ug/m3; and the remaining  14 hours per day were at the ward level
of 0.97 ug/m3; thus the  time-averaged  level was [(10 x  4) + (14 x 0.97)]/24 = 2.23 ug/m3.  The
average controlled exposures  during the "clean room"  part  of the experiment were 23, 22, and
24  hours  respectively for subjects B, D, E; thus  averaged exposures were 0.19, 0.28, and 0.12
ug/m3,  and reductions in exposure were  about  2.0 ug/m3.   This value  is used to calculate the
slope.    For subject A,  the total intake due to  respired air  is the assumed  indoor average of
1.5 ug/m3  for  the  Sepulveda VA hospital, combining indoor and  outdoor  levels  [(10 x 4) +  (14 x
1.5)]/24  = 2.54 ug/m3.   For subject C  the Wadsworth average applies.   Other than uncertainties
in  the air  lead concentration,  the  inhalation slope estimates for  Rabinowitz1s subjects  have
less  internal  uncertainty  than those  calculated for subjects  in Griffin's  experiment.
                                            11-73

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     The inhalation slopes  thus  calculated are the lowest that can be reasonably derived from
this experiment, since  the  largest plausible air  lead  concentrations  have  been assumed.   The
third-floor air monitor  average  of 2.1 (jg/m3  is a plausible  minimum exposure,  leading to the
higher plausible maximum inhalation slopes in the last column  of Table 11-24.   These are based
on the assumption that the time-averaged air lead exposure is  smaller by [10(4-2.l)]/24 = 0.79
ug/m3 than assumed previously.   It is also possible that some  of this difference can be attri-
buted to dust ingestion while outside the metabolic ward.
11.4.1.3   The Chamberlain et al.  Study.    A  series  of  investigations  were  carried  out  by
Chamberlain  et al.   (1975a,b;  1978)  at  the  U.K. Atomic  Energy  Research Establishment  in
Harwell, England.   The studies included  exposure  of  up to 10 volunteer subjects  to inhaled,
ingested,  and injected  lead in  various  physical   forms.   The inhalation  exposures  included
laboratory inhalation of lead aerosols generated in a  wind tunnel, or box,  of  various particle
sizes  and  chemical compositions  (lead oxide  and  lead nitrate).   Venous  blood samples  were
taken at several  times  after inhalation of 203Pb.   Three subjects also breathed natural high-
way exhaust fumes at various locations for times up to about 4.5 hours.
     The natural respiratory  cycles  in the experiments varied  from  5.7 to  17.6 seconds (4 to
11  breaths  per minute)  and tidal volumes from  1.6 to 2.3 liters.  Lung deposition  of lead-
bearing  particles  depended strongly  on  particle  size  and composition, with  natural  exhaust
particles being more efficiently retained by the lung  (30 - 50 percent) than were the chemical
compounds (20 - 40 percent).
     The clearance  of  lead  from the  lungs was  an  extended process over time and  depended on
particle size  and  composition,  leaving only about  1  percent  of the fine wind tunnel aerosols
in  the  lung  after  100 hours, but  about  10 percent of the carbonaceous exhaust aerosols.   The
203Pb isotope reached a peak blood level  about 30 hours after  inhalation, the  blood level  then
representing about 60 percent of the initial  lung burden.
     A substantial fraction of the lead deposited in the lung  appears to be  unavailable to the
blood pool  in  the  short term, possibly due  to rapid  transport to and retention in other tis-
sues including skeletal  tissues.   In long-term balance studies, some of this  lead in the deep
tissue compartment would return to the blood compartment.
     Lead kinetics were also studied by use of injected and ingested tracers,   which suggested
that in  the  short  term,  the mean  residence  time of lead in blood could be calculated from a
one-pool model analysis.
     Chamberlain et al.  (1978)  extrapolated  these high-level, short-term exposures  to longer
term ones.   The following formula and data were used  to  calculate a blood-to-air level ratio
                                           11-74

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                     [Tj ] [% Deposition] [% Absorption] [Daily ventilation]
                 p = -1 -            (11-10)
                                     [Blood volume] [0.693]
            where:
                      Tj  = biological  half life
With an estimated value of T,  = 18 days (mean residence time T, 70.693 = 26 days), with 50 per-
                            *i                                 -j
cent for deposition  in lung for ordinary urban  dwellers,  and 55 percent of the lung lead re-
tained in the blood lead compartment (all based on Chamberlain's experiments), with an assumed
ventilation of  20  nrVday  over blood volume 5400 ml (Table 10-20 in Chamberlain et al . ,  1978),
then

                      R =  26 day X 0.50 X 0.55 X 20 mVday  =2.7 mVdl               (11-11)
                      P                   54 dl

This value of p could vary for the following reasons:

     1.  The absorption from lung to blood used here, 0.55, refers to short-term kinetics.
         In the  long  term,  little lead is lost through biliary or pancreatic secretions,
         nails,  hair,  and sweat,  so that most of the body  lead is available to the blood
         pool even  if stored in the skeleton from which it may be resorbed.  Chamberlain
         suggests an  empirical correction to 0.55 X 1.3 = 0.715 absorption.

     2.  The mean  residence time,  26 days, is shorter than in Rabinowitz's subjects, and
         the blood  volume is less, 54  dl.   It is possible that in the Rabinowitz study,
         the mean  times are longer and  the  blood pool size  (100 dl) is  larger than here
         because Rabinowitz et al.  included relatively fewer  labile tissues such as  kidney
         and  liver in the  pool.   Assuming  40 days mean residence time  and 100 dl  blood
         volume  the slope can be recalculated,

                            D _ 40  d X  0.50 X  0.55  X 20 m3/d _ , ?  3 , .,                (11-12)
                            P -- IQO~dT -- *••*• m /dl-

     3.    The breathing rate  could be  much  less,  for  inactive people.
                                            11-75

-------
11.4.1.4  The Kehoe Study.   Between 1950 and 1971, Kehoe exposed 12 subjects to various levels
of air  lead  under  a wide variety of conditions.   Four earlier subjects had received oral  lead
during 1937-45.  The  inhalation  experiments were carried out  in  an inhalation chamber at the
University of Cincinnati, in which the subjects spent varying daily time periods over extended
intervals.   The  duration was  typically 112 days  for each  exposure  level in  the inhalation
studies, and at the end of this period it was assumed the blood lead concentration had reached
a near-equilibrium level.  The experiments are described by Kehoe (1961a,b,c)  and the data and
their analyses by  Gross  (1981) and Hammond  et al.  (1981).   The studies most  relevant to  this
document are those in which only particles of lead sesquioxide aerosols in the submicron range
were used, so that there was at least one air lead exposure (other than control) for which the
time-averaged  air  lead concentration  did not exceed  10 ug/m3.  Only  six  subjects  met these
criteria:   LD  (1960-63),  JOS (1960-63),  NK  (1963-66),  SS  (1963-68),  HR (1966-67),  and  DH
(1967-69).  Subject DH had a rather high initial  blood lead concentration (30  |jg/dl) that fell
during the  course  of the experiment to 28 pg/dl; apparently daily detention in the inhalation
chamber  altered  DH's normal pattern of  lead exposure to one of  lesser total  exposure.    The
Kehoe studies  did not measure non-experimental  airborne lead exposures, and  did not measure
lead exposures during  "off" periods.   Subject HR received  three  exposure levels from 2.4-7.5
|jg/m3, subject NK  seven  exposure levels from 0.6-4.2 M9/m3, and subject SS 13 exposure levels
from  0.6-7.2 pg/m3-   LD  and JOS were  each exposed  to  about 9,  19,  27, and  36 ug/m3 during
sequential periods of 109-113 days.
     A  great deal  of  data on lead content  in blood,  feces, urine and  diet  were obtained in
these studies  and are exhibited  graphically in  Gross (1979) (see  Figure  11-18).   Apart  from
the quasi-equilibrium blood lead values and balances reported in Gross (1979;  1981), there has
been  little  use  of these data to study the uptake  and distribution  kinetics  of lead in man.
EPA analyses used only the summary data in Gross  (1981).
     Data  from Gross  (1981) were  fitted  by  least  squares  linear and  quadratic regression
models.    The quadratic models  were  not significantly better  than the linear  model except for
subjects  LD and JOS, who were exposed to air levels above 10 \*q/m3.  The linear terms predomi-
nate in all models for air lead concentrations below 10 ug/m3 and are reported in Table 11-25.
These data  represent  most  of  the  available  experimental  evidence   in the  higher  range  of
ambient  exposure  levels, approximately  3-10 |jg/m3.   Data for the  four subjects with statis-
tically significant  relationships are  shown in Figure 11-19, along with the fitted regression
curve and its 95 percent confidence band.
                                           11-76

-------
                                                SUBJECT - SS
        BALANCE
I
CO
Q.
o
<
a
co
Q.
o
5
<
Q

£
Q.

o
g


°
5
                                         rtKfl^k***!^^
                 200   300   400  -500   600
900. 1000. 1100. 1200. 1300. 1400
                                                TIME (days)


          Figure 11-18. Data plots for individual subjects as a function of time for

          Kehoe subjects, as presented by Gross (1979).
                                                     11-77

-------
                 TABLE 11-25.  LINEAR SLOPE FOR BLOOD LEAD VERSUS AIR LEAD AT
                           LOW AIR LEAD EXPOSURE IN KEHOE'S SUBJECTS
Range
Linear Slopes
Subject
DHa
HRa
J0§b

NK<:
SSC
Linear Model
-0.
0.
0.
0.
2.
1.
34 ± 0.
70 ± 0.
67 ± 0.
64 ± 0.
60 ± 0.
31 ± 0.
28
46
07
11
32
20
p, m3/dl
, ± s. e.
Air*
Quadratic Model |jg/
0.
0.
1.
1.
1.
1.
14 ± 1.
20 ± 2.
01 ± 0.
29 ± 0.
55 ± 1.
16 ± 0.
25
14
19
06
28
78
5.
2.
9.
9.
0.
0.
6 -
4 -
4 -
3 -
6 -
6 -
'm
8.8
7.5
35.7
35.9
4.0
7.2
Blood,
ug/<
26 -
21 -
21 -
18 -
20 -
18 -
iSL
31
27
46
41
30
29
*Also, control = 0.
 No statistically significant relationship between air and blood lead.
 High exposures.  Use linear slope from quadratic model.
 Low exposures.  Use linear slope from linear model.

11.4.1.5  The Azar et al.  Study.  Thirty  adult  male  subjects were obtained  from each of five
groups:   1)  Philadelphia  cab drivers; 2)  OuPont  employees in Starke, Florida;  3)  DuPont em-
ployees in Barksdale, Wisconsin; 4) Los Angeles  cab drivers; and 5) Los Angeles office workers
(Azar  et  al., 1975).   Subjects carried  air  lead  monitors in their  automobiles  and  in their
breathing zones  at home  and  work.   Personal variables  (age, smoking habits,  water  samples)
were  obtained from  all  subjects,  except  for  water samples  from Philadelphia  cab  drivers.
Blood  lead, ALAD  urine  lead,  and other variables were measured.   From two to eight blood sam-
ples were obtained  from each  subject during  the air  monitoring  phase.   Blood lead determina-
tions were done in duplicate.   Table 11-26 presents the geometric means for air lead and blood
lead for  the  five groups.  The geometric  means were  calculated  by EPA from the raw data pre-
sented in the authors'  report (Azar et al., 1975).
     The Azar study has played an important role in setting standards because of the care used
in measuring  air  lead  in  the subjects' breathing  zone.   Blood lead levels change in  response
to air  lead  levels, with typical time  constants  of 20-60 days.   One  must assume  that the
subjects'  lead exposures  during preceding months had been  reasonably similar to those during
the study period.   Models  have been proposed for these data by Azar et al.  (1975), Snee (1981;
1982b), and Hammond et al. (1981) including certain nonlinear models.
     Azar et  al.  (1975) used  a log-log model for  their  analysis of  the data.   The model in-
cluded dummy  variables, C1( C2,  C3)  C4,  C5,  which take on the  value 1 for  subjects in that
group  and  0 otherwise  (see  Table 11-26  for  the  definitions of these dummy  variables).   The
fitted model using natural logarithms was
                                           11-78

-------
30 —
                                                                 I         I  /
                                               0    1    234567
1        2        3

    AIR LEAD, ualrn'
                                                    I         I    I     I
                                                   SUBJECT LD     /
  0    6   10   15   20   26   30   35
                                    0    5   10   15   20  26   30  35

                                                AIR LEAD.
   Figure 11-19. Blood level vs. air lead relationships for Kehoe inhalation
   studies: linear relation for low exposures, quadratic for high exposures,
   with 95% confidence bands.

                                      11-79

-------
             TABLE 11-26   GEOMETRIC MEAN AIR AND BLOOD LEAD LEVELS (ng/100 g)
                 FOR FIVE CITY-OCCUPATION GROUPS (DATA CALCULATED BY EPA)
. 	
Group
Cab drivers
Philadelphia, PA
Plant employees
Starke, FL
plant employees
Barksdale, WI
Cabdrivers
Los Angeles, CA
Office workers
Los Angeles, CA
• 	
Geometric mean
air lead,
ug/m3
2.59

0.59

0.61

6.02

2.97

GSD
1.16

2.04

2.39

1.18

1.29

1=^=^.1-=-=^..= 	 ^-=r-=— .',—,—. . . • -=^ = LJ-J-±:
Geometric mean
blood lead,
ljg/100 g GSD
22.1 1.16

15.4 1.41

12.8 1.43

24.2 1.20

18.4 1.24

- r 	 J • : •- ,:=
Sampl e
size
30

29

30

30

30

•
Code
Ci

C2

C3

C4

C5

Source:   Azar et al.  (1975).
              log (blood Pb) = 2.951 Cj. + 2.818 C2 +
                               2.627 C3 + 2.910 C4 + 2.821 C5 + 0.153 log (air Pb)     (11-13)

 This model  gave a  residual  sum  of  squares  of  9.013, a mean  square  error of 0.063  (143 degrees
  f freedom), and  a multiple  R2  of 0.502.   The air lead  coefficient had  a standard error  of
   040   The fitted model  is nonlinear on air lead, and  so  the slope depends  on both air lead
   d the  intercept.  Using an average intercept value of  1.226,  the curve has a slope ranging
 from 10.1 at an air lead  level of 0.2 |jg/m3 to 0.40 at an air lead level  of 9 pg/m3.
      Snee  (1982b)  reanalyzed the  same data  and  fitted  the  following power  function  model,

                log  (blood  Pb)  =  log [12.1 (air Pb + 6.00 d  + 1.46  C2
                               + 0.44  C3 -»-  2.23 C4 + 6.26  C5)°-2669]
     model gave a  residual  sum of  squares  of 9.101,  a mean  square  error  of  0.063  (142 degrees
   freedom) and a  multiple  R2 of 0.497.   Using  an  average  constant value  of  3.28,  the slope
ranges
              1 29 at an air lead of 0.2 to 0.51 at an air lead of 9.
              i-f-->
                                             11-80

-------
      An important  extension  in the  development  of models for the  data  was the inclusion of
 separate non-air contributions or background  exposures  for each  separate group.  The coeffi-
 cients  of the group  variables,  C.,  in the lead exposure model may  be interpreted as measures
 of total  exposure  of that group to  non-air external  sources  (cigarettes,  food, dust, water)
 and to  endogenous  sources  (lead stored in  skeleton).  Water and smoking variables were used to
 estimate some external  sources.   (This required  deleting another  observation  for a subject
 with unusually  high  water lead.)   The effect of endogenous lead  was estimated using subject
 age as  a surrogate measure of cumulative  exposure, since lead stored in the skeleton is known
 to increase approximately linearly with age,  for ages 20-60 (Gross  et al., 1975; Barry, 1975;
 Steenhout,  1982) in homogeneous  populations.
      In order  to facilitate comparison with the constant p ratios calculated from the clinical
 studies,  EPA fitted a linear exposure model to the Azar data.  The model was fitted on a loga-
 rithmic scale to facilitate comparison  of goodness  of fit with other  exposure  models  and to
 produce an approximately  normal  pattern of regression residuals.   Neither  smoking nor water
 lead  provided  significantly  better fits to the log (blood lead) measurements after the effect
 of age  was  removed.
      Age and  air lead may be  confounded to some extent because the  regression coefficient for
 age  may include  the  effects of prior air  lead exposures on skeletal  lead buildup.   This would
 have  the effect  of  reducing the estimated apparent slope p.
      Geometric mean regressions of blood  lead on air  lead were calculated by EPA for several
 assumptions:   (1)  A linear model analogous to Snee's  exposure model, assuming different non-
 air  contributions  in  blood lead for  each  of the  five  subgroups;  (2) a  linear  model  in which
 age  of  the subject is also used as  a surrogate  measure of the cumulative body burden of lead
 that  provides  an endogenous  source of blood lead; (3)  a linear model similar to (2),  in which
 the  change  of  blood lead with age is  different in different subgroups,  but it is assumed that
 the  non-air contribution is  the same  in all five groups  (as was  assumed in  the 1977  EPA Lead
 Criteria Document);  (4)  a linear model in which  both the non-air  background  and the change in
 blood lead  with  age may differ by group;  and  (5) a nonlinear model  similar  to  (4).   None of
 the fitted models are significantly different from each other using statistical  tests  of hypo-
 theses  about parameter subsets in nonlinear regression  (Gallant, 1975).
 11.4.1.6   Silver Vailey/KeHogg,  Idaho Study.   In  1970,  EPA  carried out a  study  of a  lead
 smelter  in  Kellogg,  Idaho  (Hammer  et  al.,  1972;  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency,  1972).
The study was part of a national effort to  determine the effects of sulfur dioxide,  total  sus-
pended  particulate and suspended sulfates,  singly and in combination with  other  pollutants, on
 human health.   It   focused on  mixtures of the sulfur  compounds  and metals.   Although  it  was
 demonstrated that  children had  evidence  of lead absorption,  insufficient environmental  data
were  reported to allow further quantitative analyses.
                                           11-81

-------
     In 1974,  following  the  hospitalization of two children from Kellogg with suspected acute
lead poisoning,  the  CDC  joined the State of Idaho in a comprehensive study of children in the
Silver Valley  area  of  Shoshone County, Idaho,  near  the  Kellogg smelter (Yankel et al., 1977;
Landrigan et al., 1976).
     The principal source  of exposure was a smelter whose records showed that emissions aver-
aged 8.3 metric  tons per month from 1955 to 1964 and 11.7 metric tons from 1965 to September,
1973.  After a September, 1973 fire extensively damaged the smelter's main emission filtration
facility, emissions averaged 35.3 metric tons from October, 1973 to September, 1974 (Landrigan
et  al. ,  1976).  The smelter operated  during  the  fall  and winter  of 1973-74  with  severely
limited air  pollution  control  capacity.   Beginning in 1971, ambient concentrations of lead in
the  vicinity of the smelter were  determined from particulate matter  collected  by hi-vol  air
samples.    Data  indicated  that  monthly average  levels  measured  in  1974 (Figure  11-20)  were
three  to  four times the levels measured  in 1971 (von Lindern  and  Yankel,  1976).   Individual
exposures of  study  participants  to lead in the air were estimated by interpolation from these
data. Air lead exposures ranged from 1.5 |jg/m3 to 30 ug/m3 monthly average (see Fi.gure 11-20).
Soil concentrations  were as  high  as 24,000 ug/g and averaged 7000 |jg/g within one mile of the
smelter.   House  dusts  were found  to contain as  much  as  140,000 (jg/g and averaged 11,000 pg/g
in homes within one mile of the complex.
     The study was initiated in May, 1974 and the blood samples were collected in August, 1974
from children  1-9  years  old in a door-to-door survey (greater than 90 percent participation).
Social,  family,  and medical histories were conducted by  interview.   Paint,  house, dust,  yard
and  garden  soils,  grass, and garden  vegetable  samples  were collected.  At that  time,  385 of
the 919 children examined (41.9 percent) had blood lead levels in excess of 40 ug/dl, 41 chil-
dren (4.5  percent)  had  levels  greater than 80 ug/dl.   All  but 2 of  the  172 children living
within 1.6 km of the smelter had levels greater than or equal to 40 (jg/dl.   Those two children
had moved into the area less than six months earlier and had blood lead levels greater than 35
|jg/dl.   Both the mean blood lead concentration and the number of children classified as exhib-
iting  excess  absorption decreased  with  distance  from the smelter  (Table  11-27).   Blood lead
levels were  consistently  higher  in  2-  to  3-year-old children than  they  were in  other  age
groups (Table  11-28).   A significant negative relationship between blood lead level and hema-
tocrit value was  found.   Seven of the 41 children (17 percent) with blood lead levels greater
than 80 pg/dl  were  diagnosed as being anemic on the basis of hematocrit less than 33 percent,
whereas only  16  of  1006 children (1.6 percent) with blood lead levels less than 80 ug/dl were
so diagnosed.   Although no  overt  disease  was  observed  in children with  higher lead intake,
differences were found in nerve conduction velocity.  Details of this finding are discussed in
Chapter 12.

                                           11-82

-------
"&



O
cc
K
Z
UJ
O


O
o

O

UJ


CC
  z
  LU

  m


  <

  Q
  UJ
  >
  cc
  UJ
  V)
  CO
  O
     30
     25
     20
     15
   10
            1971
                     1972
1973
                                             1974
                                                      1975
Figure 11-20. Monthly ambient air  lead concentrations in  Kellogg,

Idaho, 1971 through 1975.


Source: von Lindern and Yankel (1976).
                              11-83

-------
             TABLE 11-27.  GEOMETRIC MEAN BLOOD  LEAD LEVELS  BY AREA COMPARED WITH
                    ESTIMATED AIR LEAD  LEVELS FOR 1- TO 9-YEAR OLD CHILDREN
                  LIVING NEAR IDAHO SMELTER.  (GEOMETRIC STANDARD DEVIATIONS,
                   SAMPLE SIZE, AND DISTANCES FROM SMELTER ARE ALSO GIVEN)3
Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
Geometric mean
blood lead,
ug/dl
65.9
47.7
33.8
32.2
27.5
21.2
GSD
1.30
1.32
1.25
1.29
1.30
1.29
Sample
size
170
192
174
156
188
90
% blood
lead
(>40 ug/dl)
98.9
72.6
21.4
17.8
8.8
1.1
Estimated
air lead,
(|jg/m3)
18.0
14.0
6.7
3.1
1.5
1.2
Distance from
smelter,
Km
0- 1.6
1.6- 4.0
4.0-10.0
10.0-24.0
24.0-32.0
about 75
 EPA analysis of data from Yankel et al. (1977).
              TABLE 11-28.  GEOMETRIC MEAN BLOOD LEAD LEVELS BY AGE AND AREA FOR
                             SUBJECTS LIVING NEAR THE IDAHO SMELTER
                                  (micrograms per deciliter)
Age group
Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
69*
50
33
31
27
21
28
2
72
51
36
35
35
25
30
3
75
55
36
34
29
22
28
4
75
46
35
31
29
23
32
5
68
49
35
31
29
20
30
6
66
50
35
35
28
22
26
7
63
47
31
30
25
20
37
8
60
42
32
32
27
22
30
9
57
40
32
30
24
17
20
Teenage
39
33
28



35
Adult
37
33
30
34
32

32
*Error in original publication (Yankel et al., 1977).
                                           11-84

-------
     Yankel et al.  (1977) fitted the data to the following model.
                                                                -5
              In (blood lead) = 3.1 + 0.041 air lead + (2.1 x 10   soil  lead)
                                    + 0.087 dustiness - 0.018 age
                                    + 0.024 occupation
(11-15)
where  air  lead was  in  ug/m3;  soil  lead was  in  uQ/9; dustiness was  1,  2,  or 3; age was  in
years;  and  occupation (parental)  was  a Hollingshead  index.   The analysis  included  879  sub-
jects,  had  a  multiple  R2 of  0.622, and  a residual  standard  deviation  of 0.269  (geometric
standard deviation of 1.31).
     Walter et  al.  (1980) used a similar model to examine age specific differences of the re-
gression coefficients for the different variables.  Those coefficients are summarized in  Table
11-29.  The variable  that was most  significant overall was  air lead; its coefficient was ap-
proximately the  same  for all ages,  corresponding  to a change in blood lead of about 1  ug/dl
per unit increase of air  lead (in ug/m3) at an air exposure of 1 ug/m3 and about 2.4 ug/dl per
unit increase in air at an air exposure of 22 ug/m3.

            TABLE 11-29.   AGE-SPECIFIC REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF
                      LOG (BLOOD LEAD) LEVELS IN THE IDAHO SMELTER STUDY

Age
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
* P
t P

Air
0.0467*
0.0405*
0.0472*
0.0366*
0.0388*
0.0361*
0.0413*
0.0407*
0.0402*
<0.01
<0.05

Dust
0.119t
o.ioet
o.iost
0.107t
0.052
0.070
0.053
0.051
O.OSlt



Occupation
0.0323
0.0095
0.0252
0.0348
0.0363t
0.0369t
0.0240
0.04221
0.0087



Pica
0.098
0.225*
0.077
0.117
0.048
0.039
0.106
0.010
0.108



Sex
0.055
0.002
0.000
0.032
-0.081
-0.092
-0.061
-o.ioet
-0.158*


Soil
(xlO4)
3.5
20. 6t
24.2*
32.1*
23.4*
38.4*
21. 3t
16.2
11.6



Intercept
3.017
3.567
3.220
3.176
3.270
3.240
3.329
3.076
3.477



N
98
94
115
104
130
120
113
105
104


     The  next most important variable that attained significance at a variety of ages was the
 household dustiness level  (coded  as  low = 0, medium = 1, or high = 2), showing a declining ef-
 fect with age and being  significant for ages 1-4 years.  This suggested age-related hygiene
 behavior  and a picture of diminishing  home orientation as the  child  develops.   For ages 1-4
 years,  the coefficient indicates the child  in  a home with a  "medium" dust  level would have a
                                            11-85

-------
blood  lead  level ~ 10  percent  higher than a child  in  a  home with a "low"  dust  level,  other
factors being comparable.
     The coefficients for soil lead - blood lead relationships exhibited a fairly regular pat-
tern, being highly significant (p <0.01) for ages 3-6 years,  and significant (p <0.05) at ages
2-6 years.  The  maximum coefficient (at age 6)  indicates  a  4 percent increase  in  blood lead
per 1000 ug/g increase in soil lead.
     Pica (coded absent = 0, present = 1) had a significant effect at age 2 years,  but was in-
significant elsewhere;  at  age 2 years, an  approximate  25  percent elevation in blood  lead  is
predicted in  a child with  pica, compared  with an  otherwise equivalent child  without  pica.
     Parental  occupation was  significant  at ages 5, 6, and  8 years; at the other  ages, how-
ever, the sign  of  the coefficient was always positive, consistent with a greater lead burden
being introduced into the home by parents working in the smelter complex.
     Finally,  sex (coded male = 0; female = 1)  had a significant negative coefficient for ages
8 and  9 years,  indicating  that boys would have  lead  levels 15 percent higher than  girls  at
this age, on  the  average.   This phenomenon is  enhanced by similar, but nonsignificant,  nega-
tive coefficients for ages  5-7 years.
     Snee (1982c)  also  reanalyzed the Idaho smelter data  using a  log-linear  model.   He used
dummy  variables  for  age,  work  status  of the  father,  educational  level  of the  father,  and
household dust level  (cleanliness).   The resulting model had a multiple R2 of 0.67 and a resi-
dual standard  deviation of  0.250 (geometric standard  deviation of 1.28).  The  model  showed
that 2-year-olds had  the highest blood lead levels.  The  blood lead inhalation slope was es-
sentially the same as that of Yankel et al.  (1977) and Walter et al. (1980).
     The above non-linear analyses of the Idaho smelter study are the only analyses which sug-
gest that the blood lead to air lead slope increases with  increasing air lead,  contrary to the
findings of decreasing  slopes seen  at high air  lead exposures in other studies.   An alterna-
tive to  this  would be to attempt to  fit  a linear model as described in Appendix 11-B.   Expo-
sure coefficients  were  estimated for each  of the factors  shown in Table  11-30.   The  results
for the  different  covariates are similar to those  of  Snee (1982c) and Walter  et  al.  (1980).
     Because the previous  analyses  noted above indicated  a  nonlinear  relationship,  a similar
model with a  quadratic  air lead  term  added was  also fitted.  The  coefficients for  the  other
factors remained about  the  same, and the  improvement  in  the model was marginally significant
(p = 0.05).   This  model gave a  slope  of  1.16  at an air  lead of 1 ug/m3, and  1.39  at  an air
lead of 2 ug/m3.   Both  the  linear  and  quadratic  models,  along with Snee's  (1982b)  model  are
shown in  Figure  11-21.   The points represent mean  blood  lead levels adjusted for the factors
in Table 11-30 (except air lead) for each of the different exposure subpopulations.
                                           11-86

-------
    TABLE  11-30.   ESTIMATED  COEFFICIENTS*  AND  STANDARD  ERRORS  FOR  THE  IDAHO  SMELTER  STUDY
Factor
Intercept (ug/dl)
Air lead (ug/m3)
Soil lead (1000 ug/g)
Sex (male=l, female=0)
Pica (eaters=l, noneaters=0)
Education (graduate training=0)
At least high school
No high school
Cleanliness of home (clean=0)
Moderately clean
Dirty
Age (1 year old=0)
2 years old
3 years old
4 years old
5 years old
6 years old
7 years old
8 years old
9 years old
Work status (no exposure=0)
Lead or zinc worker
Coefficient
13.19
1.53
1.10
1.31
2.22
-
3.45
4.37
-
3.00
6.04
-
4.66
5.48
3.16
2.82
2.74
0.81
-0.19
-1.50
-
3.69
Asymptotic
standard error
1.90
0.064
0.14
0.59
0.90

1.44
1.51

0.65
1.06

1.48
1.32
1.32
1.25
1.24
1.23
1.28
1.21

0.61
Residual standard deviation = 0.2576 (geometric standard deviation = 1.29),
Multiple R2 = 0.662.
Number of observations = 860.
"Calculations made by EPA.
                                            11-87

-------
Q
LU
b^
§
CD
Q
Ul
I
I
80


70


60


50


40


30


20


10

 0
        I  I   I  I   I  |   I  I   I  I   I  I   I  II  |   I  I   I  I   I  I   !..f
LINEAR (EPA)
QUADRATIC (EPA)
LOG LINEAR ISNEE)
       "I  I   I  I   I  I   I  I   I
                              10           15

                              AIR LEAD, pg/m3
                                                   20
                   25
     Figure 11-21. Fitted equations to Kellogg Idaho/Silver Valley adjusted
     blood lead data.
                                11-88

-------
     Yankel et al.  (1977),  Walter et al.  (1980),  and Snee (1982c)  make  reference  to  a  follow-
up study conducted in 1975.   The second study was  undertaken to determine the effectiveness  of
control  and  remedial  measures  instituted  after   the  1974 study.    Between  August,  1974 and
August, 1975, the  mean annual  air lead levels decreased  at all  stations monitored.   In order
of  increasing  distance from the  smelter, the annual  mean air  lead levels for  the one  year
preceding  each drawing were 18.0-10.3 ug/m3, 14.0-8.5 ug/m3,  6.7-4.9 ug/m3,  and 3.1-2.5 ug/m3
at 10-24  km.   Similar reductions  were noted in house dust lead concentrations.   In a separate
report,  von  Lindern and Yankel (1976)  described  reductions in blood lead  levels of children
for whom determinations were made in both years.   A number of factors complicate the  interpre-
tation of the followup study, including the changes in time-varying concentrations of air lead
(Figure 11-20) from 1974 to 1975,  and relocations  of residence.  The results demonstrated that
significant decreases  in blood lead concentration  resulted from exposure reductions.
11.4.1.7   Omaha. Nebraska Studies.   Exposure  from both a primary and secondary smelter in the
inner  city area  of Omaha,  Nebraska,  has  been  reported in a series  of  publications  (Angle  et
al., 1974; Angle and Mclntire,  1977, 1979; Mclntire and Angle, 1973).  During 1970-1977, chil-
dren were  studied from these areas:  an urban school at a site immediately adjacent to a small
battery  plant  and  downwind from two other lead emission sources; from schools in a mixed com-
mercial-residential  area;   and  from  schools  in  a  suburban  setting.   Children's blood lead
levels  by venipuncture were obtained by  macro technique for  1970  and  1971,  but  Delves micro
assay  was  used  for 1972 and later.   The  differences for the  change in  techniques were taken
into account  in  the presentation of  the  data.  Air lead values were obtained  by hi-vol sam-
plers  and  dustfall  values  were also  monitored.   Table 11-31 presents the authors' summary of
the  entire data  set,  showing that as air lead values  decrease and  then  increase, dustfall and
blood  lead values  follow.   The authors used regression models, both  log-linear and semilog,  to
calculate  (air lead)/(blood  lead).
     Specific  reports  present  various aspects of  the work.  Black  children in the two elemen-
tary schools  closest to the battery  plant  had higher blood leads  (34.1 ug/dl)  than those  in
elementary and  junior high schools  farther  away  (26.3 ug/dl).  Best estimates of the air ex-
posures  were  1.65 and 1.48  ug/m3,  respectively  (Mclntire and Angle, 1973).  The  latter study
compared  three  populations:  urban  versus  suburban high  school  students,  ages  14-18; urban
black  children,  ages  10-12,  versus  suburban  whites,  ages 10-12;  and  blacks  ages 10-12 with
blood  lead  levels over 20 ug/dl versus  schoolmates  with blood  lead   levels  below 20 ug/dl
(Angle et  al., 1974).   The urban  versus  suburban  high school  children did not differ  signifi-
cantly,  22.3 ± 1.2 and 20.2 ± 7.0  ug/dl,  respectively, with mean values  of air  lead  concentra-
tions  of 0.43 and  0.29 ug/m3.  For  15  students who had  environmental samples taken  from their
homes, correlation coefficients between  blood lead levels and soil  and housedust lead levels
                                            11-89

-------
   TABLE 11-31.  AIR, DUSTFALL AND BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS IN OMAHA, NE STUDY, 1970-19773
Group
All urban chi
1970-71
1972-73
1974-75
1976-77
'Air .
M9/m3 (N)D
Dustfall,
ug/m3 - mo (N)
Blood, ,
M9/dl (N)d
Idren, mixed commercial and residential site
1.48 ± 0.14(7;65)
0.43 ± 0.08(8;72)
0.10 ± 0.03(10;72)
0.52 ± 0.07(12;47)
10.6 ± 0.3(6)
6.0 ± 0.1(4)
8.8 (7)
31.4 ± 0.7(168)
23.3 ± 0.3(211)
20.4 ± 0.1(284)
22.8 ± 0.7(38)
Children at school in a commercial site
1970-71
1972-73
1974-75
1976-77
All suburban
1970-71
1972-73
1974-75
1976-77
1.69 ± 0.11(7;67)
0.63 ± 0.15(8;74)
0.10 ± 0.03(10;70)
0.60 ± 0.10(12;42)
children in a residential
0.79 ± 0.06(7;65)
0.29 ± 0.04(8;73)
0.12 ± 0.05(10;73)
25.9 ± 0.6(5)
14.3 ± 4.1(4)
33.9 (7)
site
4.6 ± 1.1(6)
2.9 ± 0.9(4)
34.6 ± 1.5(21)
21.9 ± 0.6(54)
19.2 ± 0.9(17)
22.8 ± 0.7(38)

19.6 ± 0.5(81)
14.4 ± 0.6(31)
18.2 ± 0.3(185)
aBlood lead 1970-71 is by the macro technique, corrected for an established
 laboratory bias of 3 (jg/dl, macro-micro; all other values are by Delves micro
 assay.
 N = Number of months; number of 24-hour samples.
CN = Number of months.
 N = Number of blood samples.
Source:  Adapted from Angle and Mclntire, 1977.

were 0.31  and 0.29,  respectively.   Air, dust, and soil lead measurements at 37 sites were im-
puted to all children in the vicinity.
     Suburban 10-  to  12-year-olds  had lower blood  lead  levels  than their urban counterparts,
17.1 ± 0.7 versus  21.7 ±0.5 ug/dl  (Angle  et al., 1974).  Air  lead exposures were higher in
the urban  than  in  the suburban population,  although the average exposure remained less than 1
|jg/m3.   Dustfall lead measurements, however, were very much higher;  32.96 mg/m2/month for ur-
ban 10- to-12-year-olds versus 3.02 mg/m2/month for suburban children.
     Soil  lead  and house  dust  lead  exposure  levels  were significantly  higher  for  the urban
black high-lead group than for the urban low-lead group.   A significant correlation (r = 0.49)
between blood lead and soil lead levels was  found.

                                           11-90

-------
     Angle has reanalyzed the  Omaha study (Angle et al. ,  1984) using all  of the data  on  chil-
dren from all years.  There  were 1075 samples from which blood lead (pg/dl), air (|jg/m3),  soil
(ug/g), and  house dust  (H9/9)  lead were  available.   The linear regression model, fitted  in
logarithmic form, was

           Pb-Blood = 15.67 + 1.92 Pb-Air + 0.00680 Pb-Soil + 0.00718 Pb-House Dust    (11-16)
                     (±0.40)    (±0.60)       (±0.00097)          (±0.00090)

           (N = 1075, R2 = 0.20, S2 = 0.0901, GSD = 1.35)

Similar models  fitted by  age  category  produced  much more variable  results,  possibly  due  to
small ranges of variation in air lead within certain age categories.
11.4.1.8   Roels  et al.  Studies.   Roels  et  al.  (1976,  1978, 1980)  have conducted  a series  of
studies in  the  vicinity of a  lead  smelter in Belgium.  Roels et al.  (1980) report a follow-up
study  in  1975  that included study  populations  from a rural-nonindustrialized  area as well  as
from  the  lead smelter  area.   The  rural group consisted  of 45  children (11-14 years).   The
smelter area group consisted  of  69 school children from  three  schools.   These children were
divided into two groups; group A (aged  10-13)  lived less  than 1  km from  the smelter and their
schools were very close to the smelter; group  B consisted of  school  children  living more than
1.5  km from  the  smelter  and attending  a  school  more distant from  the smelter.
      In 1974 the  smelter  emitted 270 kg of  lead  and the air lead levels  were 1-2 orders  of
magnitude greater  than the current  Belgian  background concentration for air lead (0.23 ug/m3).
Soil  and  vegetation  were  also contaminated  with lead;  within  1  km the soil lead level was
12,250 ug/g.  The  concentration of  lead  in  drinking water  was  less  than 5 ng/1.
      Environmental  assessment  included air, soil,  and dust.   Air monitoring for lead had been
continuous  since September,  1973 at two sites, one for each  of  the two  groups.   In the rural
area,  air monitoring was done  at two  sites for five  days  using membrane  pumps.  Lead was ana-
lyzed  by  flameless atomic absorption  spectrophotometry.   Dust and  soil samples were collected
at  the various school playgrounds,  and  were also analyzed by flameless  atomic absorption.   A
25  ml blood sample was  collected from  each child  and  immediately  divided among  three tubes.
One  tube  was analyzed for  lead content  by flameless  atomic absorption with background correc-
tion.  Another tube was  analyzed  for ALA-D activity while the  third was analyzed for  FEP.   FEP
was  determined  by the  Roels  modification of the method  of  Sassa.   ALA-D was assayed by  the
European  standard method.
                                            11-91

-------
     Air  lead  levels  decreased from area A to area B.  At both sites the airborne lead levels
declined over the two years of monitoring.  The amount of lead produced at this smelter during
this time remained constant, about 100,000 metric tons/year.   The median air lead level at the
closer site (A) dropped from 3.2 to 1.2 ug/m3, while at the far site  (B) the median went from
1.6  to  0.5-0.8 ug/m3.   The rural  area  exposure levels  did  not vary  over  the study period,
remaining rather constant at about 0.3 ug/m3.
     Both  smelter  vicinity groups  showed signs  of increased lead  absorption  relative to the
rural population.  Blood  lead levels for group  A were about three times those for  the rural
population  (26  versus  9 jjg/dl).   The former blood lead levels were associated with about a 50
percent decrease  in  ALA-D activity and a 100 percent increase in FEP concentration.   However,
FEP  levels were not different for group B and rural area residents.
     Later  surveys  of children (Roels et al.,  1980)  were conducted  in  1976,  1977,  and 1978;
the  former  two  in autumn, the latter  in  spring.   In total there were  five  surveys  conducted
yearly  from 1974-1978.   A  group  of age-matched controls from a rural  area was studied each
time except  1977.   In 1976 and 1978 an urban group of children was also studied.  The overall
age  for the different groups ranged from 9 to 14 years (mean 11-12).   The length of residence
varied  from  0.5 to  14 years  (mean  7-10 years).   The subjects were always  recruited from the
same five schools:  one in the urban area, one in the rural area and three in the smelter area
(two <1 km and one, 2.5  km away).  In all, 661 children (328 boys and 333 girls) were studied
over the  years.   Two hundred fourteen children came from less than 1 km from the smelter, 169
children  from 1.5 to 2.5  km from the plant, 55 children lived in the urban area, and 223 chil-
dren lived  in the rural area.
     Air  lead levels decreased from 1977  to 1978.  However, the soil lead levels in the vicin-
ity  of  the smelter  were  still elevated (<1 km, soil lead = 2000-6000 ug/g).   Dustfall lead in
the  area  of the  near schools averaged 16.4-22.0  mg/m2-day  at 500 m from  the stack, 5.8-7.2
mg/m2-day  at 700  m,  about 2 mg/m2-day at 1000 m, and fluctuated around 0.5-1 mg/m2-day at 1.5
km  and  beyond.  The  particle size was predominantly  2 urn in diameter  with a secondary peak
between 4 and  9  urn.   The  particle size declined  with increasing distance from the smelter
(0.7-2.4  km).
     The  air lead and blood lead results  for the five years are presented as Table 11-32.  The
reported  air  leads  are  not calendar year  averages.   The table shows  that  blood lead levels
(electrothermal atomic absorption  spectrophotometry)  are lower in  the girls  than  the boys.
Within  1  km of  the  smelter no consistent  improvement  in air lead levels was  noted over the
years of  the study.   The mean blood leads for  the  children  living at  about  2.5  km from the
smelter never exceeded 20 ug/dl since 1975, although they were higher than for  urban and rural
children.
                                           11-92

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    TABLE  11-32.   MEAN AIRBORNE  AND  BLOOD  LEAD  LEVELS  RECORDED DURING FIVE DISTINCT SURVEYS
      (1974  to  1978)  FOR  STUDY POPULATIONS OF 11-YEAR-OLD  CHILDREN  LIVING LESS THAN 1 km
               OR  2.5 km  FROM A  LEAD SMELTER, OR  LIVING  IN A  RURAL  OR URBAN AREA
Study
populations
1 Survey
(1974)

2 Survey
(1975)

3 Survey
(1976)


4 Survey
(1977)
5 Survey
(1978)


Setting
< 1 km
2.5 km
Rural
<1 km
2.5 km
Rural
<1 km
2.5 km
Urban
Rural
<1 km
2.5 km
< 1 km
2.5 km
Urban
Rural
Pb-Air,
pg/m3
4.06
1.00
0.29
2.94
0.74
0.31
3.67
0.80
0.45
0.30
3.42
0.49
2.68
0.54
0.56
0.37

Total
n
37
—
92
40
29
45
38
40
26
44
56
50
43
36
29
42

Blood
lead concentration,
Population
Mean ±
30.1 ±
—
9.4 ±
26.4 ±
13.6 ±
9.1 ±
24.6 ±
13.3 ±
10.4 ±
9.0 ±
28.9 ±
14.8 ±
27.8 ±
16.0 ±
12.7 ±
10.7 ±
SO
5.7

2.1
7.3
3.3
3.1
8.7
4.4
2.0
2.0
6.5
4.7
9.3
3.8
3.1
2.8
n
14
14
28
19
17
14
18
24
17
21
27
34
20
26
18
17
Boys
Mean ±
31.0 ±
21.1 ±
9.7 ±
27.4 ±
14.8 ±
8.2 ±
28.7 ±
15.6 ±
10.6 ±
9.2 ±
31.7 ±
15.7 ±
29.3 ±
16.6 ±
13.4 ±
11.9 ±

SD
5.5
3.4
1.6
6.5
3.6
2.1
8.0
2.9
2.0
2.3
9.5
4.8
9.8
3.5
2.3
3.0
pg/dl

n
23
—
64
21
12
31
20
16
9
23
29
16
23
10
11
25

Girls
Mean ±
29.6 ±
--
9.3 ±
25.4 ±
11.9 ±
9.5 ±
20.8 ±
9.8 ±
9.9 ±
8.7 ±
26.4 ±
13.0 +
26.5 ±
14.3 ±
11.5 ±
10.0 ±


SD
5.9

2.2
8.1
1.9
3.4
7.6
3.8
2.0
1.7
8.7
4.3
8.9
4.2
4.0
2.4
Source:   Roels et al.  (1980).

     The researchers then investigated the importance of the various sources of lead in deter-
mining  blood  lead levels.  Data  were available  from  the  1976 survey on air,  dust,  and hand
lead levels.  Boys had higher hand dust lead than girls.  Unfortunately,  the regression analy-
ses performed on these data were based on the group means of four groups.
     EPA has  reanalyzed  the 1976  study using original  data provided by Dr. Roels  on the 148
children.   The  air lead, playground  dust  lead,  and hand lead  concentrations  were  all highly
correlated  with  each  other.   The hand  lead  measurements   are  used here with due  regard for
their  limitations,  because  day-to-day variations  in  hand  lead  for individual  children are
believed to be very  large.   However, even  though  repeated measurements were not available,
this  is among the  most  usable quantitative  evidence  on  the   role  of  ingested  hand dust in
childhood lead absorption.
                                           11-93

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     Total  lead  content per hand is probably  more  directly related to ingested  lead  than  is
the lead concentration in the hand dust.   The linear regression model used above was fitted  by
EPA using  lead  in air (ug/m3), lead in  hand dust (ug/hand), lead  in  playground  dust  (ug/g),
and sex  as  covariates of blood lead.   The lead variables were highly correlated,  resulting  in
a  statistically  significant regression but  not statistically  significant  coefficients.   Thus
the playground  dust measurement was dropped and  the following model  obtained  with  almost  as
small  a residual sum of squares,

              In(Pb-Blood) = ln(7.37 + 2.46 Pb-Air + 0.0195 Pb-Hand + 2.10 Male)  (11-17)
                             (±.45)*      (±.58)*       (±.0062)*      (±0.56)*
              *Standard error of estimated regression coefficients.

The fitted  model for  the  148  observations gave  an  R2  of  0.654 and a mean  square  error (S2)
of  0.0836  (GSD  =  1.335).   The  significance of the  estimated coefficient  establishes  that
intake of  lead-bearing dust from the hands of children does play a role in childhood lead ab-
sorption over and above the role that can  be assigned to inhalation of air lead.  Individual
habits of mouthing  probably also affect lead absorption along this pathway.  Note too that the
estimated inhalation slope, 2.46, is somewhat larger than most estimates for adults.   However,
the effect  of  ingestion of hand dust  appears  to  be almost as large as the effect of air lead
inhalation  in  children of  this age (9-14  years).   Roels  et al.   (1980),  using  group means,
concluded that  the  quantitative contribution of hand lead to children's blood lead levels was
far greater than  that  of air lead.
     The  high  mutual  correlations  among air,  hand,  and dust  lead suggest  the  use of their
principal components  or principal  factors as predictors.   Only  the first principal component
(which accounted  for 91 percent of the total variance in lead exposure) proved a statistically
significant covariate  of blood  lead.  In this form the model could be expressed as:

   In(Pb-Blood) = ln(7.42 + 1.56Pb-Air + 0.0120Pb-Hand + 0.00212Pb-Dust + 2.29 Male)   (11-18)

The estimated standard error on the inhalation slope  is  ±0.47.   The difference between these
inhalation  slope and hand lead coefficients  is an  example of the  partial attribution of the
effects of measured lead exposure sources to those sources that are not measured.
11.4.1.9  Other Studies Relating Blood Lead Levels to Air Exposure.
     The present  chapter  has thus far evaluated the effects of atmospheric lead on blood lead
in a disaggregate manner  broken down according to exposure media,  including direct inhalation
of atmospheric  lead,   ingestion  of  particulate lead that  has fallen out as  dust and surface

                                           11-94

-------
soil, and air lead Ingested in consuming food and beverages  (including lead  absorbed  from  soil
and added during processing and preparation).   Disaggregate  analyses  based on  various pathways
for environmental lead of the type presented appear to provide a sensitive tool  for predicting
blood  lead  burdens  under changes of  environmental exposure.   However,  some authors, e.g.,
Brunekreef  (1984)  make  a strong  argument for  the use of  air lead  as  the  single  exposure
criterion.   Their argument is that exposure to air lead is  usually of sufficient duration  that
the  contributions  along other pathways have  stabilized  and are proportional  to the  air  lead
concentration.   In that  case,  the ratio between blood  lead  and air  lead plus dust,  food, and
other  proportional  increments  must  be  much larger  than  for  air lead by direct  inhalation
alone.
     The following studies  provide information on the relationship  of blood  lead to air  lead
exposures  using aggregate analyses  that include  both direct  and  indirect air  inputs.   The
first group of studies are population studies which typically employed less  accurate estimates
of  individual  exposures.   The second group of studies represents industrial exposures at  very
high air lead  levels in which the response of blood lead appears to be substantially different
than at ambient  air levels.
     The Tepper  and  Levin (1975) study included both air and blood lead measurements.  House-
wives were  recruited from locations in the vicinity of air monitors.   Table 11-33 presents the
geometric mean air  lead and adjusted geometric  mean  blood lead values for this study.  These
values were calculated by Hasselblad and Nelson  (1975).  Geometric mean air lead values ranged
from  0.17  to  3.39 ug/m3, and geometric mean blood  lead values  ranged  from 12.7 to 20.1 M9/d1•
     Nordman  (1975) reported a population study  from Finland  in which  data from five urban and
two  rural   areas were  compared.  Air lead  data were  collected by  stationary  samplers.   All
levels were comparatively low, particularly  in the  rural environment, where a concentration of
0.025 ug/m3 was  seen.  Urban-suburban levels ranged from 0.43 to 1.32  ug/m3.
     A  study  was  undertaken  by Tsuchiya  et  al.  (1975)   in  Tokyo  using male  policemen who
worked, but not  necessarily  lived, in the vicinity  of  air samplers.   In this study,  five  zones
were  established based on degree  of urbanization,  ranging from central city to suburban.   Air
monitors were established at various police stations  within  each zone.  Air sampling was con-
ducted  from  September,  1971 to  September,  1972;  blood and  urine samples  were obtained from
2283 policemen in August and September, 1971.   Findings are presented  in Table 11-34.
     Goldsmith  (1974)  obtained  data  for  elementary  school  (9-  and  10-year-olds) and  high
school  students in 10 California  communities.   Lowest air lead exposures were 0.28 ug/m3 and
highest  were 3.4 ug/m3.  For  boys in elementary school, blood  lead  levels  ranged from 14.3  to
23.3 M9/dl; those for girls  ranged  from  13.8  to 20.4 ug/dl  for the  same  range  of air lead ex-
posures.   The  high  school   student population  was made up of  only  males from some of the  10
towns.   The air lead  range  was  0.77-2.75 ug/m3, and  the  blood lead range  was  9.0-12.1 ug/dl.
                                            11-95

-------
    TABLE 11-33.  GEOMETRIC MEAN AIR LEAD AND ADJUSTED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS FOR 11 COMMUNITIES
        IN STUDY OF TEPPER AND LEVIN (1975) AS REPORTED BY HASSELBLAD AND NELSON (1975)
Geometric mean
air lead,
Community MS/1"3
Los Alamos, NM
Okeana, OH
Houston, TX
Port Washington, NY
Ardmore, PA
Lombard, IL
Washington, DC
Philadelphia, PA
Bridgeport, IL
Greenwich Village, NY
Pasadena, CA
0.17
0.32
0.85
1.13
1.15
1.18
1.19
1.67
1.76
2.08
3.39
Age and smoking
adjusted geometric
mean blood lead,
ug/dl
15.1
16.1
12.7
15.3
17.9
14.0
18.7
20.1
17.6
16.5
17.6
Sample
size
185
156
186
196
148
204
219
136
146
139
194
Multiple R2 = 0.240
Residual standard deviation = 0.262 (geometric standard deviation = 1.30)
          TABLE 11-34.  MEAN AIR AND BLOOD LEAD VALUES FOR FIVE ZONES  IN TOKYO STUDY
Zones
1
2
3
4
5
Air lead
ug/m3
0.024
0.198
0.444
0.831
1.157
Blood lead,
ug/100 g
17.0
17.1
16.8
18.0
19.7
Source:  Tsuchiya et al. 1975.
                                           11-96

-------
The high school  students  with  the highest blood  lead  levels  did not come  from  the  town with
the highest air  lead  value.   However, a considerable lag time occurred between the collection
and analysis of  the  blood samples.    In one  of  the communities the blood samples were refrig-
erated rather than frozen.
     Another California study (Johnson et al.,  1975, 1976) examined blood lead levels in rela-
tion to exposure to  automotive lead  in two  communities,  Los  Angeles and Lancaster (a city in
the high  desert).  Los Angeles residents  studied were individuals living  in  the vicinity of
heavily traveled freeways within  the city.  They included groups of males and females, aged 1
through 16, 17  through 34, and 34 and  over.   The persons selected from Lancaster represented
similar age and  sex  distributions.   On two  consecutive  days,  blood,  urine, and fecal samples
were collected.   Air samples were collected from one hi-vol  sampler  in Los Angeles, located
near a  freeway,  and  two  such samplers  in  Lancaster.   The Los Angeles sampler collected for 7
days; the  two  in Lancaster operated  for 14 days.  Soil samples were collected in each area in
the vicinity of  study subjects.
     Lead  in ambient  air along the  Los Angeles  freeway averaged 6.3 ±  0.7 (jg/m3 and,  in the
Lancaster  area,  the  average was 0.6  ±  0.2 ug/m3.   The mean soil lead in Los Angeles was 3633
ug/g, whereas  that found  in  Lancaster  was 66.9 (jg/g.   Higher  blood  lead concentrations were
found in  Los Angeles  residents than  in  individuals  living  in the control  area for all age
groups  studied.   Differences between Los  Angeles and  Lancaster groups  were significant with
the sole  exception of the older males.  Snee (1981) has pointed out a disparity  between blood
samples taken  on  consecutive  days   from the same  child in the  study.   EPA reanalyses using
other criteria  for outlier detection and  removal  obtained different inhalation  slopes.  This
calls into question  the validity of  using this  study to  quantify  the  air  lead to  blood lead
relationship.
     Daines  et  al. (1972) studied black women living near a  heavily  traveled highway  in New
Jersey.   The  subjects lived in houses  on  streets paralleling the  highway  at three  distances:
3.7, 38.1, and 121.9  m.   Air lead as  well  as blood  lead  levels were measured.  Mean  annual air
lead  concentrations  were  4.60,  2.41, and 2.24  (jg/m3,  respectively,  for the three  distances.
The mean  air lead concentration  for the area closest  to  the highway was significantly  differ-
ent  from  that in both  the second and third, but  the  mean air lead concentration of the third
area was  not significantly different from that  of the  second.  The results of  the  blood  lead
determinations  paralleled those of  the air  lead.   Mean blood lead levels  of  the three groups
of women,  in order  of  increasing  distance, were  23.1, 17.4,  and 17.6 ng/dl•  respectively.
Again,  the first group showed  a  significantly higher mean than  the other  two,  but  the second
and  third groups' blood  lead  levels were  similar to each other.   Daines et al.  (1972), in the
same  publication, reported a  second study  in which  the  distances  from the highway were  33.5
                                            11-97

-------
and 457 m and  in  which the subjects were white upper middle class women.   The air lead levels
were  trivially  different at  these  two distances,  and the  blood lead levels  did  not differ
either.  Because  the  residents  nearest the road were  already  33 m from the highway, the dif-
ferences in air  lead  may have been insufficient to be reflected in the blood lead levels (see
Chapter 7).
     A  summary  of linear relationships  for  other population studies  has  been  extracted from
Snee  (1981)  and  is   shown  in Table  11-35.   The  Fugas  study  is  described later  in  Section
11.5.1.3.   There is a large range of slope values (-0.1 to 3.1) with most studies in the range
of  1.0-2.0.   Additional  information  on  the more  directly  relevant  studies  is  given  in the
Summary Section 11.4.1.10.

                TABLE 11-35.  BLOOD LEAD-AIR LEAD SLOPES FOR SEVERAL POPULATION
                                STUDIES AS CALCULATED BY SNEE
Study
Tepper & Levin
(1975)
Johnson et al .
(1975)

Nordman (1975)

Tsuchiya et al.(1975)
Goldsmith (1974)

Fugas (1977)
Daines et al . (1972)


Johnson et al .
(1975)


Goldsmith (1974)

No.
subjects
1935

65

96
536
478
537
89
79
352
61

88a
37a

43

486

Sex
Female

Male

Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
(spring)
Female (fall)
Male
(children)
Female
(children)
Male & female
(children)
Slope
1.1

0.8

0.8
1.2
0.6
3.1
-0.1
0.7
2.2

1.6
2.4

1.4

1.1

2.0
95% confidence
interval
±1.8

±0.7

±0.6
±1.0
±0.9
±2.2
±0.7
±0.7
±0.7

±1.7
±1.2

±0.6

±0.6

±1.3
 Outlier results for four subjects deleted.
Source:  Snee, 1981.
                                           11-98

-------
     A  comprehensive  review  of  studies  of blood  lead  levels  in  children  is presented  by
Brunekreef (1984).  Many  of  the  studies did not  include  covariates  by which air  lead  slopes
could be adjusted for dust or soil  ingestion and other factors,  leading to aggregate  estimates
of air  lead  impacts  (direct  and  indirect) on blood  lead  levels.   The results of  some  of  the
studies  reviewed by  Brunekreef  are  summarized  in Table 11-36.   Studies selected  for  Table
11-36  are  those with  identified  air monitoring  methods  and reliable  blood lead data.   The
range  of P values  that Brunekreef (1984) reports is very large, and  typical  values of 3-5  are
larger  than  those adjusted slopes (1.52-2.46)  derived  by EPA in  preceding  sections..   If  the
aggregate approach  is accepted,  then the  blood lead versus total (both  direct  and  indirect)
air  lead  slope  for  children may be  approximately  double the slope  (~2.0)  estimated  for  the
direct contribution due to inhaled air lead alone.
     There is  a great  deal  of information  on  blood lead responses   to air  lead exposures of
workers in lead-related  occupations.   Almost all such exposures are at air lead levels far in
excess  of typical  non-occupational  exposures.   The blood lead versus air lead slope  p is very
much  smaller  at high blood and air levels.  Analyses of certain occupational exposure studies
are shown in Table 11-37.
11.4.1.10  Summary of  Blood  Lead versus  Inhaled Air  Lead  Relations.   Any  summary of  the rela-
tionship of  blood lead level and air lead exposure is complicated by the need for reconciling
the results of  experimental and observational studies.  Further, defining the form of the sta-
tistical relationship  is  problematical  due to  the  lack of consistency in the range and accu-
racy  of the air lead exposure measures in  the various studies.
      EPA has  chosen  to emphasize the results of studies that  relate  lead  in air and lead in
blood under  ambient  conditions.   At  low air lead exposures there  is  no statistically signifi-
cant  difference between curvilinear and linear  blood lead inhalation relationships.  Colombo
(1985) states  that  on the  basis  of experimental  biological  evidence,  theory  can  provide a
steady-state  relation of blood Pb to air  Pb with a  curved response  and  that the  existing PbB
vs.  PbA data  are such that  they  can be  fitted  by  several  algebraically different  PbA func-
tions, including a linear relationship.   Colombo  concludes,  however,  that the  linear model is
preferred  because it  is  consistent with other  published models and  it is much  simpler  in  its
application.   Therefore EPA has fitted  linear  relationships  (Tables 11-38,  11-39,  and  11-40)
to blood lead  levels  in  the studies  to  be described next with  the explicit  understanding  that
the fitted  relationships  are intended  only to describe  changes  in blood lead due to  modest
changes (of  <3.0 ug/m3)  in  air  lead among  individuals whose blood  lead  levels do  not  exceed
 30 pg/dl.
      The blood lead  inhalation slope  estimates  vary appreciably from one  subject to  another in
 experimental  and clinical studies,  and  from one study to another.  The weighted slope and stan-
 dard error estimates  from the Griffin  study in Table  11-21  (1.75 ± 0.35)  were combined  with
                                            11-99

-------
                                    TABLE  11-36.   CHARACTERISTICS  OF  STUDIES  ON  THE  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  AIR  LEAD AND  BLOOD  LEAD  IN CHILDREN
O
O
Reference
Cavalleri et al. , 1981




Zielhuls et al. , 1979
Brunekreef et al , , 1981
Diemel et al . , 1981



Landrigan et al., 1975
Landrigan and Baker, 1981
Horse et al . , 1979
RoeU et al. , 1976, 1978,
1980



Yankel et al.. 1977
Walter et al., 1980
Snee, 1982c
Angle et al . , 1974
Angle and Hclntire, 1979


Billick et al. , 1979, 1980
Billick (1983)


Brunekreef et al . , 198}
Blood
Population sampling
3-6 n=110 venous
8-11 n=143
school populations, living
close to or at >4 .In fro*
a. lead shelter
1-7 n=690 (1977) venous
1-3 n=95 (1976)
volunteers (1976)
all children in area invited
(1977. 1978)
participation rate >50X
1-18 n=259 (exposed) venous
n=499 (control) 1972
n=140 (exposed) 1977
10-15 n=Z14 exposed 1974- venous
10-13 n=168 inter- 1978 puncture
mediate c cabined
10-13 n=223 rural
10-14 n=55 urban
1-9 n=1149 (1974) venous
n= 781 (1975) puncture

1-5 urban/suburban n=242 capillary
6-18 urban/ suburban/
industrial n=832 volunteers

0->6 n=178.533 venous
presented for screening


4-6 n=195 venous
nursery school populations,
living in city center or in
suburban area
Air
Quality control data sampling
yes; no interlabora- hi-vol (?)
tory comparison



yes; no information hi-vol
about participation
in inter laboratory
study


no hi-vol


yes; national and low volume
international inter-
laboratory program


no hi-vol


no hi-vol



yes, participation hi-vol
CDC blood lead
proficiency testing
program
yes; international low volume
quality control
progran
Unadjusted
slope
3.3
4.0



4.0
3.6




3.7
2.6

4.1-7.4
2.9-5.8
8.3-31.2
5.3


2.4-3.3

0.66
-2.63
2.10
15.8




24.5
18.5
Adjusted
slope Statistical model
group comparisons




3.6 group comparisons
nultiple regression,
single-log (1978)



group comparison


group comparisons
multiple regression



1-1.4 group comparisons/
multiple regression
1-2.5 single log
multiple regression,
log- log covariates
0.69 not included

5.2 multiple regression
2.9 with geometric group
means as dependent
variable
group comparisons and
8.5 multiple regression,
using log/log trans-
formations
        Source:  from Brunekreef (1984).

-------
                TABLE 11-37.  A SELECTION OF RECENT ANALYSES ON OCCUPATIONAL
                          8-HOUR EXPOSURES TO HIGH AIR  LEAD LEVELS

Analysis
Ashf ord et al .
(1977)

King et al .
(1979)

Gartside
et al. (1982)


Bishop and
Hill (1983)





Study
Williams et al . , 1969
Globe Union
Delco-Remy
Factory 1, 1975
Factory 2a, 1975
Factory 3a, 1975
Delco-Remy,
1974-1976


Battery plants A
1975-1981 B
C
D
E
F
Air lead*,
ug/m3
50-300


35-1200


10-350



20-170
2-200
7-170
7-195
20-140
4-140
Blood lead,
(jg/dl
40-90


25-90


22-72



12-50
18-72
22-60
24-75
18-60
15-53
P
slope
0.19
0.10

0.032
0.07

0.0514

Nonlinear:
at 50:
0.081
0.045
0.048
0.022
0.045
0.101
*Assumed 8-hour exposure; divide by 3 for 24-hour equivalent.

those calculated similarly for the Rabinowitz study in Table 11-24 (2.14 ± 0.47) and the Kehoe
study in Table  11-25  (1.25 ± 0.35,  setting  subject  DH = 0),  yielding a pooled weighted slope
estimate of  1.64  ± 0.22 ug/dl per ug/m3.  There are some advantages in using these experimen-
tal studies on adult males, but certain deficiencies need to be acknowledged.  The Kehoe study
exposed subjects  to a wide range of exposure  levels  while they were in the exposure chamber,
but did not  control  air lead exposures  outside  the  chamber.   The Griffin study provided rea-
sonable control of air lead exposure during the  experiment,  but difficulties in defining the
non-inhalation  baseline  for blood lead (especially in  the  important experiment at 3.2 ug/m3)
add much uncertainty to the estimate.  The Rabinowitz study controlled well for diet and other
factors and  since they used stable  lead  isotope  tracers,  they had no baseline problem.  How-
ever, the  actual  air  lead exposure  of  these subjects outside the metabolic ward was not well
determined.
     Among population studies, only  the Azar study provides a slope  estimate  in which air lead
exposures  are  known for individuals.  However, there was no control of dietary lead intake or
other  factors  that affect  blood  lead  levels,  and slope estimates  assuming only  air lead and
                                           11-101

-------
                                     TABLE 11-38.  CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WITH MEASURED INDIVIDUAL AIR LEAD EXPOSURE
O
IVJ
Study
tear et al. (1975)
Study done in
1970-1971 In five
U.S. cities, total
sample size = 149.
Blood leads ranged
fron 8 to 40 pg/dl.
Air leads ranged
fro* 0.2 to 9.1
MS./"3












Analysis
Azar et al.
(1975)

Snee (1982b)

Hamond et al .
(1981)

EPA

EPA

EPA

EPA

EPA

EPA



In(PBB)


In(PBB)


= 0.153 In(PBA) *


Hodel
• separate intercepts


= 0.2669 InCPBA + separate background
+ 1.0842
(PBB)"1'019 = 0.179 (PBA


In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)


-0.098

= ln(1.318 PBA +

= ln(2.902 PBA -
for each group)
= ln[1.342 PBA +

= ln[1.593 PBA +
slope)]
= ln[1.255 PBA +
age slope)]

* separate background



for each group


for each group)

for each group)


separate background for each group)

0.257 PBA2 + separate

separate background +


background

(age slope x age)]

common intercept + (age x separate age


separate background + (age x separate

= 0.25 ln[PBA + separate background +
age slope)]




(age x separate


R2
0.502


0.497

0.49


0.491

0.504

0.499

0.489

0.521

0.514
Hodel
d.f.*
6


7

8


6

7

7

7

11

12
Slope at an air lead of


(1


(0




(0



(0

(0

(0

1.0 jig/B3
2.57
.23, 3.91)

1.12
.29, 1.94)
1.08


1.32
.46, 2.17)
2.39

1.34
.32, 2.37)
1.59
.76. 2.42)
1.26
.46, 2.05}
about 1.0
(varies by



city)


2.0 tig/"3
1.43
(0.64. 2.30)



0.96
(0.25, 1.66)




(0



(0

(0

(0
1.07


1.32
.46, 2.17)
1.87

1.34
.32, 2.37)
1.59
.76, 2.42)
1.26
.46, 2.05)
about 1.0
(varies by

city)
      Note:  PBB stands for blood lead (ug/dl);  PBA stands  for air lead (pg/m3);  slope means  rate  of  change of blood lead per unit change in air lead at the
             stated air lead value.  The 95 percent confidence intervals for the  slope are  given in parentheses.  These are approximate and should be used
             with caution.  The analyses labeled "EPA"  are  calculated  fron  the  original  authors' data.

      *d.f. = degrees of freedom.

-------
                                TABLE 11-39.   CROSS-SECTIONAL  OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES ON CHILDREN WITH ESTIMATED AIR EXPOSURES
















Study
Kellogg Idaho/Silver
Valley study con-
ducted in 1974 based
on about 880 chil-
dren. Air leads
ranged froa 0.5 to
22 ug/B3. Blood
leads ranged fro*
11 to 164


Kellogg Idaho/Silver
Valley study as above

Analysis
Yankel et al.
(1977)

Snee (1982c)

EPA

EPA

Walter et al.
(1980)
Snee (1982a)



In(PBB)


In(PflB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)

In(PBB)


Model
= 0.041 PBA + 2.1x10 soil + 0.087 dust
- 0.018 age + 0.024 parental occupation + 3.14

= 0.039 PBA * 0.065 In (soil) + tents for sex, parental
occupation, cleanliness, education, pica
= ln(1.53 PBA + 0.0011 soil + tents for sex, parental
occupation, cleanliness, 2 education, pica}
= 1n(1.13 PBA + 0.026 PBA + teras for soil, sex, parental
occupation, cleanliness, education, pica)
= separate slopes for air, dust, parental occupation, 0.
pica, sex, and soil by age
= 0.039 PBA + 0.055 In(soil) + tents for sex, parental
occupation, cleanliness, education, pica


0


0

0

0


Rz
.622


.666

.662

.656

56 to 0.70

0.


347

Model
d.f.*
6


25

18

19

7

25

Slope at an
1.0 ug/«J
1.16
(1.09, 1.23) (1

1.13
(1.06, 1.20) (1
1.53
(1.40, 1.66) (1
1.16

air
5.0
1
.27

1
.23
1
.40
1

lead of
pg/"3
.37
, 1-

.32
. I-
.53
, 1.
.39


46)


42)

66)


1.01 to 1.26 1.18 to 1.48

1.07
(0.89, 1.25) (1

1.
.01,

,25
, 1-


50)
restricted to 537 chil-
^— •
H™*
1
f_»
O
CO














dren with air leads
below 10 ug/*3
Roels et al.
(1900)



Angle and Hclntire
(1979)










Reels et al.
(1980) based
on 8 groups
EPA analysis
on 148 subjects
Angle and
Kclntire (1979)
on 832 samples
ages 6-18
832 samples ages
6 to 18
Angle et al.
(1984) on 1074
saaples for ages
1-18


PBB = 0.


In(PBB)

In(PBB)



In(PBB)

In(PBB)





007 PBA * 11.50 log(Pb-Mand) - 4.27


= ln(2.46 PBA + 0.0195 (Pb-Hand) * 2.1 (Male) + 7.37)

= ln(8.1) + 0.03 In(PBA) + 0.10 In(Pb-Soil)
* 0.07 ln{Pb-House Oust)


= In (4.40 PBA + 0.00457 Pb-Soil
+ 0.00336 Pb-House Oust + 16.21)
= ln(1.92 PBA + 0.00680 Pb-Soil
* 0.00718 Pb-House Dust * 15.67)




0.


0.

0.



0.

0.





65


654

21



262

199





3


4

4



4

4





0.007


2.46
(1.31, 3.61)
0.6



4.40
(3.20, 5.60)
1.92
(0.74, 3.10)




0.




007







2.46
(1
0.



4.
(3.
1.
(0.


31,
14



40
20,
92
74,


3.61)





5.60)

3.10)


Note:  PBB stands for blood lead (ug/dl); PBA stands for air lead (ug/«3); slope means rate of change of blood lead per unit change  in air lead at the
       stated air lead value.  The 95 percent confidence intervals for the slope are given in parentheses.   These are approximate  and should be used
       with caution.  The analyses labeled "EPA" are calculated from the original authors' data.
*d.f.= degrees of freedon.

-------
TABLE 11-40.  LONGITUDINAL EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES WITH MEASURED INDIVIDUAL AIR LEAD EXPOSURE
Experiment
Kehoe 1950-1971
1960-1969
Griffin et al.
1971-1972
Chamberlain et
al. 1973-1978
Rabinowitz
et al. 1973-1974
Analysis
Gross (1981)
Hammond et al.(1981)
Snee (1981)
EPA
Knelson et al.(1973)
Hammond et al.(1981)
Snee (1981)
EPA
Chamberlain et al.
(197B)
EPA
Snee (1981)
EPA

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB
PBB

Model
Air lead,
ug/»3
= 0.57 A PBA
= p.A PBA, p. by subject from -0.6 to 2.94
= p?A PBA, pl by subject from 0.4 to 2.4
= pl PBA + background, Pi by subject from -.34 to 2.60
= 0.327 PBA *
= p A PBA. p =
= p. A PBA. p.
= pl A PBA. pl
and p = 1.7)
= p APBA, p =
= P APBA, p =
= p. APBA. p.
= pl APBA. pl
3.236 + (2.10 PBA
1.90 at 3.2 and p
by subject, p = 2
by subject, mean
at 10.9
1.2 calculated
2.7 calculated
by subject from 1.
by subject from 1.
+ 1.96) (In PBA + p.) by subject
= 1.54 at 10.9 '
.3 at 3.2 and p = 1.5 at 10.9
P = 1.52 at 3.2

7 to 3.9
59 to 3.56
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.15
0.15

0.2
to 36
to 36
to 36
to 9
, 3.2
, 10.9

to 2
Blood lead,
ug/dl
18
18
18
18
11
14

14
to
to
to
to
to
to

to
41
41
41
29
32
43

28

-------
location as covariables (1.32  ±  0.38)  are not significantly different from the pooled experi-
mental studies.
     Snee and Pfeifer  (1983)  have  extensively analyzed the  observational  studies,  tested the
equivalence of  slope  estimates  using  pooled within-study  and  between-study variance  com-
ponents, and estimated the common slope.   The result of five population studies on adult males
(Azar, Johnson, Nordman,  Tsuchiya,  Fugas) was an inhalation slope estimate ±95 percent confi-
dence  limits  of  1.4  ± 0.6.   For  six  populations of  adult females  [Tepper-Levin,  Johnson,
Nordman, Goldsmith,  Daines  (spring), Daines  (fall)],  the slope was 0.9 ± 0.4.   For four popu-
lations of  children  [Johnson  (male),  Johnson (female), Yankel, Goldsmith], the slope estimate
was 1.3 ±  0.4.   The between-study variance component was not significant for any group so de-
fined,  and  when these  groups  were pooled and  combined with the  Griffin  subjects,  the slope
estimate for all subjects was 1.2 ± 0.2.
     The Azar  slope  estimate  was not combined with the experimental estimates because of the
lack of control on non-inhalation exposures.   Similarly, the other population studies in Table
11-35 were  not pooled because of the uncertainty about both  inhalation and non-inhalation lead
exposures.  These  studies,  as  a group, have lower slope estimates than the individual experi-
mental  studies.
     There  are  no  experimental inhalation studies on adult  females or on children.  The inha-
lation  slope  for  women  should be  roughly  the  same as that for men, assuming proportionally
smaller  air intake  and blood  volume.   The assumption of proportional  size  is less plausible
for  children.   Slope  estimates  for children from population studies  have  been used in which
some  other important  covariates  of lead  absorption  were  controlled or measured,  e.g., age,
sex,  and  dust exposure in  the environment or on the  hands.  Inhalation slopes were estimated
for  the studies of  Angle and  Mclntire  (1.92 ± 0.60),  Roels (2.46 ± 0.58), and Yankel et al.
(1.53  ± 0.064).  The standard  error of the Yankel  study is  extremely  low and a weighted pooled
slope  estimate for  children  would reflect  essentially that  study alone.  In  this case the
small  standard  error estimate  is attributable to  the very large  range of air lead exposures of
children  in the Silver Valley (up  to  22 ug/m3).   The  relationship  is  in  fact  not  linear, but
increases  more rapidly in  the upper range of air lead exposures.   The  slope estimate at  lower
air  lead concentrations  may  not wholly  reflect uncertainty about  the  shape  of the curve at
higher concentrations.  The median  slope  of  the three  studies  is 1.92.
      This  estimate was not  combined with  the child population  studies of Johnson  or Goldsmith.
The  Johnson study slope  estimate  used air lead measured at only two sites  and is  sensitive  to
assumptions about data outliers (Snee,  1981),  which adds a large non-statistical  uncertainty
to the slope estimate.   The Goldsmith  slope estimate for  children  (2.0  ± 0.65)  is close  to
the  estimate derived  above, but was not used due to  non-statistical  uncertainties about blood
 lead collection and storage.
                                            11-105

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     One can summarize the situation briefly:


     (1)  The experimental studies at lower air lead levels, 3.2 (jg/m3 or less, and lower
          blood levels, typically 30 ug/dl or less, have linear blood lead inhalation rela-
          tionships with slopes p. of 0-3.6 for most subjects.   A typical value of 1.64 ±
          0.22 may be assumed for adults.

     (2)  Population cross-sectional  studies  at lower air lead and blood lead levels are
          approximately  linear with  slopes  p  of  0.8-2.0 for  inhalation contributions.

     (3)  Cross-sectional studies  in  occupational  exposures in which air lead levels are
          higher (much above 10 (jg/m3) anc' blood lead levels are higher (above 40 ug/dl),
          show a much more shallow linear blood lead inhalation relation.  The slope p is
          in the range 0.03-0.2.

     (4)  Cross-sectional and  experimental  studies at levels of air  lead somewhat above
          the higher ambient exposures (9-36 \jg/n\3) and blood leads of 30-40 (jg/dl can be
          described  either  by  a  nonlinear  relationship  with  decreasing slope or  by a
          linear  relationship  with intermediate  slope,  approximately p  =  0.5.   Several
          biological mechanisms for these differences have been discussed (Hammond et al.,
          1981; O'Flaherty et al., 1982; Chamberlain, 1983; Chamberlain and Heard, 1981).
          Since no explanation for the decrease in steepness of the blood lead inhalation
          response  to  higher air  lead  levels  has been generally  accepted  at this time,
          there is  little basis on which to select an interpolation formula from low air
          lead  to  high air  lead  exposures.   The  increased steepness of the inhalation
          curve  for the  Silver  Valley/  Kellogg  study  is  inconsistent with  the other
          studies  presented.   It may be  that  smelter situations are unique  and must be
          analyzed  differently, or it may be that the  curvature  is the  result of impre-
          cise exposure estimates.

     (5)  The blood  lead  inhalation  slope for children is  at  least as steep as that for
          adults, with a median estimate of 1.92 from three major studies (Yankel et al.,
          1977; Roels et al., 1980; Angle and Mclntire, 1979).

     (6)  Slopes which include both direct (inhalation) and indirect (via soil, dust, etc.)
          air lead  contributions  are  necessarily higher than those estimates for inhaled
          air  lead  alone.   Studies  using  aggregate analyses  (direct and  indirect air
          impacts)  typically yield slope values in the range 3-5,  about double the slope
          due to inhaled air lead alone.


11.4.2  Dietary Lead Exposures Including Water

     Another major  pathway  by  which lead enters the  body  is by ingestion.   As noted in Chap-

ters 6  and  7,  the recycling of both natural  and anthropogenic lead in the environment results
in a certain  amount of lead being found  in  the food we eat and  the water we drink.  Both of

these environmental media provide external exposures to lead that ultimately increase internal

exposure levels in addition  to internal  lead elevations caused by direct inhalation of lead in

air.   The  Nutrition Foundation (1982)  report presents a compilation of recent estimates of
                                           11-106

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dietary intakes  in  the United States and  Canada.   The report gives  information  on  relation-
ships between  external  lead exposures and  blood  lead levels.  The mechanisms  and  absorption
rates for uptake  of  lead  from food and  water are  described in Chapter 10.   The purpose of the
present section  is  to establish  (analogously  to Section  11.4.1)  the  relationships  between
external exposures to  lead  in food and drinking  water and resulting internal lead exposures.
     The establishment of these  external  and internal lead exposure relationships for the en-
vironmental  media of  food  and water, however, is  complicated by the inherent relationship be-
tween  food  and  water.   First,  the  largest component  of  food by  weight is  water.   Second,
drinking water is  used for  food preparation  and,  as  shown in Section 7.3.1.3, provides addi-
tional  quantities of  lead  that are appropriately  included  as part of external lead exposures
ascribed to food.   Third,  the quantity of  liquid consumed daily by people varies greatly and
substitutions are made among different sources of liquid:  soft drinks, coffee, tea, etc., and
drinking water.   Therefore,  at best, any  values  of  water lead intake  used  in drinking water
calculations are somewhat problematic.
     A  further troubling  fact is the influence of lead in the construction of plumbing facil-
ities.  Studies discussed in Section 7.3.2.1.3 have pointed out the substantial lead exposures
in  drinking water that can result from the use of lead pipes in the delivery of water to the
tap.   This  problem is thought to occur only  in limited geographic areas in the United States.
However, where the problem is  present, substantial water lead exposures  occur.  In these areas
one  cannot make a simplifying  assumption that the  lead concentration  in  the water component of
food is similar  to  that of  drinking water;  rather,   one  is  adding  a potentially major addi-
tional  lead exposure  to the equation.
      Studies  that have attempted  to  relate blood lead  levels  to  ingested lead exposure have
used three  approaches to estimate the external lead  exposures  involved:   duplicate meals, fe-
cal  lead determinations, and  market basket  surveys.   In  duplicate diet  studies, estimated lead
exposures are assessed by having  subjects  put  aside  a duplicate of what they eat at each meal
for a limited  period  of time.  These  studies  probably provide a good, but  short term,  estimate
of  the ingestion  intake.  However, the procedures available  to  analyze  lead  in  foods have his-
torically been subject to inaccuracies.   Hence,  the  total  validity  of  data  from  this  approach
has not been  established.   Studies  relying on the use  of fecal  lead determinations  face two
major difficulties.   First, this  procedure involves  the use of a  mathematical  estimate  of the
overall absorption coefficient  from  the  gut to estimate the external  exposure.   Until recent-
 ly, these estimates  have not been well documented and were assumed to  be  relatively constant.
Newer data  discussed  later  show a much wider variability in the  observed absorption coeffici-
ents than was thought to  be true.  These  new  observations  cloud the utility of  studies using
 this method to establish external/internal exposure relationships.   Secondly, it is difficult
 to collect  a  representative sample.
                                           11-107

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     The  last  approach is the market  basket  approach.   This approach uses  the  observed lead
concentrations for a  variety  of  food items coupled  with  estimated dietary consumption of the
particular  food  items.   Some  studies  use national estimates of  typical  consumption patterns
upon which  to  base  the estimated exposures.  Other  studies  actually record the daily dietary
intakes.  This approach  faces  similar analytic problems  to  those found  in the duplicate diet
approach.   It  also  faces the  problem  of getting accurate estimates of  dietary  intakes.   The
most current total diet study (Pennington, 1983) is described in Section  7.3.1.2.
     Exposures to lead  in  the diet are thought to have decreased since the 1940's.   Estimates
from that period  were in the  range of  400-500  ug/day for U.S.  populations.  Khandekar et al.
(1984)  report  a  dietary  intake of lead  to  be 245 ug/day.   This was calculated  from the lead
content  in  different food  groups  and  the  amount of  each  food group consumed  by  an average
resident  of Bombay,  India.   Current estimates  for U.S.  populations are under  100  ug/day for
adults.   Unfortunately,  a good  historical  record regarding the time course  of  dietary expo-
sures  is  not  available.   In the years  1978-1982,  efforts have  been made by the American food
canning  industry  in  cooperation  with  the FDA to reduce the lead contamination of canned food.
Data presented in Section  7.3.1.2.5  confirm  the  success  of  this effort.  Seasonal  variations
in blood  lead  might  also be partially  attributable  to seasonal variations in the dietary in-
take  of lead.   The  following evidence  suggests  that this  does  not happen.   Table 11-41 is
taken  from  Human Nutrition   Information  Service  (1983).    The  data suggest  the  following
pattern:  (1)  Consumption of  canned  vegetables  and  fruits  is  much lower  in  the  spring and
summer, much higher in the fall and winter,  which is the opposite of the  pattern of blood lead
level  variations and suggests that the attribution of seasonal changes to gasoline lead may be
an underestimate  of  its  effects.  (2) The  pattern  is  similar for central city, suburban, and
nonmetropolitan  households.  (3)  There  is little  seasonal  variation for  fruit and vegetable
juices and milk,  and a slight increase of soft drink consumption in the summer.  The magnitude
of such variations is too small to account for blood lead.
     The  specific studies available  for review regarding dietary exposures will be organized
into three major divisions:   lead ingestion from typical diets,  lead ingestion from experimen-
tal dietary supplements, and inadvertent lead ingestion from lead plumbing.
11.4.2.1  Lead Ingestion from Typical  Diets.
11.4.2.1.1   Ryu  study  on  infants and toddlers.   Ryu et al.  (1983)  reported  a  study  of four
breast-fed  infants  and 25  formula-fed infants  from  8-196 days  of age.  At  112 days of the
study,  the  formula-fed  infants were  separated  into  subgroups based upon how they were to re-
ceive  their milk:   homogenized whole  cow milk  obtaine'd in  cartons from a local dairy, a com-
mercially available milk-based formula supplied in quart cans,  and homogenized whole cow milk
                                          11-108

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                     TABLE 11-41.   HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION OF CANNED FOODS
                                      (pounds per week)
Food
Canned fruits*
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Canned vegetables*
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Fresh fluid milk
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Processed milk
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Canned veg. juices*
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Canned fruit juices*
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Soft drinks (total)
Central city
Suburban
Nonmetropolitan
Spring

0.65
0.85
0.83

2.37
2.40
2.37

13.44
17.66
15.11

1.14
1.43
1.56

0.39
0.42
0.56

1.34
1.16
1.29

5.50
6.53
5.67
Summer

0.47
0.55
0.62

2.36
2.08
1.94

14.20
17.12
16.17

1.12
1.13
1.36

0.38
0.41
0.38

1.46
1.26
1.22

5.75
6.88
5.89
Fall

0.59
0.84
0.78

2.81
2.57
2.46

14.31
17.38
16.16

1.18
1.10
1.59

0.37
0.54
0.46

1.39
1.25
1.49

5.11
6.22
5.62
Winter

0.74
0.91
0.85

2.83
2.86
2.89

13.75
17.17
16.70

1.30
1.14
1.90

0.35
0.47
0.53

1.41
1.24
1.35

5.35
5.96
5.25
*Commercially canned.
supplied in quart  cans  and heat-treated in the same manner as the commercially available for-
mula.  There were  10,  4,  and 3 infants in each of these groups, respectively.   In addition to
food  concentrations,  data were  collected on  air,  dust, and water  lead.   Hemoglobin  and FEP
were also measured.
                                          11-109

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     The trends in  blood  lead  for the formula-fed  infants  are  shown in Table 11-42.   The  re-
sults  up  to day  112  are averaged  for all  25  infants.   The estimated average intake was  17
ug/day for  this time  period.   After day 112, the  subgroup  of seven infants fed either canned
formula or heat-treated cow's milk in cans (higher lead),  had average estimated lead intake of
61 ug/day.   This  resulted  in  an increase  of 7.2  ug/dl  in the  average  blood lead  level  in
response to an increase of 45 ug/day in lead intake by day 196.   However,  since the blood  lead
levels in this group had not reached equilibirum by this point,  the slope  calculated from  this
data of 0.16 should be regarded as an underestimate.

 TABLE 11-42.  BLOOD LEAD LEVELS AND LEAD INTAKE VALUES FOR  INFANTS IN THE STUDY OF RYU ET  AL.
Age,
days
8
28
56
84
112

140
168
196
Blood
lead of
combined
group, ug/dl





Lower lead
6.2
7.0
7.2
8.9
5.8
5.1
5.4
6.1









Higher lead
9.3
12.1
14.4
Average lead
intake of
combined group, ug/day
17
17
17
17
17
Lower lead
16
16
16





Higher lead
61
61
61
Source:  Ryu et al. (1983).

11.4.2.1.2  Rabinowitz infant study.  As  part  of a longitudinal study of  the  sources of cur-
rent urban  lead  exposure,  lead was measured in  100  breast milk samples and in  73  samples  of
the  infant  formula used by non-nursing mothers  (Rabinowitz et al., 1985a).  Also,  the  blood
lead levels of  the infants fed these diets were determined at birth and at six  months of age.
Among  the  infants  who were breast-fed, the  lead content of their milks correlated  very well
with their  six-month  blood lead levels (r = 0.42, p = 0.0003).  The mean  lead  content of in-
fant formulas  and breast  milk were not  significantly  different,  nor  was the  blood lead  of
children fed one  or  the other.  Lead levels in maternal  milk correlated poorly  with umbilical
cord blood lead (r = 0.18,  p = 0.10).   Since milk represents much of the diet of young infants
and because breast milk  lead  levels are stable, it is possible to relate blood  lead and daily
dosage in this population.
                                          11-110

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11.4.2.1.3   Rabinowitz  adult  study.   This  study  on  male adults  was  described  in  Section
11.4.1 and in Chapter 10,  where ingestion experiments were analyzed in more detail  (Rabinowitz
et al., 1980).  As  in other studies,  the fraction of ingested stable isotope lead  tracers  ab-
sorbed into the blood was much lower when  lead  was  consumed  with meals  (10.3 ±2.2 percent)
than between meals  (35  ±  13 percent).   Lead  nitrate,  lead sulfide,  and lead cysteine as car-
riers made  little difference.   The much higher absorption of  lead on an empty stomach implies
greater significance  of lead  ingestion  from leaded paint and  from dust and soil  when consumed
between meals, as seems likely to be true for children.
11.4.2.1.4  Hubermont study.  Hubermont et al. (1978) conducted a study of pregnant women  liv-
ing  in  rural  Belgium because  their drinking water was  suspected  of being lead-contaminated.
This area was  known to be  relatively free  of air pollution.   Seventy pregnant women were  re-
cruited and asked to complete a questionnaire.  Information was obtained on lifetime residence
history,  occupational  history, smoking,  and drinking habits.  First  flush  tap  water samples
were collected from each home with the water lead level determined by flameless atomic absorp-
tion spectrophotometry.   Biological  samples for lead determination were taken at delivery.  A
venipuncture blood sample was collected from the mother, as was a fragment of the placenta; an
umbilical cord blood  sample was used to estimate the newborn's blood lead status.
     For  the  entire population, first-flush tap water samples ranged from 0.2 to 1228.5 ug/1.
The  mean  was  109.4, while  the  median was 23.2.  The influence of water  lead on the blood lead
of  the  mother and infants  was  examined  by  categorizing the  subjects on the basis of the lead
level of  the  water  sample, below  or  above  50 pg/1.   Table 11-43 presents the results of this
study.   A significant difference  in  blood  lead  levels of mothers and  newborns  was found for
the  water lead categories.   Placenta lead  levels also  differed  significantly between water
lead  groups.   The  fitted  regression equation of blood lead level  for mothers  is  given in
summary Table 11-51  in  section  11.4.2.4.
11.4.2.1.5   Sherlock studies.   Sherlock  et al.   (1982)  reported a  study from Ayr,  Scotland,
which  considered both  dietary  and  drinking  water  lead  exposures  for  mothers  and children
living  in the area.  In  December,  1980,  water lead  concentrations were  determined from kettle
water  from  114 dwellings  in which the mother  and  child  lived less than  five years.   The adult
women  had venous blood samples taken in early 1981 as  part  of  a European Economic  Community
(EEC)  survey on blood  lead levels.   A  duplicate diet survey was  conducted  on a random sample
of  these  114  women  stratified  by  kettle  water lead levels.
     A  study population of 11  mothers with infants  less than 4  months  of age  agreed to parti-
cipate  in the infant survey.   A stratified  sample of 31  of 47 adult  volunteers was selected to
participate in the  duplicate  diet study.
     Venous blood samples  for  adults were  analyzed  for  lead immediately before the duplicate
diet study;  in  some instances  additional  samples  were taken to give  estimates  of long-term
                                           11-111

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  TABLE 11-43.  INFLUENCE OF LEVEL OF LEAD IN WATER ON BLOOD LEAD LEVEL IN BLOOD AND PLACENTA
Comparison
group
Age (years)
Pb-B mother
(ug/di)
Pb-B newborn
(Hg/dl)
Pb placenta
(M9/100 g)
Water Pb
(ug/i)
Water
level
Low**
High***
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Mean
25.6
26.3
10.6
13.8
8.8
12.1
9.7
13.3
11.8
247.4
Median
24
25
9.9
13.1
8.5
11.9
8.2
12.0
6.3
176.8
Range
18-41
20-42
5.1-21.6
5.3-26.3
3.4-24.9
2.9-22.1
4.4-26.9
7.1-28
0.2-43.4
61.5-1228.5
Significance
NS*
<0.005
<0.001
<0.005

Source:  Hubermont et al. (1978)
  *NS means not significant.
 **Water lead <50 ug/1.
***Water lead >50 ug/1.

exposure.  Venous  samples were  taken  from the  infants  immediately after  the  duplicate  diet
week.   Blood  lead levels were  determined by AAS  with a graphite furnace  under  good quality
control.  Two other laboratories analyzed each sample by different methods.   The data reported
are based on the average value of the three methods.
     Dietary intakes  for adults  and children were quite different;  adults  had higher intakes
than children.  Almost  one-third of the adults had  intakes  greater  than 3  mg/week while  only
20 percent of  the infants had that level of intake.  Maximum values were 11  mg/week for adults
and 6  mg/week  for infants.    The observed blood lead values in the dietary  study had the  dis-
tributions shown in Table 11-44.
     Table 11-45  presents the crosstabulation of drinking water lead and blood lead level for
the 114 adult women in the study.  A strong trend of increasing blood lead levels with increa-
sing drinking  water  lead levels  is apparent.   A curvilinear regression function fits the  data
better  than a  linear one.   A similar model  including  weekly dietary intake was fitted to the
data for adults and  infants.   These models are  in summary Tables 11-49  and  11-52 in Section
11.4.2.4.
                                          11-112

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              TABLE 11-44.  DISTRIBUTIONS OF OBSERVED BLOOD LEAD VALUES IN AYR

Groups
Adults
Infants
EEC directive

>20 ug/dl
55%
100%
50%
Blood lead values
>30 |jg/dl
16%
55%
10%

>35 ug/dl
2%
36%
2%
                 TABLE  11-45.  BLOOD LEAD AND KETTLE WATER  LEAD CONCENTRATIONS
                                 FOR ADULT WOMEN  LIVING  IN  AYR
Water lead, ug/1
Blood lead,
ug per 100 ml
<10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
>40
Total
11-
<10 99
8 5
4 7
1 3
4




13 19
100-
299

3
12
9
2
2


28
300-
499

2
3
7
4
1
1
1
19
500-
999


3
5
4
2
1
4
19
1000-
1499




2
2
1
3
8

>1500

1



3
1
3
8

Total
13
17
22
25
12
10
4
11
114
     The researchers also developed a linear model  for the relationship between dietary intake
and drinking water lead.   The equation indicates that, when the concentration of lead in water
was  about  100 ug/1,  approximately equal amounts  of lead would  be contributed  to  the total
week's  intake  from  water and diet; as water lead concentrations increase from this value,  the
principal contributor would be water.
     A  follow-up study on this same population was made from December, 1982 to March, 1983, as
reported by  Sherlock  et  al.  (1984).  In  April  1981, the pH of the water supply was increased
from  pH 4.5-5.5 to about pH 8.5 by the  addition  of lime.   The result was  a decrease in the
median  blood  lead  level  from 21 to  13  ug/dl.   The  combined data set was used to give the re-
gression equation shown  in Table 11-52 in Section 11.4.2.4.
                                          11-113

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11.4.2.1.6  Central Directorate on Environmental Pollution study.  The  United Kingdom Central
Directorate on  Environmental  Pollution  (1982)  studied the  relationship between  blood  lead
level and dietary and drinking water lead in infants.  Subjects were first recruited by solic-
iting participation of all pregnant women attending two hospitals and residing within a single
water  distribution  system.   Each  woman gave a  blood  sample and a  kettle water  sample.   The
women were  then  allocated to one of six  potential  study groups based on the concentration of
water lead.
     At  the start  of  the  second  phase  (duplicate diet)  a  total  of 155  women volunteered
(roughly  17-32  per water  lead level  category).   During the course of the  study,  24 mothers
withdrew; thus a final study population of 131 mothers was achieved.
     When the children  reached 13 weeks  of  age,  duplicate  diet for a week's duration was ob-
tained  for each  infant.   Great  care  was exerted  to  allow  collection of  the most accurate
sample possible.   Also,  at this time a variety of water samples were collected for subsequent
lead analysis.
     Blood  samples  were collected by venipuncture from mothers before birth, at delivery, and
about  the  time  of the duplicate diet.   A specimen was also collected by venipuncture from the
infant at  the  time of the duplicate diet.  The blood samples were analyzed  for lead by graph-
ite furnace AAS with deuterium background correction.  Breast milk was analyzed analogously to
the blood  sample  after pretreatment for the different matrix.  Water samples were analyzed by
flame  atomic absorption;  food samples  were  analyzed after  ashing by flameless atomic absorp-
tion.
     Both  mothers  and  infants  exhibited increased lead absorption  by  EEC (European Economic
Community)  directive  standards.    The infants  generally  had  higher blood leads  than the
mothers.   However,  in  neither  population was there evidence  of substantial lead absorption.
     Water  lead  samples ranged from less than 50 to greater than 500 ug/1, which was expected
due  to the sampling  procedure used.   First  draw  samples  tended to be higher  than the other
samples.  The composite kettle samples and the random daytime samples taken  during the dupli-
cate diet  week  were reasonably similar:  59 percent of the composite kettle  samples contained
up to 150 ug/1, as did 66 percent of the  random daytime samples.
     Lead  intakes  from breast  milk were  lower  than from duplicate diets.   The  lead intakes
estimated by duplicate  diet analysis ranged  from  0.04  to  3.4 mg/week; about 1/4 of the diets
had intakes less than 1.0 mg/week.  The minimum intakes were truncated, as the limit of detec-
tion for lead was 10 ug/kg and the most common diets weighed 4 kg or more.
     The central  directorate data were reanalyzed by  Lacey  et al.   (1985).   Results from both
Lacey  et al.  (1985)  and the  United Kingdom Central  Directorate on  Environmental Pollution
(1982) are  in  Tables  11-49 to 11-52  in  section 11.4.2.4.   The  authors  used both linear and
cube root  models to  describe their data.   Models  relating  blood   lead  levels  of infants to
                                          11-114

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dietary intake are  in  Table  11-49 in Section 11.4.2.4.   Models relating blood lead levels  for
both mothers and infants to first flush water lead levels and running water lead levels  are in
Tables 11-51 and 11-52 in Section 11.4.2.4 respectively.   In most cases, the nonlinear (cubic)
model provided the  best fit.   Figure 11-22 illustrates  the fit for the two models showing  in-
fant blood lead levels versus dietary lead intake.
11.4.2.1.7  Pocock  study.  Pocock  et al.  (1983) have recently reported an important study  ex-
amining the  relationship in  middle-aged men of  blood  lead level and water  lead  levels.   Men
aged  40-59 were  randomly selected  from  the  registers  of general  practices located in 24
British towns.  Data were obtained between January, 1978 and June, 1980.
     Blood lead  levels  were  obtained on 95  percent  of  the 7378 men originally selected.   The
levels were determined by microatomic absorption spectrophotometry.  A strict internal and  ex-
ternal quality  control  program was maintained on the blood lead determinations for the entire
study period.   Tap  water samples were obtained on a small subset of the population.  About 40
men were chosen in  each  of the 24 towns to participate in the water study.  First draw samples
were  collected  by the subjects themselves,  while  a  grab daytime and flushed sample were col-
lected by  study personnel.   These samples were  analyzed by several methods of AAS  depending
on the concentration range of  the samples.
      Blood  lead and water  lead levels were available  for a total of  910  men from 24 towns.
Table  11-46  displays  the association between  blood  lead levels and water  lead levels.  Blood
lead  levels nearly  doubled from the  lowest to  highest water  lead category.
      The  investigators  analyzed their data  further  by  examining the form  of  the  relationship
between blood and water lead.  This  was  done  by categorizing  the water  lead  levels  into  nine
intervals  of first draw levels.  The  first group (<6 M9/D  nad  473  men while the  remaining
eight intervals had *  50 men  each.   Figure 11-23 presents  the results of  this analysis.  The
authors  state,  "The  impression is  that  mean blood  lead increases  linearly  with first  draw
water lead except  for  the  last  group with very  high  water concentrations."  The regression
line shown in  the  figure is  only for  men with water lead  levels  less  than 100 ug/1, and is
given in  Table  11-51  in Section 11.4.2.4.   A separate regression was  done for the  49  men whose
water lead exposures were greater than 100 MS/I-   The  slope  for the second line was  only 23
percent of the  first  line.
      Additional  analyses were  done examining the possible influence of water hardness on blood
 lead levels.   A strong negative relationship (r = 0.67)  was found between blood lead  level and
water hardness.  There is  a  possibility that  the  relationship between blood lead  and water
 hardness  was due to  the relationship of water  hardness  and water lead.    It  was  found that a
 relationship with blood lead and water hardness still  existed after controlling for water  lead
 level.
                                           11-115

-------
E
8
t«»
1
Q

§
00
    10
                  1.0
        2.0

LEAD INTAKE, mg/wk
3.0
    Figure 11 -22. Blood lead concentrations versus weekly lead
    intake for bottle-fed infants. (Numbers are coincidental points.)

    Source: United Kingdom Central Directorate on Environmental
    Pollution (1982).
                           11-116

-------
                      TABLE 11-46.  RELATIONSHIP OF BLOOD  LEAD
             AND WATER  LEAD IN 910 MEN AGED 40-59  FROM  24  BRITISH TOWNS
First draw
water lead,
Mg/i
<50
50-99
100-299
£300
Total
Number of
men
789
69
40
12
910
Mean blood
lead
(M9/dl)
15.06
18.90
21.65
34.19
15.89
Standard
deviation
5.53
7.31
7.83
15.27
6.57
% with
blood lead
>35 pg/dl
0.7
4.3
7.5
41.7
1.9
Daytime
water lead,
H9/1
<50
50-99
100-299
£300
Total
845
36
23
5
909
15.31
19.62
24.78
39.78
15.85
5.64
7.89
9.68
15.87
6.44
0.7
8.3
17.4
60.0
1.8
Source:   Pocock et al.  (1983).
                                           11-117

-------
            1.25


             1.2

             1.0
           §. 0.9

          O*
          O

          O 0.8
             0.7
              o
                           50
100
320
                      FIRST DRAW WATER LEAD, ng/l
350
               imiiii         i        —-
                 61 52
              473 60  51 50  65     49        49
Figure 11-23. Mean blood lead for men grouped by first draw water concentra-
tion.

Source: Pocock et al. (1983).
                                  11-118

-------
     The authors come to  the  following conclusion regarding the slope  of the  relationship  be-
tween blood lead and water lead:

     This  study  confirms  that the  relation  is  not linear at higher levels.   Previous
     research had suggested a  power function relationship—for  example,  blood lead in-
     creases as  the cube  root of water  lead.   Our data,  based on a large and  more
     representative sample of  men,  do not agree with such a curve,  particularly at low
     concentrations of water lead.

11.4.2.1.8  Thomas study.   Thomas et al.  (1981)  studied blood lead levels among residents  of a
hardwater  area  in the  United  Kingdom.  They recruited  a random sample of voters  in an  area
with 320 ppm calcium hardness.  A tap water  sample  using first draw water was requested  and
was  returned by 70  percent  of  the  selected voters.   Sixty women in the dwellings with  the
highest water blood level and 30 randomly selected women in dwellings in the lowest water lead
levels  were  selected for a blood lead determination;  84 women  responded.  Blood  lead  levels
were stratified  by  water lead levels  and were  compared to data gathered elsewhere from soft-
water  areas.   Substantial differences were  noted, with the residents of  the hardwater areas
having meaningfully lower blood lead levels.   This is true even for residents in the hardwater
area with  the lowest (<0.05 mg/1) water lead level.
11.4.2.1.9   Elwood  study.   Elwood et al.  (1983) have investigated the potential of the degree
of water  hardness  to influence the relationship between  lead concentrations in drinking water
and  blood  lead  level.   An experimental  model  was employed wherein two  groups of women were
studied  both before and  after the  water hardness  of  the  drinking water for one  group  was
changed  to 100  from 10 mg/1.  Postconversion blood  lead levels were obtained 6 months later.
     Mean  water lead levels  fell slightly after  the  change in the area  where the water was
hardened,  whereas  it increased slightly  in the central area.   Blood  lead levels decreased in
the  experimental areas while increasing in the  central  area.  The decline in blood lead levels
was  greater  with increasing initial water lead  levels.
11.4.2.2.   Lead  Ingestion  from Experimental Dietary  Supplements.
11.4.2.2.1  Kehoe study.   Experimental studies have been  used to  study  the relationship of
food lead  and blood  lead  levels.  Gross (1981)  reanalyzed the results  of Kehoe.  Oral doses of
lead included 300, 1000, 2000,  and  3000  ug/day.   Each  subject  had a control period and an  ex-
posure period.   Some also had a post-exposure  period.   Blood  samples were collected by veni-
puncture  and analyzed  by spectrographic and  dithizone  methods  during  the study years.   The
ingestion  doses were in addition to  the  regular ingestion  of lead  from  the diet.   The  results
of the dose response  analysis  for blood lead concentrations  are summarized  in Table 11-47.
                                           11-119

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            TABLE 11-47.   DOSE-RESPONSE ANALYSIS FOR BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN THE KEHOE STUDY
                                     AS ANALYZED BY GROSS (1981)
Difference from control1
Subject
SW
MR
EB
IF2
Added lead,
(jg/day
300
1000
2000
3000
Diet,
|jg/day
308
1072
1848
2981
Feces,
|jg/day
208
984
1547
2581
Urine,
pg/day
3
55
80
49
Blood,
Mg/dl
-1
17
33
19
JEach subject servced as his own control.
2Subject did not reach equilibrium.

     Both  subjects  MR and  EB  had  long  exposure  periods,  during which  time  their  blood lead
levels  increased to  equilibrium averages of 53 and  60 pg/dl,  respectively.  The exposure for
IF was  terminated  early  before his blood lead had achieved equilibrium.   No response in blood
lead was seen for subject SW whose supplement was  300 |jg/day.
11.4.2.2.2  Stuik study.   Stuik (1974) administered lead acetate in two dose levels (20 and 30
ug/kg-day)  to  volunteers.   The study was conducted  in two phases.  The  first  phase  was con-
ducted  for  21  days during February-March, 1973.   Five males  and five females aged 18-26 were
exposed  to  a daily  dose of 20 ug Pb2+/kg.   Five males  served  as controls.   In  the second
phase,  five females  received  20  ug  Pb2+/kg  and  five males  received  30 ug  Pb2+/kg.   Five
females  served  as  controls.   Pre-exposure  values were established during  the  week preceding
the exposures in both phases.  Blood lead levels were determined by Hessel's method.
     The results of  phase I for blood  lead  levels are presented in Figure 11-24.  Blood lead
levels  appeared to  achieve  an equilibrium after  17  days  of exposure.   Male blood lead levels
went from 20.6  to  40.9 (jg/g while  females  went from 12.7 to  30.4  ug/g.   The males seemed to
respond more to the same body weight dose.
     In phase  II,  males  were exposed to a higher lead dose (30 ug/kg-day).   Figure 11-25 dis-
plays these  results.   Male  blood lead rose  higher than in the first  study (46.2 versus 40.9
ug/g); furthermore, there was no indication of a leveling off.   Females also achieved a higher
blood  lead   level  (41.3   versus 30.4 ug/dl), which  the author could  not  explain.   The pre-
exposure level,  however, was  higher for the  second phase than the first  phase (12.7 versus
17.3 pg/g).
                                          11-120

-------
   500
 II       I   I
- CONTROL GROUP
• EXPOSED MALE SUBJECTS. 20 ug'kg'day
> EXPOSED FEMALE SUBJECTS: 20 Mfl'kg'day
a
a
CD  300
£
   100
  /
 /.	
                            • Pb EXPOSURE-
                    1   1
                                           .
                                                  .
                                           Ca EDTA
                                          n        •
                                          .MALE GROUP
 ^Ca  EDTA ^

FtMALE GROUP .
I           i
                   13      8  10     IS 17     22        29 31

                                               DAYS


                           Figure 11-24. Average PbB levels, Exp. I.


                           Source:  Stuik (1974).
                                                      38
           46
           800 —
        1
           300 —
           100 —
II II II II
i CONTROL GROUP
— _ — _ EXPOSED MALE SUBJECTS: 30 -g kg 'day
— . . _ EXPOSED FEMALE SUBJECTS: 20 ug/kg'day
s'*ls''~ ^
/"""" _.-^>*"*"
<'>
"2^^-^^ ^-^^
II II II II
•20 47 11 14 18 21
DAYS
I I I
\ ~~
"*'""^_
— v
Ca EDTA
1 i MALE GROUP i
26 27 34
                           Figure 11-25. Average PbB levels, Exp. II.

                           Source: Stuik (1974).

-------
11.4.2.2.3  Cools study.   Cools et al.  (1976) extended the research of Stuik (1974) by random-
ly assigning 21 male subjects to two groups.   The experimental  group was to receive a 30  (jg/kg
body weight dose  of oral  lead acetate for a period long enough to achieve a blood lead  level
of 30.0 M9/9>  when  the lead dose would  be adjusted downward to attempt to  maintain the sub-
jects at a blood lead level  of 40.0 ug/g.  The other group received a placebo.
     In the pre-exposure  phase,  blood  lead levels were measured three times, while during ex-
posure they were  measured once a week, except for the first three weeks when they were deter-
mined twice a  week.   Blood  lead was measured by flame AAS according to the Westerlund modifi-
cation of Hessel's method.
     Pre-exposure blood  lead values for the 21  volunteers averaged 172 ppb.  The  effect  of
ingestion of  lead acetate  on  blood lead  is displayed  in  Figure 11-26.  After  7  days,  mean
blood  lead  levels  had increased  from 17.2  to  26.2 ug/g.   The  time to  reach  a  blood  lead
level of 35.0 pg/g took 15 days on the average (range 7-40 days).
11.4.2.2.4  Schlegel study.   Schlegel and Kufner (1979) report  an experiment in which two sub-
jects received  daily  oral  doses of 5 mg Pb2+ as an aqueous  solution of lead nitrate for  6 and
13 weeks,  respectively.   Blood and  urine  samples  were taken.   Blood lead  uptake (from  16-60
ug/dl in 6  weeks)  and washout were rapid in  subject HS, but less so in subject GK (from  12-29
ug/dl  in  6 weeks).   Time  series  data on other  heme  system  indicators (FEP, ALA-D, ALA-U,
coproporphyrin III) were also reported.
11.4.2.2.5  Chamberlain study.   This study (Chamberlain et al., 1978) was described in Section
11.4.1, and in  Chapter 10.   The ingestion studies on six subjects showed that the gut absorp-
tion of lead  was  much higher when  lead  was  ingested between meals.  There  were  also differ-
ences in absorption of lead chloride and lead sulfide.
11.4.2.3  Inadvertent Lead Ingestion from Lead Plumbing.
11.4.2.3.1  Early studies.   Although the  use  of  lead  piping  has been  largely prohibited  in
recent  construction,  occasional  episodes of  poisoning  from  this  lead source  still occur.
These cases most  frequently involve isolated farms or houses in rural areas, but  a surprising
urban episode was revealed in 1972 when Beattie et al.  (1972a,b) showed the seriousness of the
situation in Glasgow,  Scotland,  which  had very pure,  but soft,  drinking water as its source.
The researchers demonstrated a  clear association between blood  lead levels and inhibition  of
the enzyme ALA-D  in children living in houses with (1) lead water pipes and lead  water tanks,
(2) no  lead water  tank but with more  than 60 ft of lead piping,  and (3)  less than  60  ft  of
lead piping.  The mean lead content of  the  water  as supplied  by the reservoir was 17.9  ug/1;
those taken from  the  faucets of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 934, 239,  and 108 ug/1,  respectively.
                                          11-122

-------
   450 —
£
«n
£
                                               i
  EXPOSED (n

O CONTROLS 
-------
     Another English study (Crawford and Crawford, 1969) showed a clear difference between the
bone lead contents of the populations of Glasgow and London, the latter having a hard, nonsol-
vent water  supply.  In  a study  of 1200  blood  donors in  Belgium  (De Graeve  et al., 1975),
persons  from homes with  lead piping and supplied with corrosive water had significantly higher
blood  lead  levels.
11.4.2.3.2   Moore studies.   Moore  and  colleagues have  reported  on several  studies  relating
blood  lead  levels to water lead  levels.   Moore  (1977) studied the relationship between blood
lead  level   and  drinking water  lead  in residents  of  a Glasgow  tenement.   The  tenement  was
supplied with  water  from a lead-lined water  tank carried  by lead piping.  Water samples were
collected during the day.  Comparative  water samples  were  collected  from  houses with copper
pipes  and  from  15 lead-plumbed  houses.   Blood samples were taken  wherever possible  from  all
inhabitants  of these houses.   The data indicated  that if  a house has lead-lined pipes, it is
almost  impossible to reach the WHO standard  for  lead  in water (100 ug/1).   Linear regression
equations  relating  blood  lead levels to  first  flush  and  running water lead levels  are in
Tables 11-51 and  11-52 in Section 11.4.2.4.
     Moore  (1977) also  reported the analysis of blood lead  and water lead data collected over
a four-year period for different sectors of the Scottish population.  The combined data showed
consistent  increases in blood  lead levels as  a  function  of  first draw water  lead,  but  the
equation was  nonlinear  at the higher range.  The water lead values were as high as 2000 ug/1.
The  fitted  regression equation  for the 949  subjects  is in Table  11-51  in Section 11.4.2.4.
     Moore  et  al. (1981a,b)  reported  a study  of the  effectiveness  of  control  measures  for
plumbosolvent  water  supplies.   In  autumn  and winter  of 1977, they studied  236  mothers aged
17-37  in a  postnatal  ward of  a hospital  in Glasgow with  no historical  occupational  expo-
sure.  Blood  lead and  tap water  samples from the home were analyzed  for lead by AAS under a
quality control program.
     A  skewed distribution of blood  lead levels was  obtained  with  a  median value  of 16.6
ug/dl; 3 percent of  the values exceeded 41 ug/dl.  The geometric mean was 14.5 ug/dl.   A cur-
vilinear relationship between blood lead level and water lead level  was found.   The log of  the
maternal blood lead varied as the cube root of both first flush and running water lead concen-
trations. In  Moore  et al.  (1979),  further details regarding this  relationship  are provided.
Figure 11-27 presents the observed relationship between blood lead and water lead.
     In April, 1978, a  closed loop lime dosing system  was  installed.   The pH of the water  was
raised from  6.3  to 7.8.   Before the treatment, more than  50 percent of  random  daytime water
samples exceeded  100 ug/1,  the WHO standard.   After the treatment was implemented, 80 percent
of random samples were  less  than 100 ug/1.  It was found,  however,  that the higher pH was  not
maintained throughout the  distribution  system.   Therefore, in  August,  1980, the pH was raised

                                          11-124

-------
5
3.
O
O

OQ
     235
         25

       24 26  25
24
                                                                   NO  IN

                                                                   GROUP
        Figure 11 -27. Cube root regression of blood lead on first flush water

        lead. This shows mean ± S.D. of blood lead for pregnant women

        grouped in 7 intervals of first flush water lead.
        Source: Moore et al. (1979).
                                   11-125

-------
to 9 at the source, thereby maintaining the tap water at 8.   At this time,  more than  95  percent
of random daytime samples were less than 100 ug/1.
     In the autumn  and  winter of 1980, 475  mothers  from the same hospital  were studied.   The
median blood  lead  was  6.6 ug/dl  and the geometric  mean was  8.1 ug/dl•   Comparison  of the  fre-
quency distributions of  blood lead between these two  blood  samplings  show a remarkable drop.
No other source of lead was thought to account for  the observed change.
     Sherlock  et  al.  (1984) report that water  treatment produced a sharp fall  in water  lead
concentrations and  a decrease in  the median  blood  lead concentrations from 21 to  13  ug/dl.
11.4.2.3.3  Thomas  study.   Thomas  et  al.  (1979) studied women and children  residing  on  two
adjacent housing estates.   One estate was serviced by lead  pipes for plumbing while  the other
was serviced  by  copper  pipe.   In five of the homes in the lead pipe estate,  the lead pipe  had
been replaced with copper pipe.   The source water is soft, acidic, and lead-free.
     Water samples were  collected  from the cold tap in the  kitchen in each house on  three  oc-
casions at two-week  intervals.   The following water samples were  collected:   daytime - first
water out of  tap  at time of visit; running - collected after tap ran moderately for  5 minutes
after the daytime  sample;  and first flush -  first  water out of tap  in  morning (collected by
residents).    Lead was analyzed by  a method  (unspecified  in  report) that was reportedly under
quality control.
     Blood samples were  collected  from adult females  (2.5 ml  venipuncture)  who spent most of
the time  in  the  home and from the  youngest child (capillary sample).   Blood samples  were  ana-
lyzed for lead by  a quality-controlled unspecified method.   Blood  lead levels were  higher in
the residents of the lead  estate   homes  than in the  residents of  the copper  estate  homes.
Median levels  for  adult  females  were 39 and  14.5  ug/dl  for the lead and copper estate  homes
respectively.   Likewise,  children's blood  lead  levels were 37 and 16.6  M9/dl,  respectively.
Water lead  levels  were  substantially higher for the  lead estate than for the  copper estate.
This was true for all three water samples.
     The researchers then monitored the  effectiveness of replacing the  lead pipe  on reducing
both exposure  to  lead  in drinking  water and,  ultimately, blood lead levels.   This monitoring
was done  by  examining  subsamples  of adult  females  for  up  to 9 months after  the change  was
implemented.   Water lead levels became indistinguishable from those found in the copper  estate
homes.   Blood lead levels  declined about 30  percent after 3-4  months and  50 percent at 6
and 9 months.  At  6 months the blood  lead  levels  reached those of women living in the  copper
estates.   A  small  subgroup  of copper estate  females  was also  followed during  this  time.   No
decline was  noted  among them.  Therefore, it was  very likely  that the observed reduction  in
blood lead levels among  the other women was due to  the changed  piping.
                                          11-126

-------
     The researchers then analyzed  the  form of the relationship between  blood  lead  levels  and
water lead  levels.   They  tried several  different shapes for the regression  line.  Curvilinear
models provided better fits.   Figure 11-28 depicts the scatter diagram of blood lead and  water
lead.  An EPA analysis of the data is in Table 11-51 in Section 11.4.2.4.
     A later publication  by  Thomas  (1980) extended his earlier analysis.  This more extensive
analysis was limited  to  lead estate residents.   Subjects who  did  not consume  the first  drawn
water from the tap  had  significantly lower blood lead levels than  those who  did (10.4  pg/dl
difference).   No  gradient was noted  in  blood lead levels with  increasing  water  consumption.
Furthermore, no gradient  in  blood lead levels was  noted  with  total  beverage consumption (tea
ingestion frequency).
11.4.2.3.4  Worth study.   In Boston, Massachusetts, an investigation was  made of water distri-
bution via  lead  pipes.   In  addition to the data on lead in water,  account was  taken of socio-
economic and demographic factors as well as other sources of lead in the  environment (Worth et
al., 1981).  Participants, 771 persons from 383 households, were classified into age groups of
less  than   6,  6-20,  and  greater  than  20  years  of  age  for  analysis.   A  clear association
between water  lead  and blood lead was apparent  (Table 11-48).   For children under  6 years of
age, 34.6  percent of those  consuming water with lead above the U.S. standard of 50  ug/1  had a
blood lead  value  greater than or equal to  35 ug/dl,  whereas only  17.4  percent of  those con-
suming water within the  standard had blood  lead  values of greater than  or equal  to 35 ug/dl.
     Worth  et  al. (1981) have published an extensive regression analysis  of these data.  Blood
lead levels were  found to be significantly related to age, education of head of household,  sex,
and  water  lead exposure.   Of the two types  of water samples taken,  standing  grab  sample  and
running grab sample, the former was shown to be more closely related to blood lead levels than
the  latter.    Regression equations  are  given  in  Tables 11-51  and  11-52  in Section 11.4.2.4.
11.4.2.4  Summary of Dietary Lead Exposures, Including Water.   It is difficult to obtain accu-
rate dose-response  relationships  between  blood lead  levels  and lead levels in food or water.
Dietary  intake must be estimated by duplicate diets or fecal lead determinations.  Water lead
levels can  be  determined with some accuracy, but  the varying amounts of water consumed by dif-
ferent individuals  add to the uncertainty of the  estimated relationships.
     Studies  relating blood lead  levels  to dietary lead  intake are  compared  in  Table 11-49.
Two  studies had  subjects with  relatively high dietary lead  intakes.  In the  Sherlock et al.
(1982) study,  10  of 31 subjects had  lead  intake levels greater  than 300 ug/day.   In the United
Kingdom  Central  Directorate  study (1982),  12 of  110 subjects  had levels  greater than 300
ug/day.   These concentrations are high enough that the slope  is  clearly lower in  this range
than it  is in the  0-100 ug/day  range.   The estimates of  slopes for the cube   root models may
be  overestimates in  the  low range (0-100 ug/day)  for  the reasons discussed  in  section 11.4.

                                          11-127

-------
   4.0
   3.0
3.
Q
Q
O
O
   2.0
   1.0
         MAXIMUM WATER LEAD
       LEVELS ON 'COPPER ESTATE
  MEDIAN WATER LEAD
LEVELS ON 'LEAD' ESTATE
             3«
                                1.0                 2.0

                           FIRST FLUSH WATER LEAD mg liter
                                    3.0
   Figure 11 28.  Relation of blood lead (adult female) to first flush water
   lead in combined estates. (Numbers are coincidental points: 9  = 9 or
   more.) Curve a, present data; curve b, data of Moore at af. (1979).
                                 11-128

-------
                  TABLE 11-48.   BLOOD LEAD LEVELS  OF  771 PERSONS  IN  RELATION
                       TO LEAD  CONTENT OF DRINKING WATER,  BOSTON,  MA
Persons consuming water (standing grab samples)
Blood lead
levels, ug/dl
<35
>35
Total
<50
No.
622
61
683
ug Pb/1
Percent
91
9
100
£50
No.
68
20
88
IJ^Pb/l
Percent
77.3
22.7
100.0
Total
690
81
771
X2 = 14.35; df = 1.

Source:  Worth et al.  (1981).

Conversely,  the  linear equation is  probably  an underestimate.   The slope  from  the Ryu study
was estimated  directly  from changes in infants and is the best estimate available.  The esti-
mates for adults are more accurately estimated from the experimental studies.
     The experimental studies  are  summarized in Table 11-50.  Most of the dietary intake sup-
plements were  so  high that many of  the  subjects  had blood lead concentrations much in excess
of  30  ug/dl  for a considerable part of  the experiment.   Blood lead levels  thus may not com-
pletely reflect lead exposure, due to the previously noted nonlinearity of blood lead response
at  high exposures.  The slope estimates for adult dietary intake are about 0.02 ug/dl increase
in  blood  lead per ug/day  intake,  but  consideration of blood lead  kinetics  may  increase this
value  greatly.   Such values  are  a  bit  lower than those estimated  from  the adult population
studies extrapolated  to typical  dietary intakes  in  Table  11-49,  about 0.05 ug/dl per ug/day.
The value  for  infants is much larger.
     The studies  relating  first flush and  running  water  lead levels to blood lead levels are
in  Tables  11-51 and 11-52,  respectively.  Many of the authors chose to fit cube root models to
their  data,  although polynomial  and logarithmic models  were also  used.   Unfortunately, the
form  of the  model  greatly influences  the  estimated contributions to  blood lead levels from
relatively  low water  lead concentrations.   As  indicated in section 11.4, the models producing
high  estimated contributions  are the cube  root models and the logarithmic models.  All others
are polynomial models,  either linear, quadratic, or cubic.  The slopes of these models tend to
be  relatively constant  at  the origin.
                                           11-129

-------
                                      TABLE 11-49.  STUDIES RELATING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS (ug/dl) TO DIETARY INTAKES (ug/day)



Study
Sherlock et al.
(1982) study of
31 adult women
in Ayr
Sherlock et al.
i- (1982) study of
7* infants in Ayr
>- combined with U.K.
^ Central Directorate
Study
U.K. Central
Directorate
(19B2) Study
of Infants in
Glasgow



Model
Analysis Model 82 D.F.
Sherlock et al. PbB = -1.4 + 3.6 ^~PbD~ 0.52 2
(1982)


Sherlock et al. PbB = 2.5 + 5.0 ^TED - 2
(1982)




U.K. Central PbB = 17.1 + 0.056(PbD) 0.39 2
Di rectorate or 3 	
on Environmental PbB = 3.9 * 4.6 /TH) 0.43 2
Pollution
(1982)

Estimated
blood
lead at
0 H20 Pb
-1.4



2.5





17.1

3.9


Predicted blood lead
contribution (ug/dl) for
a given dietary intake
(ug/d)
100 200 300
16.7 21.1 24.1



23.2 29.2 33.5





5.6 11.2 16.8

21.4 26.9 30.8





Slope from 100 to 200
ug/d, ug/dl per ug/d
0.034



0.060





O.OB6

0.053


Ryu et al. (1983)
  study of infants
EPA
                    PbB = A + 0.16PbD
                                                                                16.0
32.0      48.0
                                                                                                                  0.16

-------
                                              TABLE 11-50.   STUDIES INVOLVING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS (ug/dl) AND EXPERIMENTAL DIETARY INTAKES
 i
i—*
OJ
Study
Stuik (1974)
Study I
Study II
Cools et al.
(1976)
Schlegel and
Kufner (1979)
Gross (1979)
analysis of
Kehoe's
experiments
* Exposure
Subjects
5 adult male students
5 adult female students
5 adult male students
5 adult female students
5 adult male students
6 adult female students
11 adult males
10 adult males
1 adult male
1 adult male
1 adult male
1 adult male
1 adult male
1 adult male
(ug/d) = Exposure (ug/kg/day)
** Corrected for decrease of 2.2 ug/dl in
*** Assumed
**** Assumed
***** Removed
mean life 40d. This increases
limited absorption of lead.
Exposure
20 ug/kg/day -
20 ug/kg/day -
Controls
20 ug/kg/day
30 ug/kg/day
Controls

21 d.
21 d.
- 21 d.

30 ug/kg/day ~7 days
Control s
50 ug/kg/day - 6 wk.
70 ug/kg/day -13 wk.
300 ug/day
1000 ug/day
2000 ug/day
3000 ug/day
x 70 kg for males,
control males.
slope estimate for


55 kg for

short-tern

Fora of lead
Lead acetate
Lead acetate
Placebo
Lead acetate
Lead acetate
Placebo
Lead acetate
Placebo
Lead nitrate
Lead nitrate
Lead acetate
Lead acetate
Lead acetate
Lead acetate
females. Slope = (Final

studies. Stuik Study I

Blood lead
Initial
20.6
12.7
20.6
17.3
16.1
-17.0
17.2
16.5
12.4

- Initial Blood

would be 0.042,


Fi^al
40.9
30.4
18.4
41.3
46.2
-17.0
26.2
-19.0
64.0
30.4
-1
+17
+33
+19
Lead)/Exposure

Slope,*
per ug
0.017**,
0.018**,
0.022
0.014
0.027***
ug/dl
/d
***
***


Q.014
0.004****
[0]
0.017
0.016
0.006*****
(ug/d).



0.044 respectively for males, females.



from exposure before equilibrium.

-------
                                 TABLE 11-51.  STUDIES RELATING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS (ug/dl) TO FIRST-FLUSH WATER LEAD (ug/1)
















1—1
t~*
1
1— »
CO
re



















Study
Worth et al. (1981) study of 524
subjects in greater Boston. Water
leads (standing water) ranged from
<13 to 1108 MS/I- Blood leads
ranged from 6 to 71.


Moore et al. (1979) study of 232
mothers at delivery In Glasgow.
17* of the water leads were over
300 ug/1.
Hubermont et al. (1978) study of
70 pregnant women in rural Belgium.
Water leads ranged from 0.2 to
1228.5 ug/1. Blood leads ranged
from 5.1 to 26.3 ug/dl.
U.K. Central Directorate (1982)
study of 128 mothers in greater
Glasgow. Water leads ranged from
under <10 to 1060 ug/1. Blood
leads ranged from 2 to 39 ug/dl.
U.K. Central Directorate (1982)
study of 126 infants (as above).
Blood leads ranged from 1 to 51
(jg/dl .

Thomas et al. (1979) study of 115
adult Welsh feules. Water leads
ranged from <10 to 2800 ug/dl.
Blood leads ranged from 5 to 65
ug/dl .
Moore (1977) study of 75 residents
of a Glasgow tenement
Pococfc et al. (1983) study of 7735
•en aged 40-59 in Great Britain.
Water leads restricted to <100 ug/1.
Moore (1984) study of 568
mothers in Scotland.
Analysis
Worth et al. (1981)



EPA


Moore et al. (1979)



Hubermont et al.
(1978)



U.K. Cen. Dir. (1982)
U.K. Cen. Oir. (1982)
Lacey et al. (1985)
EPA

U.K. Cen. Oir. (1982)
J.K. Cen. Oir. (1982)
Lacey et al. (198S)
EPA

EPA




Moore (1977)

Pocock et al. (1983)


Moore (1984)

Model
In (PbB) = 2.729 PbW - 4.699 (PbW)2 *
2.116 (PbW)3 + other terms for age.
sex, education, dust (PbW is in imj/1)

In (PbB) = In (.041 PbW - .000219
(PbW)2 » other terms for age, sex.
education, dust)
PbB = 5.81 + 2.73 {PbW)V3



PbB = 9.62 + 0.756 £n (PbW)




PbB = 13.2 + 1.8 (PbW)1/3
PbB = 18.0 + 0.009 PbW
PbB = 14.0 + 0.062 PbW
In (PbB) = In (14.2 + 0.033
PbW - 0.000031 PbW2)
PbB = 9.4 + 2.4 (rbV)1/3
PbB = 17.1 + 0.018 PbW
PbB = 14.0 + .062 PbW
In (PbB) = In (14.2 * 0.033
PbW - 0.000031 PbW2)
In (PbB) = [14.9 * 0.041 PbW - 0.000012
(PbW)2]



PbB = 15.7 * 0.015 PbW

PbB = 14.48 + 0.062 PbW


PbB = 5.5 + 2.63 (PbW)'/3

R2 '
0.18



0.18


0.44



0.14




0.11
0.05

0.10

0.17
0.12

0.15

0.61




0.34




0.59

Model
D.F.
14



11


2



2




2
2
2
3

2
2
2
3

3




2

2


2

Estimated
blood
lead at
0 H20 ft
20.5



21.1


5.8



8.4*




13.2
18.0
14.0
14.2

9.4
17.1
14.0
12.0

14.9




15.7

14.5


S.5

Predicted blood lead
contribution (+jg/dl ) for
a given water lead (ug/1)
5
0.3



0.2


4.7



2.4




3.1
0.0
0.3
0.2

4.1
0.1
0.3
0.2

0.2




0.1

0.3


4.S

10 25
0.6 1.4



0.4 1.0


5.9 8.0



3.0 3.7




3.9 5.3
0.1 0.2
0.6 1.6
0.3 0.8

5.2 7.0
0.2 0.4
0.6 1.6
0.5 1.2

0.4 1.0




0.2 0.4

0.6 1.-6


5.7 7.7

50
2.7



2.1


10.1



4.2




£.6
0.4
3.1
1.6

e.e
0.9
3.1
2.4

2.0




0.6

3-1


9.7

'Minimum water lead of 0.2 ug/dl used instead of 0.

-------
TABLE 11-52.  STUDIES RELATING BLOOD LEAD LEVELS  (ug/dl)  TO RUNNING WATER LEAD (|jg/l)

Study
Analysis
Worth et al. (1981) study of 524 sub- EPA
jects in greater Boston. Water leads
ranged from <13 to 208 ug/dl. Blood
leads ranged fro* 6 to 71.






i — •
i— *
t
t— '
OJ
GJ
















Worth et a). (1981) study restricted
to 390 subjects aged 20 or older.


Worth et al . (1981) study restricted
to 249 feules ages 20 to 50.


U.K. Central Directorate (1982)
study of 128 Mothers in greater
Glasgow. Water leads ranged froa
under 20 to 720 ug/1. Blood
leads ranged fro 1 to 39
^g/dl.
U.K. Central Directorate (1982)
study of 126 infants (as above).
Blood leads ranged fro* 1 to 51
ug/dl.
Moore (1977) study of 75 residents
of a Glasgow tenement.
Sherlock et al. (1982) study of 114
adult woven. Blood leads ranged
<5 to >61 pg/dl . Kettle water leads
ranged from <10 to >2570 (ig/1.
Sherlock et al. (1984) follow-up
study.
U.S. EPA (1980)
EPA
EPA

U.S. EPA (1980)
EPA
EPA

U.K. Cen.Dir. (1982)
U.K. Cen.Dir. (1982)
EPA



U.K. Cen.Dir. (1982)
U.K. Cen.Oir. (1982)
EPA

Moore (1977)

Sherlock et al.
(1982)
EPA

Sherlock et al.
(1984)
Model
In (PbB) = (0.0425 PbW + other terms for
age, sex, education, and dust)
PbB = 14.33 + 2.541 (PbW)1^
In (PbB) = In (18.6 + 0.071 PbW)
In (PbB) = In (0.073 PbW + other teras
for sex, education, and dust)
PbB = 13.38 + 2.487 (PbW)*/3
In (PbB) = In (17.6 + 0.067 PbW)
In (PbB) = (0.067 PbW + other terns
for education and dust)
PbB = 12.8 + 1.8 (PbW)l/3
PbB = 18.1 + 0.014 PbW
in (PbB) = In (13.4 + 0.071 PbW
-0.000104 PbW2)


PbB = 7.6 + 2.3 (PbW)'/3
PbB = 16.7 + 0.033 PbW
In (PbB) = In (12.3 + 0.068 PbW
-0.000056 PbW2)
PbB = 16.6 + 0.02 PbW

PbB =4.7+2.78 (PbW)'/3

In (PbB) = In (11.5 +_0.,033 PbW
-0.00001 PbW2)
PbB = 5.6+2.62 (PbW)'/3

Model
R2 D.F.
0.153
0.023
0.028
0.153

0.030
0.032
0.091

0.12
0.06
0.16



0.22
0.12
0.20

0.27

0.56

0.55

0.65

10
2
2
7

2
2
6

2
2
3



2
2
3

2

2

3

2

Estimated
blood
lead at
0 HjO Pb
21.
14.
18.
18.

13.
17.
17.

12.
IB.
13.



7.
16.
12.

16.

4.

11.

5.

3
3
6
8

4
6
6

8
1
4



6
7
3

6

7

5

6

Predicted blood lead
contribution (ug/dl) for
a given water lead (M3/D
5 10 25 50
0.2
4.4
0.4
0.4

4.3
0.3
0.3

3.1
0.1
0.4



3.9
0.2
0.3

0.1

4.8

0.2

4.5

0.4
5.4
0.7
0.7

5.4
0.7
0.7

3.9
0.4
0.7



5.0
0.3
0.7

0.2

6.0

O.J

5.6

1.1
7.4
1.8
1.8

7.3
1.7
1.7

5.3
0.4
0.7



6.7
0.8
1.7

0.5

8.1

0.8

7.7

2.1
9.4
3.6
3.7

9.2
3.4
3.4

6.6
0.7
3.3



8.5
1.6
3.3

1.0

10.2

1.6

9.7


-------
     The  problem  of determining  the  most appropriate  model(s)  at  low  water  lead  levels
(0-25 ug/1) is extremely  difficult.   Most data sets estimate a relationship that  is primarily
based on  water  lead  levels  of 50-2000 M9/1.  and the problem becomes essentially  a  low-dose
extrapolation  problem.   The  only  study  which estimates  the relationship  based  primarily  on
lower water  lead  levels  (<100 |jg/1)  is  the  Pocock et al.  (1983) study.  The data  from  this
study,  as  well  as  the  authors themselves,  suggest that  in this  lower  range  of water  lead
levels,  the relationship is linear.  Furthermore, the contributions to  blood lead  levels esti-
mated from  this  study are quite consistent  with the polynomial  models  from the  other  first-
flush water lead studies,  such as Worth  et  al.  (1981),  United Kingdom Central  Directorate  on
Environmental  Pollution (1982), and Thomas et al. (1979).   For these reasons the Pocock  et al.
(1983)  slope  of  0.06 is our best estimate for first-flush water lead studies.   The  slopes for
running water  lead studies are about 1.5 to  2.0 times as large.   The  possibility does  exist,
however, that the higher initial slopes from the  cube-root and logarithmic models  are correct.

11.4.3  Studies Relating Lead in Soil  and Dust to Blood Lead
     The relationship of  exposure  to  lead contained in soil and house  dust, and the amount  of
lead  absorbed  by humans,  particularly children,  has been the subject of scientific  investiga-
tion  for some  time (Duggan and Williams,  1977; Barltrop,  1975; Creason et al.,  1975;  Barltrop
et al.,  1974;  Roberts et al.,  1974;  Sayre et al., 1974; Ter Haar and Aronow, 1974;  Fairey and
Gray, 1970).   Duggan and  Williams (1977) published  an assessment  of  the  risk  of increased
blood lead resulting from the ingestion of lead in dust.  Some of these studies  have been con-
cerned  with the  effects of such exposures (Barltrop,  1975;  Creason et al. , 1975; Barltrop  et
al., 1974; Roberts et al., 1974; Fairey and Gray, 1970); others have concentrated  on the means
by which the lead in soil and dust becomes available to the body (Sayre et al.,  1974;  Ter Haar
and Aronow, 1974; Brunekreef et al.,  1983).
11.4.3.1   Omaha, Nebraska Studies.   The  Omaha  studies  were  described   in  Section  11.4.1.7.
Soil  samples  were  2-inch  cores halfway between the building and the lot line.   Household dust
was collected  from vacuum cleaner bags.   The  following analysis  was provided  courtesy  of Dr.
Angle.   The  model   is also described  in  Section 11.4.1.8,  and provided  the coefficients and
standard errors shown in Table  11-53.
11.4.3.2  Stark  Study.  Stark  et  al.  (1982) used a  large-scale  lead screening  program  in New
Haven,  Connecticut,  during 1974-77 as  a  means of identifying study subjects.  The screening
program  had blood  lead  levels  on  8289 children,  ages  1-72 months,  that  represented  about  80
percent of the total city population in that age group.  From this initial  population,  a much
smaller subset of  children was identified for a  detailed environmental  exposure study.   Using
the classifying  criteria  of  residential  stability and  repeatable  blood  lead levels (multiple

                                          11-134

-------
             TABLE 11-53.   COEFFICIENTS AND STANDARD ERRORS FOR OMAHA STUDY MODEL

                                                                          Asymptotic
Factor                                   Coefficient                    Standard Error
Intercept (ug/dl)                         15.67                             0.398
Air lead (ug/m3)                           1.92                             0.600
Soil lead (mg/g)                           6.80                             0.966
House dust (mg/g)                          7.18                             0.900
Multiple R2 = 0.198
Sample size = 1075
Residual standard deviation = 0.300 (geometric standard deviation = 1.35)
measurements fell into one of three previously defined blood lead concentration categories),  a
potential study  population  of  784 was identified.   Change  of  residence following identifica-
tion and  refusal  to  let sanitarians make  inspections  resulted in 407 children being dropped;
the final study population contained 377 children.
     With the  exception of  dietary lead  intake,  each child's  potential  total  external  lead
exposure  was  assessed.   Information  was  obtained  on  lead in  air,  house dust,  interior and
exterior  paint,  and  soil  near and far  from the  home.   A two  percent sample  of  homes  with
children  having elevated lead levels had tap water  lead levels assessed.  No water lead levels
above  the public health service standard of  50  ug/1  were  found. Socioeconomic variables were
also obtained.
     For  all  children  in the study, micro  blood samples were taken and analyzed  for lead by
AAS  with Delves  cup  attachment.  Blood  lead  values  were found  to  follow  a lognormal distri-
bution.   Study  results  were presented using geometric means and geometric standard deviation.
Among  the various environmental measurements a  number of significant correlation coefficients
were observed.   However,  air lead  levels were  independent  of most of  the other environmental
variables.  Environmental  levels  of lead did not  directly  follow socioeconomic status.  Most
of the  children,  however, were  in the lower socioeconomic groups.
     Multiple regression analyses were performed by Stark et al. (1982) and by EPA*,  using all
926  blood lead  measurements.  Stark and coworkers derived  a log-log model with R2 =  0.11, and
no significant  effects  of race  or age were  found.  EPA fitted  a  linear  exposure model  in  loga-
rithmic form with results shown in  Table 11-54.  Significant differences among age groups were
 *NOTE:   The term EPA analyses  refers  to calculations done at  EPA.   A  brief  discussion  of  the
  methods used  is  contained in Appendix 11-B; more  detailed  information is available  at  EPA
  upon request.
                                           11-135

-------
                    TABLE 11-54.  MULTIPLE REGRESSION MODELS FOR BLOOD LEAD
             OF CHILDREN IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, SEPTEMBER 1974 - FEBRUARY 1977
Regression Coefficients and Standard Errors

Covariate
Summer - winter
Dust, ug/g
Housekeeping quality
Soil near house, ug/g
Soil at curb, ug/g
Paint, child's bedroom
Paint outside house
Paint quality
Race = Black
Residual standard deviations
Multiple R2
Sample size (blood samples)
Ages
0-1 yr
6.33 ± 2.11*
0.00402 ± 0.00170*
4.38 ± 2.02*
0.00223 ± 0.00091*
0.00230 ± 0.00190
0.0189 ± 0.0162
-0.0023 ± 0.0138
0.89 ± 1.71
2.16 ± 2.05
0.1299
0.289
153
Ages
2-3 yr
3.28 ± 1.30*
0.00182 ± 0.00066*
1.75 ± 1.17
-0.00016 ± 0.00042
0.00203 ± 0.00082*
0.0312 ± 0.0066*
0.0200 ± 0.0069*
3.38 ± 0.96*
0.07 ± 1.09
0.0646
0.300
334
Ages
4-7 yr
2.43 ± 1.38*
0.00022 ± 0.00077
-1.61 ± 1.12
0.00060 ± 0.00041
0.00073 ± 0.00079
0.0110 ± 0.0064*
0.0172 ± 0.0067*
4.14 ± 1.15*
5.81 ± 1.00*
0.1052
0.143
439
 "Significant positive coefficient, one-tailed p <0.05.
noted, with considerably improved predictability (R2 = 0.29, 0.30, 0.14 for ages 0-1,  2-3,  and
4-7).  Sex was  not a significant variable, but Race = Black was significant at ages 4-7.   Air
lead  did  not  significantly improve the fit of the model  when other covariates were available,
particularly  dust,  soil,  paint,  and housekeeping  quality.   However,  the  range  of air  lead
levels was  small  (0.7-1.3 ug/m3) and some  of  the inhalation effect may have  been confounded
with dust and soil ingestion.   Seasonal  variations were important at all  ages.
     EPA  analyses  of data from children in  New Haven (Stark et al.,  1982)  found  substantial
evidence for dust and soil lead contributions to blood lead, as well as evidence for increased
blood lead due to decreased household cleanliness.  These factors are somewhat correlated with
each other, but the separate roles of increased concentration and cleanliness could be distin-
guished.    Overall  dust,  soil,  and  paint  lead levels  were not  presented in the published
papers, but data presented by year of housing construction indicate that meaningful lead expo-
sures were present.   Geometric  mean  dust lead  levels  varied from 239 ppm  for houses  built in
                                          11-136

-------
1960-1969 to  756 ppm  for  those built in 1910-1919.   Soil  lead  levels varied from 131 ppm  to

1273 ppm for 1970-1977 and 1920-1929,  respectively.

11.4.3.3  The Silver  Valley/Kellogg Idaho Study.   The Silver Valley/Kellogg  Idaho study was

discussed in  section  11.4.1.6.   Yankel  et  al.  (1977) showed  that  lead in both soil and  dust

was  independently  related to  blood  lead levels.   In their opinion,  1000 ug/g soil lead ex-

posure was  cause  for  concern.   Walter et  al.  (1980) showed that children aged  3 through 6
showed the strongest relationship between soil  lead and  blood lead, but 2-year-olds and 7-year-

olds also had a significant relationship (Table 11-29).   The slope of 1.1 for soil lead (1000

ug/g) to blood lead ((jg/dl) represents an average relationship for all ages.

     The Silver Valley-Kellogg  Idaho  study  also gave some information on house dust lead, al-
though this  data  was  less  complete  than the other  information.   Regression  coefficients for

these data  are in  Tables  11-29  and 11-30.   In  spite of the  correlation  of  these predictors,

significant regression coefficients could be estimated separately for these effects.
11.4.3.4   Blood Lead  Levels of Dutch  City Children.   Brunekreef  et al.  (1983) reported  on a
very  extensive study on  blood  lead  and environmental variables  in native  Dutch  children 4-6

years old.  Three  hundred seventy-one children participated  in  the  blood lead survey and 195

children in the environmental  study as well.  The environmental evaluation was carried out in

April-June  1981  in  the cities of  Rotterdam, the  Hague,  and  Zoeterraeer.  Blood was sampled by

venipuncture.   The environmental variables included:


     In  the home of each  child:
      •   lead  in drinking  water (one first-draw sample)
      •   lead  deposition  indoors, using 2 greased  deposition  plates  per home and  an averaging
         time  of 4 weeks
      •   lead  in floor  dust,  using  a special vacuum cleaner  to take 2  duplicate samples 4 weeks
         apart
      •   lead  in 0-5 cm top  soil  in gardens, if present

      In  living area:
      •   lead  deposition   outdoors  on  5-10 spots  per area  with  an averaging  time of 4 weeks
      •   lead  in street dust using the vacuum cleaner method,  taking 30-40 duplicate samples
         per area on 2  occasions  4  weeks apart

      In  the classroom/school:
      •   lead  in drinking  water  (one running sample)
      •   lead  deposition  indoors, applying 2 plates  in 2 classrooms per school with an averag-
         ing time of 4  weeks
      •   lead  in floor dust, taking 2  duplicate  samples  in 2 different classrooms per school,
         4 weeks apart
      •   lead  in playground dust,  using  the  vacuum cleaner method to  take 4  duplicate samples
         on  two occasions  4  weeks apart
      •   lead  in 0-5 cm top  soil  in playground
      •   lead  on dominant hand  of child,  after playing  outdoors for  at least  30 minutes  in
         school playground on a dry day.


                                          11-137

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     Resulting blood lead levels and environmental  lead measurements are shown in Tables  11-55
to 11-58.
     Multiple  regression  analyses were  done  by Brunekreef et al.   in  logarithmic  rather than
linear form.  The equation is as follows.

     In PbB = 1.882 +  0.163C In  (lead  deposition  outdoors) - 0.003   (year  of construc-
              tion - 1900) + 0.135b (hand dirtiness) - 0.380d (milk consumption) + 0.116b
              (presence of pets)  + 0.1063 (mouthing behavior) -  0.069  (number of rooms)
     ap <0.01.     bp <0.005.     Cp <0.001.      dp <0.0001.                         (11-19)

Multiple  regression analysis   for  combined  inner  city  and suburban  populations  give  the
following:  n = 193, R2 = 0.519, F-total = 28.5.
     Lead  deposition outdoors  was  an  important factor,  but only   in  the  combined sample,  so
confounding  cannot be  ruled out.   This appears,   however,  to  be  the single  most  important
environmental  source,   particularly in  conjunction  with  hand  dirtiness  and with  mouthing
behavior.   Further analyses  of  these  data  are  proposed.   The difference of  about  2  ug/dl
between  city and suburban children (adjusted  for  all other covariates) can  hardly  be attri-
buted  to direct  inhalation  of  ambient  air  lead  which  differs  slightly  from  city  to suburb
(0.12-0.13 ug/m3), and  hence must be  attributed to other pathways.   The large coefficient for
milk reflects the known importance of calcium in lead metabolism and is also related  to mouth-
ing behaviors,  including  pica.   The presence of pets probably increases the exposure to  dirt.
This  study thus  corroborates the importance of various  non-inhalation pathways  for  lead  in
children, particularly the dust-hand-mouth pathway.
     Dr.  Brunekreef  has  (personal  communication,  February 8, 1984) fitted his  data  on  Dutch
children  to a  linear  model  in  logarithmic  form,  as the  Environmental  Protection Agency has
done  elsewhere in the  present  document.  The  regression coefficients  are  all statistically
significant,  and  variables  are  as in his 1983  paper.   The logarithmic linear model  had  vari-
ance s2 =  0.06272  and  R2  =  0.521;  it  thus provided an (insignificantly) better description of
the data than the original log-log model.
11.4.3.5   Charney Study.   Charney et al.  (1980)  conducted  a case control study  of children
ages 1.5-6  with highly elevated and non-elevated blood  lead levels.   Cases and controls were
initially  identified  from  the   lead  screening programs of  two Rochester,  New York,  health
facilities.   Cases  were  defined  as  children who  had at  least  two blood  lead determinations
between 40  and 70 ug/dl and FEP  values  greater than 59 ug/dl during  a 4-month period.   Con-
trols were  children who had blood lead levels equal to or less than 29 ug/dl  and FEP equal  to

                                          11-138

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         TABLE 11-55.   AIR LEAD LEVELS IN THE ROTTERDAM AREA (BRUNEKREEF  ET  AL.,  1983)



                                              Geometric mean air lead level  in pg/m3
yg/
-Ji
  Sampling location                     January-March,  1981               April-June,  1981


Rotterdam (center)                              0.27                             0.22


Maassluis (upwind suburb)                       0.14                             0.10
                 TABLE 11-56.  BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN pg/100 ml FOR CHILDREN WHO

                    PARTICIPATED IN BLOOD SURVEY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY
City
Rotterdam (center)
Rotterdam (suburb)
The Hague
Zoetermeer
Number
54
72
16
53
Geometric
mean
13.1
8.2
11.5
7.9
Percenti le
Range
7-31
5-15
7-21
4-15
50
13
8
11
8
90
19
11
19
11
98
23
14
21
14
 Difference between city and suburb significant (t-test on arithmetic means; p <0.001).
     TABLE 11-57.  SCHOOL VARIABLES (ARITHMETIC MEANS) FOR MEASURED LEAD CONCENTRATIONS
City
Rotterdam3
Rotterdam
Zoetermeer
In
drinking
water,
pg/1
6
1
1
Deposition
indoors,
|jg/m2/d
11.74
4.29
4.59
On
floors,
pg/m2
100
29
40
On
schoolyard,
pg/m2
1120
364
337
In sandy
playground,
mg/kg
6
5
6
alnner city.
Suburb.
                                           11-139

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TABLE 11-58.   RESULTS OF LEAD MEASUREMENTS REPORTED BY BRUNEKREEF ET AL.  (1983)
City

Lead deposition
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
The Hague .
Zoetermeer

Lead on streets
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
The Hague .
Zoetermeer
Lead in garden
Rotterdam^
Rotterdam
The Hague .
Zoetermeer

Lead deposition
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
The Hague b
Zoetermeer

Lead on floors
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam
The Hague ,
Zoetermeer
Concentration
2
outdoors (arithmetic mean, ug/m
643
220
369
125
2
(geometric mean, ug/m )
532
318
428
126
soil (geometric mean, mg/kg)
336
43
278
21
2
Range

/d)
394-957
144-315
317-439
73-278

168-2304
113-1155
81-1339
46-497


6-184
35-527
3-75

indoors (geometric mean, ug/m /d)
2.86 0.10-20.86
0.99
4.32
1.51
2
(geometric mean, ug/m )
81
30
58
32
Lead in drinking water (geometric mean, ug/1)
Rotterdam. 20
Rotterdam
The Hague .
Zoetermeer
2
21
1
0.10-8.40
1.95-27.05
0.48-4.40


5-740
1-410
22-166
3-201
1-126
1-50
1-85
1-4
n


9
6
5
10

37
36
10
21

1
56
6
33

48
67
13
49


43
62
11
50
46
60
16
53
t-test


p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001

p <0.005
p <0.005
p <0.001
p <0.001



p <0.001
p <0.001

p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001


p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.025
p <0.025
p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001
Lead on hands (geometric mean, ug/hand)
Rotterdam.
Rotterdam .
Zoetermeer
alnner city.
Suburb.
12
5
4


1-96
1-21
1-18


44
65
37


p <0.001
p <0.001
p <0.001


                                   11-140

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or  less  than 59 ug/dl.   High-level children  were  selected first and low-level children were
group-matched based  on  age,  area of residence, and  social  class of the family.  Home  visits
were made to  gain  permission as well  as to gather questionnaire and environmental data.  Lead
analyses of the various  environmental  samples were done at several  different laboratories.   No
specification was provided regarding the analytical procedures followed.
     The matching procedure worked well for age, and mother's educational level and  employment
status.  There  were more  blacks in the  high  lead  group as well  as  more Medicaid  support.
These factors were then controlled in the analysis; no differences were noted between the high
and  low  blood lead groups regarding residence  on  high traffic density streets (>10,000 vehi-
cles/ day) or census tract of residence.
     The two  groups differed regarding mean  house dust lead levels (1265  ug/sample  for  high
and  123  pg/sample  for low).   Median values also differed, 149 versus 55 ug/sample.   One-third
of  the  children in the  low  blood  lead group had house dust  lead  samples  with more lead than
those found in  any middle class  home previously investigated.
     There were considerably greater quantities of  lead  on the hands of  the  high  blood  lead
group compared  with the low lead  group  (mean values were 49 and 21 pg/sample, respectively).
Hand  and house dust lead  levels  were correlated  (r =  0.25)  but the relationship  was  not
linear.  At  the low end of  the  house  dust lead values, hand dust was always  low but the con-
verse  was  not  true:   not  every child  exposed to  high  house  dust lead  had  high  hand  dust
levels.
     In  addition to hand and house dust  lead, other  factors differentiated the  high and  low
blood  lead  groups.  Although both  groups  had access  to peeling paint  in  their homes (^2/3),
paint  lead  concentrations exceeding 1 percent were  found more  frequently in the high as oppo-
sed to  the  low group.  Pica (as defined in Chapter  Seven) was more prevalent  in the high lead
group as opposed to  the low  lead group.
     Since  the data  suggested  a muHifactorial  contribution of  lead,  a  multiple  regression
analysis was undertaken.   The  results suggest  that  hand lead  level,  house  dust lead level,
lead  in outside soil, and history of  pica are  very  important in explaining the observed vari-
ance in  blood lead levels.
11.4.3.6  Charleston Studies.  In  one  of the  earliest  investigations regarding  soil  lead expo-
sures,  Fairey  and  Gray  (1970)  conducted a  retrospective study  of  lead  poisoning  cases in
Charleston,  South  Carolina.   Two-inch  core  soil  samples were collected from  170 randomly
selected sites  in  the city and were compared  with  soil  samples  taken from homes where 37 cases
of  lead poisoning had occurred.   The  soil  lead values obtained ranged  from 1 to 12,000 ug/g,
with 75 percent  of the  samples containing   less  than 500 ug/g.   A significant relationship
between soil  lead levels and lead  poisoning cases was established; 500 pg/g  was used as  the

                                           11-141

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outpoint  in  the chi-square contingency analysis.   Fairey  and Gray were the  first  to examine
this complex problem  and,  although their data support the soil lead hypothesis, the relation-
ship between soil lead and blood lead levels could not be quantified.   Furthermore,  because no
other  source  of lead  was  measured, any  positive association  could  have been  confounded by
additional sources of lead, such as paint or air.
     A later study  by Galke et al. (1975), in Charleston,  used a house-to-house survey to re-
cruit 194 black preschool children.  Soil, paint, and air lead exposures, as measured by traf-
fic density, were established for each child.   When the population was divided into  two groups
based on  the median soil lead value (585 ug/g), a 5 ug/dl  difference in blood lead  levels was
obtained.   Soil lead exposure for this population ranged from 9 to 7890 ug/g.   Vehicle traffic
patterns  were  defined by  area  of  recruitment  as being high or  low.   A  multiple  regression
analysis  of the  data showed  that vehicle traffic  patterns,  lead  level  in  exterior  siding
paint, and lead in soil were all independently and significantly related to blood lead levels.
Using the model described in Appendix 11B, the following coefficients and standard errors were
obtained as shown in Table 11-59.

       TABLE 11-59.   COEFFICIENTS AND STANDARD ERRORS FROM MODEL OF CHARLESTON STUDY
Factor
Intercept ()jg/dl)
Pica (1 = eater, 0 = otherwise)
Traffic pattern (1 = high, 0 = low)
Siding paint (mg/cm2)
Door paint (mg/cm2)
Soil lead (mg/g)
Multiple R2 = 0.386
Residual standard deviation = 0.2148 (geometric
Coefficient
25.92
7.23
7.11
0.33
0.18
1.46

standard deviation = 1.24)
Asymptotic
standard error
1.61
1.60
1.48
0.11
0.12
0.59


11.4.3.7  Barltrop Studies.  Barltrop  et al.  (1974) described two studies in England-investi-
gating the  soil  lead  to blood lead  relationship.   In  the first study, children  aged  2 and 3
and  their  mothers from  two  towns chosen  for their soil  lead content  had their  blood  lead
levels determined  from  a capillary sample.   Hair samples were also collected and analyzed for
lead.  Lead content of  the suspended particulate matter  and  soil  was measured.   Soil  samples
for  each  home were a  composite  of  several  2-inch  core  samples  taken from the  yard  of  each
home.  Chemical  analysis  of  the lead content of  soil  in the two  towns showed  a 2- to 3-fold
difference,  with  the  values  in the  control town  about 200-300 (jg/g  compared with  about  700-
1000 ug/g in  the exposed town.  A difference was also noted in the  mean air  lead content of

                                          11-142

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the  two  towns,  0.60  compared  with  0.29  ug/m3.   Although  this  difference  existed,  both
air lead  values were  thought low enough not  to  affect  the blood level  values  differentially.
Mean surface  soil  lead  concentrations  for  the two communities  were  statistically  different,
the means for  the  high and  low community being  909 and 398 H9/9.  respectively.   Despite this
difference,  no  statistically significant differences  in maternal  blood lead levels  or chil-
dren's  blood or hair  lead levels were noted.   Further statistical  analysis of  the data, using
correlational   analysis  on either raw  or  log-transformed blood  lead data,  likewise  failed  to
show a significant relationship of soil lead with either blood lead or hair lead.
     The  second study  was reported  in both preliminary and final form (Barltrop et al. , 1974;
Barltrop, 1975).   In  the  more  detailed report (Barltrop, 1975),  children's homes  were clas-
sified  by their soil  lead content  into  three groups:    less  than 1,000;  1,000 - 10,000;  and
greater than 10,000 pg/g.  As shown in Table 11-60, children's mean blood lead levels increased
correspondingly from  20.7 to  29.0  M9/dl.   Mean  soil   lead  levels for the  low  and  high soil
exposure  groups were  420 and 13,969 ug/g,  respectively.   Mothers' blood levels, however, did
not  reflect  this  trend; nor were the  children's  fecal  lead  levels  different  across the soil
exposure  areas.

            TABLE 11-60.  MEAN BLOOD AND SOIL LEAD CONCENTRATIONS  IN ENGLISH STUDY
Category
of soil lead
d-jg/g)
<1000
1000-10000
> 10000
Sample
size
29
43
10
Children's
blood lead
(ng/dl)
20.7
23.8
29.0
Soil lead
((jg/g)
420
3390
13969
Source:  Barltrop, 1975.

     An analysis of the data  in Table 11-60 gives the  following model

          blood lead  (ug/dl)  = 0.64  soil  lead  (1000 |jg/9) + 20-98                    (11-20)

No  confidence  intervals were  calculated  since  the calculations were based on means.
11.4.3.8   The British Columbia Studies.    Neri et  al.  (1978)  studied  blood  lead  levels  in
children  living  in  Trail,   British  Columbia.  Capillary  blood  samples  were  collected  and
analyzed  for  lead  by anodic stripping  voltammetry.   Duplicate  samples were analyzed and  the
                                           11-143

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results were  discarded whenever  the values  differed  by more  than  8 ug/dl.   This  procedure
probably helped  control  to some degree  the commonly encountered positive bias  in  blood lead
levels  observed  when capillary samples  are used.   An episode of poisoning of  horses earlier
had been traced  to ingestion of lead.   Environmental  monitoring at  that time did not suggest
that  a human health  risk, existed. However,  it was  later thought wise to conduct  a study of
lead  absorption  in the area.
      Trail  had  been  the  site of  a smelter  since  the turn of  the  century.   The smelter had
undergone  numerous changes for reasons  of  both health and productivity.  At  the time of the
blood lead study,  the smelter was  emitting 300  pounds of lead  daily,  with  ambient air  lead
levels at  about 2 ug/m3  in  1975.   Nelson,  BC was chosen as the  control city.  The  cities are
reasonably close  (-30  miles distant),  similar  in population,  and  served by  the  same water
basin.  The average air  lead level  in  Nelson during  the study  was 0.5  ug/m3.
      Initial  planning called for  the sampling of  200 children  in each  of three  age  groups  (1"3
years, 1st grade  and 9th grade)  from each  of  the  two sites.   A strike at the  smelter  at the
 onset of  the study  caused parts  of the Trail population to move. Hence,  the  recruited  sample
 deviated  from  the planned  one.   School children were sampled in  May, 1975 at  their schools
 while the 1- to 3-year olds were sampled in September, 1975 at a clinic or home.   This delayed
 sampling  was intentional  to allow those children to  be exposed to  the soil  and dust for the
 entire summer.   Blood and hair samples were collected from each child.
       The  children  in the younger age groups living in Trail  had higher blood lead  levels than
 those living  in  Nelson.   An  examination  of  the frequency  distributions  of the  blood lead
 levels  showed  that the entire frequency of the  distribution  shifted between the residents of
 the  two cities.   Interestingly, there was  no difference in the ninth  grade children.
       Table 11-61  displays the results of the soil lead levels along with the blood  lead levels
 obtained  in the earlier  study.   Blood  lead levels were higher  for  1-  to 3-year  olds  and  first
 graders   in  the  two  nearest-to-smelter  categories  than in the  far-from-smelter  category.
 Again, no difference was noted  for the  ninth graders.
       An EPA analysis of the Neri  et al.  (1978) data gives  the following models  for  children  I"
  to 3-years old

                      Blood lead (ug/dl) = 0.0076  soil  lead  (ug/g) +  15.43, and        (11-21)

                      Blood lead (ug/dl) = C.C046  soil  lead (ug/g) +  16.37              (11-22)

  for  children  in grade  one.   No  confidence intervals were calculated since  the  analysis  was
  based on means.

                                             11-144

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                 TABLE  11-61.   LEAD CONCENTRATION OF SURFACE SOIL AND CHILDREN'S
                      BLOOD BY  RESIDENTIAL AREA OF TRAIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Residential
area(s)
1 and 2
5
9
3, 4, and 8
6 and 7
Total
Mean
soil lead
concentration, ug/g,
± standard error
(and no. of samples)
225 ± 39 (26)
777 ± 239 (12)
570 ± 143 (11)
1674 ± 183 (53)
1800 ± 212 (51)
1320 ± 212 (153)
Blood
M9/dl
error
1- to 3-
year olds
17.2 ± 1.1 (27)
19.7 ± 1.5 (11)
20.7 ± 1.6 (19)
27.7 ± 1.8 (14)
30.2 ± 3.0 (16)
22.4 ± 1.0 (87)
lead concentration,
, mean ± standard
(and no. of children)
Grade one
children
18.0 ±1.9 (18)
18.7 ±2.3 (12)
19.7 ± 1.0 (16)
23.8 ± 1.3 (31)
25.6 ±1.5 (26)
21.9 ± 0.7 (103)
 Source:   Schmitt et al., 1979.

 11.4.3.9    The Baltimore Charney Study:   A Controlled Trial  of Household Dust Lead Reduction.
 Charney et al.  (1983)  selected  children  from the Lead Poisoning Clinic of the John F.  Kennedy
 Institute in Baltimore.  The children  were all  15-72 months  old at the time of enrollment and
 had at  least two  venous blood  lead levels  between  30 and 49 |jg/dl and  FEP <  655  ug/dl.   The
 children were also required to  have had the same place of residence for at least the preceding
 six months.   Their  houses  had  to  have been  deleaded in accordance with  standard  procedures
 used by  the  Baltimore  City  Health Department.  Experimental control  subjects were recruited on
 the basis  of attendance at  routine  periodic blood lead monitoring.   Alternative  identification
 numbers  were used  for allocation to experimental and  control  groups.   Home visits were made
 for children in the  experimental  group  and  a 930 cm2  area of  the  floor  or  windowsill was wiped
 with an  alcohol-treated cloth towel and the dust lead content analyzed.  A  "dust control team"
 then visited each home  twice monthly and wet-mopped  all  surfaces with  >100  ug Pb per 930 cm2.
 The  child's  caretaker was  advised  to wet-mop  these  surfaces and other "hot spots" more fre-
 quently, to  wash the child's hands  before meals  and at  bedtime, and to  restrict access to high-
 lead areas.
     Both  the 14  experimental  subjects  receiving  the above  treatment  and the 35 control sub-
 jects  started  the  study with  about the  same moderately  elevated  blood  lead levels, 38.6 ±
 5.2 ug/dl at the start  of the experiment.   These  levels had remained almost  stationary for six
months before the  experiment,  increasing  only 1  ug/dl  on average.   After a year of dust con-
trol , the experimental subjects  had reduced their PbB levels by 6.9 ug/dl, whereas the control
                                          11-145

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subjects had  reduced  their PbB levels insignificantly  (0.7 (jg/dl).   Five  of the control sub-
jects  actually had  increased  PbB  by 6-12 ug/dl,  and  one  by 20 |jg/dl.   None of  the  dust-
controlled  subjects  had any  PbB  increase,  and  most showed  a decrease of  at  least 6 ug/dl.
Four experimental  subjects had PbB < 30 |jg/dl by the end of. the experiment.
     Dust  lead levels  in  experimentally  cleaned homes  returned  to  nearly  the previous high
values within  two  weeks.   There was no significant relation between reduction of leaded dust,
initial level  of  leaded dust, and the reduction  in a child's blood lead level.  This lack of
apparent correlation  may  have been due to failure to control  or monitor hand washing, finger-
sucking and mouthing  behavior, access to  "hot  spots,"  and time spent  in  the  home.   Further-
more, attempts at dust control may have been more successful  in some of the control homes than
in others,  resulting  in blood lead reduction in at least some individual cases.  Since advice
on dust  control  was  offered  to  caretakers of lead-burdened children  visiting  the Clinic, it
may be presumed that  some measure of dust control would have occurred in any event.  Dust lead
values in  the experimental  homes were high  compared  to homes in other areas (13/14 had sites
>100 pg/930 cm2).    While  many  potentially  important factors  were not  completely controlled
during the trials,  the importance of dust ingestion is evident.   This  study also points out
the difficulties  in  quantifying the dust-hand-mouth pathway using familiar measures of house-
hold dust  lead and concentration.   Since the reduction in blood lead levels cannot be plausi-
bly attributed to  factors  other than household dust control  (e.g., relocation of residence or
change in  diet),  the  experimental  evidence  for the  importance of household dust in elevation
of blood lead  levels  in U.S. urban children  is very strong.
11.4.3.10   Gallacher  Study.   A report from England  (Gallacher  et al. , 1984)  provides  addi-
tional informative  data on the importance of dust to blood lead levels.  They were interested
in the effect  of pica on blood lead levels.  Mothers and children aged 1-3 years were recruit-
ed from  4 areas  of  Wales  chosen  for  presumed lead  exposure:   1)  roadside dwellings; 2) cul
de sac dwellings;  3)  an old mining area;  and  4)  a  control area.   Comprehensive environmental
sampling  accompanied the  study of  blood  lead  levels.   Indoor  air  samples,   soil  from play
areas, pavement dust, house dust,  and tap  water  samples were collected and analyzed for lead
content.    Capillary blood  samples  were collected from the children, while venous samples were
collected  from the  mothers.   Blood samples  were  analyzed  for lead by atomic absorption spec-
trophotometry.  The accuracy of the capillary sampling was checked; the authors concluded that
contamination  was  not a problem but that  the  values of the capillary samples were 37 percent
higher than venous samples.  They attributed the difference as "probably owing to haemoconcen-
tration of capillary  blood."
     Results  from the  environmental  sampling  indicated that for  many of  the environmental
media, lead exposures were reasonably constant over a several-month period.  The authors state

                                          11-146

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that, "Coefficient of  variation...,  based on duplicate pairs and  after  logarithmic  transfor-
mation,  was  9  percent for  pavement dwellings  (22 dwellings)  and  10  percent for  housedust
(25 dwellings).   The  coefficient of variation of  child  hand lead using the  'wet wipe1  tech-
nique was 19  percent  (based on 17 children)."  The coefficient  of variation of the  blood lead
sample of venous blood was around 7 percent.
     In  both  children  and mothers, the mining area differed the most from  the control  area.
The excess of lead in the blood of children was 30 percent for the mining area; in mothers the
excess was about 50 percent.
     Pica as determined by questionnaire showed no consistent association with any area or all
areas  combined.   On  the other hand, the  analysis  of the wet wipe  study provided interesting
results.  Within  the  roadside  dwellings,  the cul  de  sacs,  and the  control  areas,  mean lead
levels  of wet wipe samples were  remarkably  similar for  mothers'  hands, children's hands, and
kitchen  surfaces.  But the mining area had a 40 percent excess  for mothers' hands, 45 percent
for  children's  hands,  and  35  percent for  kitchen surfaces,  compared  to  the control  area.
However, the only difference which was statistically significant was  for the children.
     Correlation analysis  was  performed between blood lead  concentrations and hand lead con-
centrations.  In  the mining area,  which  was the most contaminated  area,  the correlation co-
efficient was 0.38,  which  was  statistically significantly  different from zero.   In the non-
contaminated  areas,  a  statistically significant relationship was  found  between blood lead and
kitchen  surface.   No  statistically significant  relations  were  seen for  the mothers.   Thus
these  data  give additional  support to the  notion  of  normal  hand-to-mouth  activity  being a
pathway  by which lead  in dust can get into the blood of children.
11.4.3.11  Other Studies  of Soil  and Dusts.   Rabinowitz  et al.  (1985c)   report in a study dis-
cussed  in Section 11.3.5.4  that  lead levels  in indoor dust and  outdoor soil were strongly pre-
dictive  of  blood  lead levels.    Their  sample consisted of  Boston urban and suburban infants
followed from birth  to 2 years  of  age  whose mothers had a  mean  age of 29 years  and 15 years
mean schooling.
     Lepow et al.  (1975)  studied the lead content  of air, house dust, and  dirt, as well as the
lead content  of dirt on  hands,  food and water, to determine the cause of  chronically elevated
blood  lead levels  in 10 children 2  to 6 years old  in Hartford,  Connecticut.  Lead-based paints
had  been eliminated as a  significant source  of lead for these children.   Ambient air lead con-
centrations  varied from 1.7 to  7.0 ug/m3.   The mean lead concentration  in dirt was 1,200 ug/g
and  in  dust, 11,000  ug/g.  The mean concentration of  lead in  dirt on children's hands was
2,400  ug/g-   The mean  weight of  samples of dirt from hands was  11  mg', which  represented  only a
small  fraction  of the total dirt  on hands.  Observation   of  the mouthing behavior in  these
young  children  led to the  conclusion that the hands-in-mouth exposure  route was  the  principal
cause  of excessive lead accumulation.
                                           11-147

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     Several  studies  have  investigated the  mechanism by  which  lead from soil and  dust  gets
into  the  body  (Sayre et  al.,  1974;  Ter Haar  and Aronow,  1974).   Sayre  et al.   (1974)  in
Rochester, New York,  demonstrated  the feasibility of house dust  as a source of lead for chil-
dren.   Two groups of houses,  one inner city and the other suburban, were chosen for  the study.
Lead-free sanitary paper towels  were used to collect dust samples from house surfaces and the
hands of  children  (Vostal  et al.,  1974).   The medians for the hand and household samples were
used  as  the  outpoints  in  the chi-square  contingency analysis.    A  statistically significant
difference between the  urban and suburban homes for dust levels  was noted, as was a relation-
ship between household dust levels and hand dust levels (Lepow et al., 1975).
     Ter  Haar  and  Aronow  (1974)  investigated  lead  absorption  in  children  that can  be at-
tributed  to  ingestion of  dust and  dirt.   They reasoned  that because  the  proportion of the
naturally occurring  isotope  of  210Pb varies for paint  chips, airborne particulates, fallout
dust, house  dust,  yard dirt, and street dirt, it would be possible to identify the sources of
ingested  lead.   They  collected 24-hour excreta  from  eight hospitalized children on the first
day of  hospitalization.  These children,  1  to  3 years old, were suspected of having elevated
body burdens of  lead, and one criterion for the  suspicion was a history of pica.  Ten children
of  the  same  age level, who  lived in good housing in Detroit and the suburbs, were selected as
controls  and 24-hour  excreta were collected from them.  The excreta were dried and stable lead
as  well   as 210Pb  content  determined.   For seven hospitalized children,  the stable lead mean
value  was 22.43 ug/g dry  excreta,  and the  eighth  child had a value  of  1640 ug/g.   The con-
trols' mean  for  stable  lead  was  4.1 ug/g dry excreta.  However, the  respective means  for 21°Pb
expressed as  pCi/g dry matter were  0.044 and 0.040.   The  authors concluded  that  because there
is  no significant  difference between  these means for 210Pb, the hypothesis that young  children
with  pica  eat  dust  is not  supported.   The authors further concluded  that  children  with
evidence  of  high lead intake did not have dust and  air suspended particulate  as the  sources of
their lead.   It  is clear that  air suspended  particulate  did not account  for  the lead  levels in
the hospitalized children.   However, the 210Pb  concentrations in dust and  feces were  similar
 for all  children,  making it  difficult to estimate the  dust contribution.
      Heyworth  et al.  (1981)  studied  a population of children  exposed to  lead in mine  tailings.
These tailings were  used  in foundations  and playgrounds, and had a lead  content ranging from
 10,000 to 15,000  ug/g-  In  December,  1979,  venous blood  samples  and  hair were collected from
 181 of 346  children attending  two  schools  in Western Australia.  One of  the  schools  was a pri-
mary  school; the  other was  a  combined primary  and  secondary  school.   Parents completed  ques-
tionnaires  covering  background  information as  well   as  information regarding the  children's
exposure  to the tailings.    Blood  lead levels  were  determined by  the AAS method of  Farrely  and
Pybos.  Good quality  control measures  were  undertaken for the study,  especially  for the  blood

                                           11-148

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  lead  levels.   Blood lead levels were  higher in boys versus girls  (mean  values  were 14.0 and
  10.4  ug/dl,  respectively).    This  difference was  statistically  significant.   Five percent of
  the children  (n = 9) had blood  lead  levels  greater than 25 Mg/dl; five of these children had
  blood  lead  levels greater than  30 ug/dl.   Blood lead levels decreased significantly with age
  and were slightly  lower in children living on properties on which tailings were used.  However,
  they were  higher for children attending the  school  that used the tailings in the playground.
      Landrigan  et al.  (1982)  studied the impact  on  soil  and dust lead  levels  on  removal  of
  leaded paint  from the  Mystic River Bridge in Masschusetts.   Environmental studies in 1977 in-
 dicated that  surface soil  directly beneath the bridge had a lead content ranging from 1300 to
 1800 ug/g.   Analysis of  concomitant  trace elements showed that the lead came from the bridge.
 A concurrent  survey  of  children  living in Chelsea  (vicinity  of  bridge) found that 49 percent
 of 109 children  had  blood  lead  levels greater  than  or  equal  to  30 ug/dl.   Of children living
 more distant from the bridge, 37  percent had that level  of blood  lead.
      These  findings prompted the  Massachusetts Port Authority to  undertake a program to delead
 the  bridge.   Paint on parts  of  the  bridge  that  extended  over  neighborhoods was  removed  by
 abrasive  blasting and replaced by  zinc primer.   Some  care was  undertaken  to minimize both the
 occupational  as well as environmental  exposures to lead as a  result  of the blasting process.
     Concurrently with the actual  deleading  work,  a program of air  monitoring was  established
 to check  on the  environmental  lead exposures being created.   In  June,  1980,  four  air  samples
 taken  at  a  point  27  m from  the bridge had a  mean  lead  content of 5.32  ug/m3.  As  a  result of
 these  findings air pollution controls  were  tightened;  mean air lead concentrations  12 meters
 from the bridge  in July were  1.43 ug/m3.
     Samples of the top 1 cm of  soil  were  obtained in  July,  1980 from  within 30, 30-80, and
 100 m  from  the bridge.   Comparison samples from  outside  the area were also obtained.  Samples
 taken  directly under the  bridge  had  a mean  lead  content of 8127  ug/g.   Within  30 m of the
 bridge, the mean  content was 3272 ug/g, dropping  to 457 ug/g at 30 to 80 m.  At 100 m the soil
 lead  level  dropped to 197 ug/g.  Comparison  samples ranged from 83 to  165 ug/g  depending on
 location.
     Fingerstick  blood  samples were obtained  on 123 children 1-5 years of  age living within
0.3 km  of  the  bridge in  Charlestown.   Four children  (3.3 percent) had blood  lead  levels
greater than 30  ug/dl, with  a maximum of 35 ug/dl.   All  four children  lived within two blocks
of the  bridge.   Two of the four had lead paint in their homes but it was intact.   None of the
76 children living more  than two  blocks from the bridge had blood leads  greater than or equal
to 30 ug/dl, a statistically significant difference.
     ShelTshear's  (1973) case  report  from New Zealand ascribes a  medically diagnosed case of
lead  poisoning to  high  soil  lead  content in  the  child's home environment.   Shellshear et al.

                                          11-149

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(1975) followed  up his  case  report of  increased lead absorption  resulting  from  exposure to
lead  contaminated  soil  with  a  study carried  out in Christchurch, New  Zealand.   Two related
activities comprised  the  study.   First, from May,  1973  to November,  1973, a  random  study of
pediatric admissions  to  a  local  hospital was made.   Blood samples were taken and analyzed for
lead.  Homes were  visited  and soil samples  were  collected and analyzed for lead.   Lead anal-
yses  for  both  soil and  blood were conducted by  AAS.   Second,  a soil survey  of the  area was
undertaken.   Whenever a  soil  lead value greater  than  300 ug/g was found and a child aged 1-5
was present, the child was referred for blood testing.
     The two methods  of  subject recruitment yielded a total of 170 subjects.   Eight (4.7 per-
cent) of  the children had blood lead equal to or greater than 40 |jg/dl , and three of them had
a blood  lead equal to or greater than 80 pg/dl.   No correlation with age was noted.  The mean
blood  lead  of  the pediatric  admissions was 17.5 pg/dl  with an  extremely  large range (4-170
|jg/dl).  The mean  blood lead  for soil survey children was 19.5 pg/dl.
     Christchurch  was divided into two sections based on the date of development of the area.
The  inner area had developed earlier and  a  higher  level of  lead  was used there in the house
paints.  The frequency distribution of soil  lead  levels showed that the inner zone samples had
much  higher soil  lead  levels than  the  outer zone.   Furthermore, analysis  of  the soil lead
levels by type of exterior surface of  the residential  unit showed that painted exteriors had
higher soil lead values than  brick, stone, or concrete block exteriors.
      Analysis  of  the  relationship between soil lead and  blood lead was restricted to children
from  the  sampled hospital who had  lived at their current  address for  at least one year.  Table
11-62  presents the analysis  of these  results.   Although  the  results  were not statistically
significant, they  are suggestive of an association.

       TABLE 11-62.  ANALYSIS  OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL LEAD AND BLOOD LEAD  IN CHILDREN
Area of city
Inner zone
Outer zone
Soil
Mean
1950
150
lead (uq/q)
Range
30-11000
30-1100

n
21
47
Blood
Mean
25.4
18.3
lead (pq/dl)
Range
4-170
5-84
 Source:   Shell shear (1973).
      Analysis  of the possible effect  of  pica on blood lead  levels  showed the mean blood  lead
 for children with pica to  be  32  Mg/d1 while  those without  pica  had  a mean of 16.8 ug/dl.  The
 pica  blood lead  mean was  statistically significantly  higher than the non-pica mean.
                                           11-150

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      Mielke  et  al.  (1984) reports  elevated blood  lead  and FEP  levels  among Hmong  children
 living in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.   The  lead sources  for  these children included soil  lead,
 house paint,  and leaded gasoline from vehicle  traffic.   Fifty percent of children with  lead
 poisoning (FEP >  50  pg/dl,  blood lead > 30  ug/dl)  inhabited homes  which  had  soil  lead  levels
 of 500 to 1000 (jg/g.
      Wedeen et al. (1978)  reported  a case  of lead nephropathy in  a  black  female  who exhibited
 geophagia.   The  patient, who  had undergone  chelation therapy,  eventually reported that she  had
 a  habit of eating soil  from  her garden in  East  Orange, New  Jersey.   During  spring  and summer,
 she continuously  kept soil from her garden in her mouth  while gardening.  She even put  a  sup-
 ply away  for winter.   The soil  was analyzed for  lead and  was found to contain  almost 700 ug/g.
 The authors estimated that  the  patient consumed  100-500 mg of  lead each year.   One  month after
 initial hospitalization  her blood lead level  was 70  |jg/dl.
 11.4.3.12  Summary of Soil  and Dust  Lead .    Studies  relating soil  lead  to  blood  lead  levels
 are difficult to  compare.  The relationship obviously depends on depth of  soil  lead,  age of
 the children, sampling method,  cleanliness  of the home,  mouthing activities  of  the children,
 and possibly many other  factors.  Brunekreef et al.  (1983)  studied  a population of urban  and
 rural  children in the Netherlands.   The analyses  are  described  in detail  in Section 11.4.3.4.
 Blood  lead levels  increased  with increasing outside dustfall, with increased lead  on chil-
 dren's  hands, and with  pets  in the  household, and  decreased  with increasing  number  of rooms
 (due to dilution  or confounded  SES effects).  Dust lead and  its  related transport factors sub-
 stantially  increased  blood  lead.  Table 11-63 gives  some estimated   slopes taken from several
 different  studies.   The  range of these values is quite  large, ranging from 0.6  to 6.8.   This
 range  is  similar  to  the range  of 1.0 to  10.0 reported  by  Ouggan (1980,  1983).   Two  studies
 providing  good data for slope estimates are  the Stark et al.  (1982) study  and the Angle and
 Mclntire  (1982)  study.   These two studies  gave  slope  estimates of 2.2 and 6.8 ug/dl  per 1000
 M9/g, respectively.
     The  relationship of  house dust  lead  to blood  lead is  even more difficult  to  obtain.
 Table 11-64 contains some values for three studies that give data permitting  such  caculations.
 The median  value  of 1.8 pg/dl per 1000 ug/g  for  children 2-3 years old in  the  Stark study may
 also represent a  reasonable value for  use here.

 11.4.4  Paint Lead Exposures
     A major  source of  environmental  lead  exposure  for some in the  general population  comes
 from  lead  contained  in  both  interior  and  exterior paint on  dwellings.   The  amount  of lead
present,  as  well  as its accessibility, depends  upon the  age of the  residence  (because  older
                                          11-151

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            TABLE 11-63.   ESTIMATES OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF SOIL LEAD TO BLOOD LEAD
Study
Angle and Mclntire
(1982) study of
children in
Omaha, NE
Stark et al.
(1982) study
of children in
New Haven, CT
Range of soil
lead values
(M9/9)
16-4792
30 - 7000
(age 0-1)
30 - 7600
(age 2-3)
Depth of
sample
2"
V
Estimated
slope (X103)
6.8
2.2
2.0
Sample
size
1075
153
334
R2
0.198
0.289
0.300
Yankel et al.
  (1977) study
  of children
  in Kellogg, ID

Galke et al.
  (1975)
  study of
  children in
  Charleston, SC

Barltrop et
  al. (1975)
  study of
  children in
  England
50 - 24,600
9 - 7890
3/4"
2"
420 - 13,969
(group means)
2"
1.1
1.5
0.6
                               860
                                                    194
                                82
                                                                0.662
                                           0.386
                           NA*
Neri et al.
(1978) study
of children
in British
Columbia


225-1800 NA
(group means,
age 1-3)


225-1800 NA
(group means,
age 2-3)
7-6 87 NA



4-6 103 NA

*NA means Not Available.
                                          11-152

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       TABLE 11-64.  ESTIMATES OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF HOUSEDUST TO BLOOD LEAD IN CHILDREN
Range of dust
Study lead values (|jg/g)
Angle and Mclntire
(1979) study in
Omaha, NE
Stark et al. (1982)
study in New Haven,
CT
Yankel et al. (1977)
study in Kellogg,
ID
18-5571
70-7600
40-7600
9-4900
50-35,600
Age range
in years
1-18
6-18
o-i
2-3
4-7
0-4
5-9
Estimated Sample
slope (X103) size
7.18
3.36
4.02
1.82
0.02
0.19
0.20
1074
832
153
334
439
185
246
R2
0.198
0.262
0.289
0.300
0.143
0.721
0.623
 buildings  contain paint manufactured before  lead content was  regulated) and  the physical con-
 dition  of  the paint.   It  is  generally  accepted by the public  and  by  health professionals that
 lead-based  paint  is  one  major source of overtly symptomatic  pediatric  lead  poisoning in the
 United  States  (Lin-Fu,  1973).
     The  level  and distribution of  lead paint in a dwelling is a  complex function of history,
 geography,  economics,  and  the decorating habits  of its  residents.   Lead pigments  were  the
 first pigments  produced on a  large  commercial scale  when the paint  industry began its growth
 in  the  early 1900's.    In the  1930's lead pigments were gradually  replaced with zinc and other
 opacifiers.   By the  1940's,  titanium dioxide became available and  is  now the most commonly
 used pigment for residential  coatings.   There was  no regulation  of  the use  of lead in house
 paints  until  1955, when the paint industry adopted a voluntary standard that limited the lead
 content in  interior paint to  no more than  1  percent by weight of the nonvolatile solids.   At
 about the  same  time,  local jurisdictions began adopting codes and regulations that prohibited
 the sale  and use  of  interior paints containing  more than 1  percent lead (Berger,  1973a,b).
     In spite  of the  change in paint technology  and  local  regulations governing its use,  in-
 terior paint with  significant amounts of lead was still  available  in the   1970's.    Studies  by
 Berger  (1973b)  and by the  U.S.  Consumer Product Safety Commission (1974)  showed a continuing
decrease in  the  number  of interior paints with  lead  levels  greater than 1 percent.   By 1974,
only 2  percent  of the  interior paints sampled were  found  to have  greater than  1 percent  lead
in the dried film (U.S.  Consumer Product Safety Commission,  1974).
     The level of  lead  in paint in a residence that should be  considered hazardous remains  in
question.   Not only is the total  amount  of lead in paint important, but also the accessibility
                                          11-153

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of the painted  surface  to a child, as well as the frequency of ingestion,  must be considered.
Attempts to set an acceptable lead level, i_n situ, have been unsuccessful,  and preventive con-
trol measures of lead paint hazards have been concerned with lead levels in currently manufac-
tured  paint.   In one  of its  reviews,  the NAS  concluded:   "Since control of  the  lead paint
hazard is  difficult  to  accomplish once multiple layers have been applied in homes over two to
three  decades,  and  since control  is  more  easily regulated at the time of manufacture, we re-
commend  that  the lead content of  paints be set  and enforced at time of manufacture" (National
Academy  of Sciences, 1976).
     Legal  control   of  lead  paint hazards  is  being  attempted  by local  communities  through
health  or  housing codes and  regulations.  At the Fedjral level, the Department of Housing and
Urban  Development has issued regulations  for  lead  hazard abatement in housing units assisted
or  supported  by its programs.   Generally, the lead level considered hazardous ranges from 0.5
to  2.5 nig/cm2., but  the  level  of lead content selected appears to depend more on the sensiti-
vity of field measurement  (using  X-ray  fluorescent  lead detectors) than on direct  biological
dose-response relationships.   Regulations  also require lead  hazard abatement when the paint is
 loose,  flaking, peeling, or  broken,  or  in some  cases  when  it  is on surfaces within  reach of a
child's  mouth.
      Some  studies have been  carried  out to  determine  the distribution  of  lead  levels  in paint
 in  residences.   A survey of lead levels  in 2370  randomly  selected  dwellings in  Pittsburgh pro-
 vides  some  indication  of  the  lead levels to be found  (Shier and Hall, 1977).  Figure 11-29
 shows  the  distribution curves  for  the  highest  lead  level  found  in  dwellings for three  age
 groupings.   The curves  bear  out the statement  often  made that paint with  high  levels  of  lead
 is  most frequently  found in pre-1940 residences.   One cannot assume,  however,  that hTglTTead
 paint  is  absent  in dwellings  built after  1940.    In   the  case  of  the  houses  surveyed  in
 Pittsburgh, about 20 percent of the residences built  after 1960  have  at least one surface  with
 more than 1.5 mg/cm2.
      The distribution  of lead within an  individual dwelling  varies considerably.   Lead paint
 isjnost frequently  found on doors and  windows  where  lead levels  greater than 1.5 mg/cm2  were
 found  on  2  percent of the surfaces surveyed,  whereas only about 1  percent of  the walls  had
 lead  levels  greater than 1.5 mg/cm2  (Shier and Hall,  1977).
       In a review of the  literature,  Lin-Fu (1973) found general  acceptance that the presence of
 lead  in paint is   necessary but  not sufficient evidence of a hazard.   Accessibility in terms
 of  peeling,  flaking, or  loose paint  also  provide evidence for the presence of a hazard.  Of the
 total  samples surveyed, about  14 percent of  the residences had accessible  paint  with a  lead
 content greater than 1.5 mg/cm2.  As discussed in  Section 7.3.2.1.2,  one must note that lead
 oxides  of painted surfaces contribute to  the lead level  of house dust.

                                           11-154

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                      LEAD LEVEL (X). mg/cni

Figure 11 -29. Cumulative distribution of lead levels in dwelling
units.

Source: Shier and Hall (1977).
                          11-155

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     It  is  not  possible to  extrapolate  the  results  of the  Pittsburgh survey  nationally.
However,  additional  data  from a  pilot  study  of  115  residences  in  Washington, DC,  showed
similar results (Hall 1974).
     An attempt was  made in the Pittsburgh study  to  obtain  information about the correlation
between the quantity and condition of lead paint in buildings, and the blood lead of children
who resided there (Urban, 1976).   Blood lead analyses and socioeconomic data for 456 children
were obtained, along with  the information about lead levels  in the dwelling.   Figure 11-30 is
a plot  of the blood lead levels versus  the  fraction of surfaces within  a dwelling  with lead
levels  of at  least  2 mg/cm2.   Analysis  of the  data shows a  low correlation  between  the blood
lead  levels  of the  children  and  fraction  of  surfaces with  lead levels above  2  mg/cm2,  but
there is a stronger correlation between the blood lead levels and the condition of the painted
surfaces  in  the  dwellings  in  which  children  reside.   This latter correlation  appeared  to be
independent of the lead  levels in the dwellings.
     Yaffe  et al.  (1983)  report  data  that suggests  that  soil  lead  possibly  derived from
exterior  paint was  an important source  for a  selected  group of children.  They used a stable
lead isotope ratio technique.
     Hammond  et  al.  (1981,  1982) conducted a study  of  Cincinnati  children with the  dual pur-
pose of determining  whether inner city children with elevated blood lead levels have elevated
fecal  lead  and whether fecal   lead correlates with lead-base  paint hazard in  the home or traf-
fic  density  as compared with  blood lead.  Subjects with high blood lead levels were  primarily
recruited.   Some  comparison  children  with low blood  lead levels were  also  identified.  The
three  comparison  children  had to be residentially  stable  so  that their low blood lead  levels
were  reflective  of  the  lead  intake of their current environment.  The subjects from the inner
city  were usually from families  in extremely depressed  socio-economic circumstances.   Stool
samples were  collected  on a daily  basis  for up to 3 weeks, then analyzed for lead.  Fecal lead
levels  were expressed both  as  mg/kg-day  and as mg/m2-day.
     An environmental  assessment was made at the home of each child.  Paint lead exposure was
rated  on a three-point  scale  (high, medium, and  low)  based  on paint lead level and integrity
of  the painted  wall.   Air lead exposure  was  assessed  by the point scale (high,  medium,  and
low)  based  on traffic  density,   because  there are  no  major point  sources  of  lead  in  the
Cincinnati area.
     Blood  samples  were collected on an irregular  basis  but were taken sufficiently often to
have  at  least one  sample from  a child  from  every house  studied.   The blood  samples were
analyzed  for  lead by two  laboratories  that  had  different histories of performance in the CDC
proficiency  testing  program.   All  blood  lead levels used in the statistical  analysis were ad-
justed  to a common  base.   Because  of  the variable number of  fecal and blood lead levels, the
data were analyzed using a  nested  analysis of variance.
                                           11-156

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	 SURFACES IN BAD CONDITION, i.e., PEELING,
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               FRACTIONS OF SURFACES WITH LEAD >2 mg/cm2

      Figure 11-30. Correlation of children's blood lead levels with
      fractions of surfaces within a dwelling having lead
      concentrations  > 2 mg Pb/cm2.

      Source: Urban (1976).
1.0
                                     11-157

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     The homes of  the  children were found to be distributed across the paint and traffic lead
exposure categories.  Both  fecal  lead levels and blood levels were positively associated with
interior paint  lead hazard.   A  marginal association  between fecal  lead  levels  and exterior
paint hazard was also  obtained.   Neither fecal lead nor blood lead was found to be associated
with traffic density; the definition of the high traffic density category,  however, began at a
low level of traffic flow (7500 cars/day).
     Examination of  fecal  and  blood lead levels by  sex and race showed that  black  males had
the  highest fecal  lead  excretion  rates followed  by  white  males  and black  females.   White
females  were  only   represented  by two subjects, both  of whom had  high  fecal  lead excretion.
Blood  lead  levels  were  more  influenced  by  race  than by  sex.   The results  suggested that
children in high and medium paint hazard homes  (high  = at  least  1 surface  with >0.5 percent
Pb,  peeling or loose)  were probably  ingesting  paint  in  some form.  This  could  not be con-
firmed,  however, by finding physical evidence  in the stools.
     Long-term stool collection in a subset of 13 children allowed a more detailed examination
of  the  pattern of  fecal  lead  excretion.   Two patterns of  elevated  fecal  lead excretion were
noted.   The first  was  a  persistent elevation  compared  with controls; the second was markedly
elevated occasional spikes against a normal background.
     One family  moved  from  a  high-hazard home to  a low one during  the course  of the study.
This allowed  a detailed examination of  the  speed  of deleading of fecal and blood lead level.
The  fecal  levels  decreased  faster than  the  blood  lead  levels.   The  blood leads were still
elevated at the end of  the collection.
     Gilbert  et  al.   (1979)   studied  a  population  of Hispanic  youngsters  in  Springfield,
Massachusetts,  in  a case control study designed to  compare  the presence of  sources of lead in
homes  of lead-poisoned  children  and appropriately  matched controls.  Cases  were defined as
children having  two consecutive blood lead levels greater than 50 pg/dl.  Controls were chil-
dren with blood lead levels less  than or equal to 30 ug/dl who had no previous history of lead
intoxication  and were  not siblings of children with blood  lead levels greater than 30 ug/dl-
Study  participants had  to be  residentially  stable for at  least  9  months and not have moved
into  their  current home  from  a lead contaminated one.  All  blood  lead levels were analyzed by
Delves  cup  method  of AAS.  Cases  and controls  were matched by age  (±3 months), sex, and neigh-
borhood area.   The  study population consisted  of  30  lead  intoxication cases and 30 control
subjects.
     Home visits were  undertaken to gather interview information and conduct  home inspection.
Painted surfaces  were  assessed  for  integrity of the surface  and  lead  content.   Lead content
was  measured   by  X-ray  fluorometry.   A  surface was scored as  positive  if the  lead content
exceeded 1.2  mg/cm2.   Drinking water lead was assessed for  each of  the cases  and was found to

                                          11-158

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 contain  less  than 50 M9/1. thought by the authors to be sufficiently low so as not to consti-
 tute  a  hazard.   Tap  water samples were  not collected  in the  homes  of the  controls.   Soil
 samples  were  collected  from  three sites in  the  yard and analyzed for  lead  by  X-ray fluoro-
 metry.
      Cases and controls were compared on environmental lead exposures and interview data using
 McNemar's test for paired samples.  The odds ratio was calculated as an estimator of the rela-
 tive  risk  on   all  comparisons.   Statistically significant differences between cases  and  con-
 trols were noted  for  lead in paint and the  presence of loose paint.   Large odds ratios (>10)
 were obtained, suggesting  a  very strong association of  blood  lead level and paint lead expo-
 sure.   There appeared to be little influence of age or sex on the odds  ratios.
      Significant  differences  between  cases  and  controls  were obtained  for  both  intact  and
 loose paint by individual  surfaces within specific living areas of the home.   Surfaces acces-
 sible to children  were  significantly  associated with lead poisoning status  while inaccessible
 surfaces generally were  not.   Interestingly,  the  odds ratios  tended to  be  larger for the  in-
 tact surface analysis  than for the loose paint one.
      Median paint  lead  levels  in the  homes of  cases  were substantially higher than  those  in
 the  homes  of   controls.   The  median  paint  lead  for  exterior  surfaces in  cases was about
 16-20  ug/cm2  and about 10 MQ/cm2  for  interior surfaces.   Control  subjects  lived  in houses  in
 which  the  paint  lead generally  was  less  than  1.2 ug/cm2  except for some  exterior surfaces.
 Soil  lead  was  significantly  associated with  lead poisoning;  the  median soil lead level for
 homes  of cases  was 1430  M9/9i while the  median soil lead  level  for  control homes was 440 pg/g.
     Rabinowitz et al.  (1985b) report that refinishing activity in homes with high paint lead
 was  associated  with elevations of  blood lead  averaging 69 percent.  Blood  lead levels of 249
 infants  were measured  semiannually from  birth  to two  years  of  age.   Also, home  paint  was
 sampled  and any  recent  home refinishing  was  recorded.   Mean  blood lead correlated signifi-
 cantly with the amount of  lead  in  the indoor paint.
     Two other  studies have attempted to relate blood  lead  levels and paint  lead as determined
 by X-ray fluorescence.   Reece et  al.  (1972)  studied  81 children from two lower socioeconomic
 communities in Cincinnati.  Blood  leads were analyzed by the dithizone method.   There was con-
 siderable lead  in the home environment, but it was not reflected in the  children's blood lead.
Analytical  procedures  used to  test the hypothesis  were not described;  neither were  the  raw
data presented.
     Galke et al.  (1975), in their study of inner-city black children, measured the paint lead,
both interior and exterior, as well as  soil  and traffic exposure.   In a  multiple regression
analysis,  exterior siding  paint   lead  was found  to  be  significantly  related to blood  lead
levels.

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     Evidence indicates that a  source  of exposure in childhood lead poisoning is  peeling  lead
paint and broken  lead-impregnated  plaster found in poorly maintained  houses.   There are  also
reports of  exposure  cases  that cannot be equated  with the presence of  lead  paint.   Further,
the analysis of paint in homes  of children with lead poisoning has not consistently revealed a
hazardous lead content  (Lin-Fu,  1973).   For example, one paper reported 5466 samples of paint
obtained  from  the home environment of lead  poisoning cases  in Philadelphia  between  1964 and
1968.   Among  these samples of paint,  67  percent yielded positive  findings,  i.e.,  paint  with
more than 1 percent lead (Tyler, 1970).
     Data published or made available by the Centers for Disease Control also show that a  sig-
nificant  number  of children with  undue  lead absorption occupy buildings  that  were inspected
for  lead-based paint  hazards,  but in which  no  hazard could  be demonstrated (U.S.  Centers for
Disease  Control,  1977a; Hopkins  and  Houk,  1976).   Table 11-65  summarizes  the data obtained
from the  HEW-funded  lead-based paint poisoning control  projects  for Fiscal  Years 1981, 1979,
1978,  1975,  and  1974.   These  data show that  in  Fiscal  Years 1974, 1975, and  1978,  in 40-50
percent  of  confirmed  cases  of elevated  blood  lead  levels,  a possible source of lead paint
hazard  was  not located.  In fiscal year 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (1982a,b),
screened  535,730  children and  found  21,897 with  lead  toxicity.   Of  these,  15,472 dwellings
were  inspected and 10,666 or  approximately  67  percent were  found  to  have leaded  paint.   The
implications of these  findings are not clear.  The findings are presented  in order to place in
proper  perspective  both the concept of total lead exposure and the concept that lead paint is
one  source  of lead that contributes  to  the total body  load.   The  background contribution of
lead  from other  sources is still  not  known, even for those children for whom a potential  lead
paint  hazard has  been identified; nor  is  it  known  what proportion  of  lead came from which
source.
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            TABLE  11-65.   RESULTS  OF  SCREENING  AND  HOUSING  INSPECTION  IN CHILDHOOD  LEAD
                             POISONING  CONTROL  PROJECT  BY FISCAL YEAR
Results
Children screened
Children with elevated
lead exposure
Dwellings inspected
Dwellings with
lead hazard

1981
535,730
21,897
15,472
10,666

1979
464,751
32,537
17,911
12,461
Fiscal year
1978
397,963
25,801
36,138
18,536

1975
440,650
28,597a
30,227
17,609

1974
371,955
16,228a
23,096
13,742
 Confirmed blood lead level >40 \ig/dl.
 Source:  U.S. Centers for Disease Control (1977a, 1979, 1980, 1982a,b);
          Hopkins and Houk, 1976.

 11.5  SPECIFIC SOURCE STUDIES
      The studies reviewed in this section all  provide important information regarding specific
 environmental sources  of  airborne  lead  that play  a  role  in  population  blood lead  levels.
 These studies also illustrate several  interesting approaches to this subject.

 11.5.1  Primary  Smelter  Populations
      Some studies  of  nonindustry-employed populations  living in the  vicinity of  industrial
 sources of  lead  pollution were  triggered  because  evidence  of severe  health  impairment had been
 found.   Subsequently,  extremely high  exposures and high blood lead  concentrations were found.
 The  following studies document the  excessive  lead  exposure that  developed, as well as some of
 the  relationships  between environmental exposure  and human  response.
 11.5.1.1   El  Paso.  Texas.   In 1972,  the  Centers  for Disease  Control studied the relationships
 between blood lead levels and  environmental factors in the vicinity of a primary smelter lo-
 cated  in  El  Paso,  Texas  emitting  lead,  copper,  and zinc.   The smelter  had  been in operation
 since  the late 1800's (Landrigan et  al.,  1975; U.S.  Centers for Disease Control, 1973).   Daily
 hi-vol  samples  collected on  86  days between February and  June,  1972, averaged  6.6  ug/m3.
 These  air lead levels fell off  rapidly with distance, reaching background values approximately
 5 km from the smelter.    Levels were higher downwind, however.  High concentrations of lead in
 soil and house dusts were  found, with the highest levels occurring near the smelter.  The geo-
metric  means  of  82 soil  and 106 dust samples  from the sector closest to the smelter were 1791
                                          11-161

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and 4022  ug/g,  respectively.   Geometric means  of both  soil  and dust  lead  levels near  the
smelter were significantly higher than those in study sectors 2 or 3 km farther away.
     Sixty-nine percent of  children  1 to 4 years  old  living near the smelter  had  blood  lead
levels greater  than 40 ug/dl,  and 14 percent  had blood lead levels that exceeded  60  ug/d1•
Concentrations in  older individuals  were lower; nevertheless, 45 percent of the children  5 to
9 years old,  31  percent of the  individuals  10  to 19 years old,  and 16 percent of the  indivi-
duals above 19 had blood lead levels exceeding 40 ug/dl.   The data presented preclude calcula-
tions of means and standard deviations.
     Data  for people aged  1-19 years of  age  living  near the  smelter  showed a relationship
between blood  lead levels and concentrations of  lead  in soil and dust.   For individuals  with
blood  lead  levels  greater than 40 ug/dl, the  geometric  mean concentration of lead in soil at
their  homes was 2587  pg/g, whereas  for those with  a blood  lead  concentration  less  than 40
ug/dl, home soils  had a geometric mean of 1419 ng/g.  For house dust, the respective geometric
means  were  6447  and 2067 |jg/g.   Length  of  residence was important only in the sector nearest
the smelter.
     Additional  sources  of lead were  also investigated.   A relationship was  found  between
blood  lead  concentrations and  lead release from pottery,  but  the number of individuals exposed
to  lead-glazed  pottery was very  small.  No relationships were found between blood lead levels
and  hours  spent out-of-doors  each day,  school  attendance, or employment of  a parent at the
smelter.   The reported prevalence of  pica also was minimal.
      Data on  dietary intake of lead were not obtained because  there was no food available  from
sources  near  the  smelter since  the climate and proximity to  the smelter prevented any farming
 in  the area.   It  was  unlikely that the dietary lead  intakes  of  the  children from near the
smelter   or  farther  away  were  significantly  different.   It was concluded  that the primary
 factor associated  with elevated  blood lead  levels in  the children was ingestion  or  inhalation
 of  dust  containing lead.
      Morse et al.   (1979) conducted  a follow-up investigation of the El  Paso  smelter to deter-
 mine  whether the  environmental  controls instituted  following  the 1972 study  had  reduced the
 lead   problem  described.    In  November,  1977,  all  children 1 to  18 years  old  living within
 1.6 km of  the smelter  on the U.S.  side of the  border were surveyed.  Questionnaires were ad-
 ministered to the  parents of  each participant to gather  background  data.
      Venous blood  samples  were  drawn and analyzed for lead by modified  Delves cup  spectropho-
 tometry.    House dust and  surface  soil  samples,  as well  as sample pottery items, were  taken
 from  each  participant's  residence.   Dust  and soil  samples  were  analyzed  for  lead  by  AAS.
 Pottery  lead determinations were made by the extraction technique  of  Klein.   Paint,  food, and
 water specimens  were  not  collected  because  the earlier investigations of  the problem  had
 demonstrated these media  contributed little to the lead  problem  in  El  Paso.
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       Fifty-five of 67  families  with children (82 percent) agreed to participate in the study.
  There were 142 children examined in these homes.   The homes were  then divided  into  two  groups.
  Three children lived  in  homes  within 0.8 km of  the  smelter.   Their mean blood  lead level  in
  1977 was 17.7 |jg/dl.   By contrast, the mean blood lead  level  of  160 children  who lived within
  0.8  km of the smelter  in 1972  had been 41.4 M9/dl.   In  1977,  137  children  lived in homes  lo-
  cated 0.8-1.6 km  from the  smelter.   Their  mean  blood  lead  level  was  20.2 (jg/dl.  The mean
  blood level  of 96  children who  lived in that same  area in  1972  had been 31.2 (jg/dl.
       Environmental  samples showed a  similar  improvement.   Dust lead  fell from 22,191 to 1,479
  Mg/g  while soil  lead fell  from  1,791 to 427 ug/g closest  to  the  smelter.   The  mean air lead
  concentration  at  0.4 km  from the  smelter decreased  from 10.0 to 5.5 ug/m3 and at 4.0  km from
  2.1 to 1.7 ug/m3.   Pottery was not  found  to  be a problem.
  11.5.1.2  CDC-EPA Study.   Baker et  al.  (1977b), in 1975,  surveyed 1774 children 1-5 years old,
 most  of  whom lived within 4 miles  of lead,  copper,  or zinc smelters located in various parts
 of the United  States.   Blood lead  levels were modestly elevated near 2 of the 11 copper and 2
 of the  5 zinc  smelters.   Although  blood lead  levels in  children  were  not elevated  in  the
 vicinity of  three  lead  smelters,  their  FEP  levels were somewhat higher than those  found  in
 controls.  Increased levels  of  lead and cadmium in hair  samples were found  near  lead and zinc
 smelters; this was  considered evidence of external exposure.   No  environmental determinations
 were  made for this study..
 11.5.1.3   Meza Valley,  Yugoslavia.   A  series  of  Yugoslavian studies  investigated exposures  to
 lead  from a  mine  and  a smelter  in  the Meza Valley  over a period of years  (Fugas  et  al.,  1973;
 Graovac-Leposavic  et  al.   1973;  Milic et al.,  1973;  Djuric  et al., 1971,   1972).   In  1967,
 24-hour  lead concentrations measured  four on different days varied from 13 to 84  |jg/m3  in the
 village  nearest the smelter, and concentrations  of up to 60 ug/m3 were  found  as far as 5 km
 from  the  source.   Mean particle  size  in 1968 was  less than 0.8 urn.   Analysis  of some common
 foodstuffs  showed  concentrations  that were 10-100  times  higher than  corresponding foodstuffs
 from the  least exposed area (Mezica)  (Djuric et al., 1971).   After January, 1969,  when partial
 control of emissions was established at the smelter, weighted average weekly  exposure was cal-
 culated to  be 27  |jg/m3 in the  village near  the  smelter.   In contrast to this,  the  city of
 Zagreb  (Fugas et al.,  1973), which  has  no   large  stationary source  of lead,  had an  average
 weekly air lead level of 1.1 ug/m3.
     In 1968, the average concentration of ALA in urine samples from  912 inhabitants  of 6 vil-
 lages   varied'by  village  from 9.8-13 mg/1.  A  control  group had a  mean ALA of 5.2 mg/1.   Data
on lead in  blood  and the age and sex  distribution  of  the villagers were  not  given (Djuric et
al-,  1971).
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     Of the 912 examined, 559 had an ALA level greater than 10 mg/1  of urine.   In 1969,  a more
extensive  study  of 286  individuals  with ALA  greater than  10  mg/1 was  undertaken  (Graovac-
Leposavic  et al.  1973).   ALA-U increased significantly from the previous year.   When the pub-
lished data were  examined closely,  there appeared to be some discrepancies in interpretation.
The exposure from  dust  and from food might  have  been affected by the control devices,  but no
data were collected to establish this.   In one village, Zerjua, ALA-U dropped from 21.7 to 9.4
mg/1 in  children  2-7  years of age.   Corresponding ALA-U values for 8- to 15-year-olds and for
adult  men  and  women were  reduced from  18.7 to 12.1,  from  23.9 to  9.9, and  from  18.5  to 9.0
mg/1, respectively.  Because lead concentrations in air (Fugas et al., 1973), even after 1969,
indicated  an average  exposure  of 25 ug/m3,  it  is  possible that some other explanation should
be  sought.  The  author  indicated in the  report that the decrease in ALA-U showed "the depen-
dence  on  meteorologic,  topographic, and technological  factors"   (Graovac-Leposavic  et al.,
1973).
     Fugas  (1977)  in a  later  report estimated the  time-weighted average  exposure of several
populations studied  during the course  of this  project.   Stationary samplers as  well  as per-
sonal  monitors were  used to estimate the exposure  to airborne lead for various  parts  of the
day.   These values were then coupled with  estimated proportions  of time at which these expo-
sures  held.    In  Table  11-66,  the  estimated time-weighted  air  lead  values as well  as the
observed mean  blood  lead levels for these  studied  populations are presented.  An increase in
blood  lead values  occurs  with  increasing air lead exposure.

                 TABLE 11-66.  MEAN  BLOOD LEAD LEVELS  IN SELECTED YUGOSLAVIAN
               POPULATIONS, BY ESTIMATED WEEKLY TIME-WEIGHTED AIR LEAD EXPOSURE
Population
Rural I
Rural II
Rural III
Postmen
Customs officers
Street car drivers
Traffic policemen
N
49
47
45
44
75
43
24
Time- weighted
air lead, (ug/m3)
0.079
0.094
0.146
1.6
1.8
2.1
3.0
Blood lead level,
Mean
7.9
11.4
10.5
18.3
10.4
24.3
12.2
(pg/dl)
SO
4.4
4.8
4.0
9.3
3.3
10.5
5.1
 Source:   Fugas,  1977.
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11.5.1.4  Kosovo Province. Yugoslavia.  Residents living in the vicinity of the Kosovo smelter
were  found  to  have  elevated blood  lead levels  (Popovac et  al.,  1982).   In this area  of
Yugoslavia,  five  air monitoring stations had been measuring air lead levels since 1973.   Mean
air lead varied from 7.8 to 21.7 Mg/m3 in 1973; by 1980 the air lead  averages ranged from 21.3
to 29.2 pg/m3.  In 1978 a pilot study suggested that there was a significant incidence of ele-
vated  blood lead  levels  in  children of  the area.   Two  major surveys were  then undertaken.
     In August, 1978, letters were sent to randomly selected families from the business  commu-
nity, hospitals or lead-related industries in the area.   All family members were asked to come
to a  hospital for primary  screening by erythrocyte protoporphyrin.   A central  population  of
comparable  socioeconomic  and  dietary background was collected  from  a  town without lead emis-
sions.   Blood levels were determined primarily  for  persons with EP  greater  than  8 Mg/g Hgb.
EP was measured  by  a  hematofluorimeter,  while blood  ]ead was determined  by the  method  of
r                    .   .   ^,,4-inn with firaohite furnace and background correction.
Fernandez using atomic absorption witn graym^                 »
     Mean EP  values  were  higher in the 1978 survey for exposed residents  compared to controls
in the  average age  group.    EP values  seemed  to decline with  age.   Similar  differences were
noted for blood  lead levels.   The observed mean blood leads,  ranging from 27.6 in the greater
than 15 year age  group to 50.9 pg/dl  in  the 5 to 10 year group,  suggest  substantial lead ex-
posure of these  residents.   In the control  group  the  highest blood  lead  level was  19  ug/dl.
In December  1980   a  second  survey was  conducted  to obtain a more  representative  sample  of
                  '      aro,    Letters were sent again, and 379 persons responded.   EP  levels
persons residing  in  the area.  Letter*                          •-                *,...,,
                         •  -man uprsus 1978,  although  the differences were not statistically
were hiaher in  all  ages in 198U versus
significant   The  air  lead levels  increased from 14.3 ^  in  1978 to  23.8  ug/m3  in  1980.
     Cowarina the  1980 blood  lead  results with  the  1978 control  group  shows that  the 1980
levels were hi'gher  in each age group.  ™°^**r  than  15 yearS had  hl'Qher  """  bl00d lead
levels than the females (3*3 versus,32 4 pg/dl)                 ^^  ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^
 1.5.1.5  S!^^^^m^^^^^^,   The exposed  population
lead smelter and children from            .   a  nursery  school  and 80 primary  school  children
consisted of 85  children  '***                       ^  ^^  ^ ^ ^  ^ ^.^
aged 8 to  11.   The control pop^at            ^ ^^ ^  &  ^  ^  ^  ^^
school  children aged 8-11.    inC         area had fl much higher  lifetime exposure.
the older children living in the s     ^ ^^ sgmpies ^ ^ stHpping voltammetry  by
     Blood  lead analysis was p            ^ ^ ^^ ^ iQ_m ^g/^    Reporled  reproduci-
Morrell 's method.    Precision was         ^^^ reanalyzed by AAS  using  graphite furnace
bility was  also good.   All  samp        ^ ^ ^^    ^  ^^ ^^  obtained by the
and  background  correction  by tne               ^^ (average  difference  1.4 jig/dl;  correla-
second method were quite similar to tnose
t-ion coefficient,  0.962).
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     Air was  sampled  for lead for 1 month at three sampling sites.  The sites were located at
150 m,  300  m, and 4  km  from  the wall of the  lead  smelter.   The average air lead levels were
2.32, 3.43, and 0.56 ng/m3, respectively.
     A striking difference in blood lead levels of the exposed and control populations was ob-
served;  levels  in the  exposed population were  almost twice that  in  the control  population.
There was  no  significant difference between nursery  school  and primary school  children.  The
geometric mean for nursery school children was 15.9 and 8.2 for exposed and control,  respecti-
vely.  For  primary  school  it was 16.1 and  7.0 ug/dl.  In the exposed area, 23 percent of the
subjects had  blood  lead levels between  21 and  30 ug/dl  and 3  percent  greater  than  31 ug/dl
No control  children  had blood lead levels greater  than  20 ug/dl.   The air leads were between
2-3 (jg/m3 in the exposed and 0.56 ug/m3  in the control cases.
11.5.1.6  Hartwell Study.  Hartwell et al.  (1983) report a  study  of  4 primary smelters:  two
lead and  two zinc.    Study subjects were recruited in accordance with  a  statistical  sampling
plan based  on diffusion modeling.   Subjects were  recruited to represent  a  variety  of aqes:
1-5 years,  6-18 years,  20-40 years,  and,  in  two  sites,  >60  years.   Environmental  samples
covering the  important environmental   sources  of lead  were obtained,  as  were  blood  samples
Unfortunately, air sampling was  only  conducted for about  1  month  in  each of the study areas.
Dust, water,  and  soil  samples  were  also  collected and analyzed  for  lead.   Table 11-67 sum-
marizes  the descriptive results  of  this study  in  terms  of blood lead  levels.   Table 11-68
presents the Spearman correlation coefficient obtained.

11.5.2  Battery Plants
     Studies of the effects of storage battery plants  have been reported from France  and Italy
(Dequidt et al.,  1971;  De  Rosa and Gobbato,  1970).   The French study  found that children from
an industrialized area containing such a plant excreted more ALA than  those living in  a diffe-
rent area (Dequidt et al.,  1971).  Increased urinary excretion of lead and coproporphyrins was
found  in  children living  up  to  100  m  from a  battery plant  in Italy (De  Rosa  and  Gobbato,
1970).   Neither study gave data on plant emissions or lead in air.

11.5.3  Secondary Smelters
     Zielhuis et  al.  (1979) studied  children  living  in  the vicinity of  the  Arnhem  secondary
lead smelter.  In  1976  they recruited children to  serve  as  subjects  and  controls. The chil-
dren chosen were  2  and 3 years old.   Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire  for back-
ground information. Two-mi  venous samples  were collected from  17  children living less than 1
km,  from  54  children living  1-2 km,  and from 37 children  living  greater than 2  km  from the
smelter (control  group).  Blood samples were  analyzed  for lead by graphite furnace AAS and for

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              TABLE  11-67.   LEVELS OF  LEAD  RECORDED  IN  HARTWELL  ET  AL.  (1983)  STUDY
Smelter
Bartlesville



Palmerton



Ajo



Anaconda



Distance from
smelter
3.5-24.0
1.3-3.7
0.8-4.3
0.8-1.5
11.0-26.0
5.4-14.5
3.3-9.9
0.3-2.8
3.4-68.0
1.0-6.4
0.5-2.3
0.5-1.3
10.0-26.0
3.5-21.0
2.0-11.0
2.0-3.5
Air
131
203
299
309
361
563
128
278
94
108
191
256
141
176
91
255
Dust
241
409
386
441
263
201
198
438
74.2
60.0
64.7
116
235
164
210
398
Water
6.04
4.56
6.81
7.63
8.7
6.0
2.8
1.8
6.9
11.5
13.3
3.1
3.10
3.52
3.02
3.83
Soil
34.8
243
829
821
532
117
326
331
57.8
64.5
76.5
94.8
75
115
294
424
PbB
Ages 1-5
10.5
24.7
39.6
18.8
10.3
11.3
12.6
15.9
9.9
10.6
10.5
9.2
21.0
17.3
18.9
21.5
Ages 6-10
12.4
12.9
21.8
20.3
12.4
10.2
11.2
10.3
7.8
7.7
6.9
6.9
19.0
11.9
14.3
17.9
       TABLE 11-68.  SPEARMAN CORRELATIONS OF LEAD IN AIR, WATER, DUST, SOIL, AND PAINT
                 WITH LEAD LEVELS IN BLOOD:  BY SITE AND AGE GROUPS, 1978-1979
Aae (yr)


Bartlesville




Palmerton






Air
Water
Dust
Soil
Paint
Air
Water
Dust
Soil
Paint
1-5
Blood
0.40*
0.05
0.20
0.33*
-0.06
-0.12
-0.06
0.06
0.16
-0.02
6-18
Blood
0.22*
0.14
0.10
0.13
0.06
0.02
0.11
-0.07
0.20
0.06
20-40
Blood
0.27*
0.07
0.21

0.07
-0.12
-0.01
-0.05

0.23*
Over 60
Blood
0.19
0.23
0.00

-0.06





*Significantly different from zero at 0.05 level.
                                          11-167

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FEP by  the  method of Piomelli.  Air measurements for lead were made in autumn, 1976.  Samples
were established  about  2  km northeast and  about  0.4 km north of the  plant.   Air lead levels
ranged from 0.8 to 21.6 (jg/m3 northeast and from 0.5 to 2.5 (jg/m3 north of the plant.
     Blood leads were statistically significantly higher closer to the smelter.  For all chil-
dren the  mean  blood lead level was 19.7  ug/dl  for the less  than  1 km and 11.8 |jg/dl for the
controls  (>2 km).   Similarly,  FEP levels were  higher  for  the closer (41.9 ug/100 ml erythro-
cytes)  children  as opposed  to the control  (32.5 ug/100  ml  RBC).   Higher  blood levels were
associated with lower socioeconomic status.
     Further  investigation  of  this smelter  was  undertaken  by  Brunekreef et al.  (1981)  and
Diemel et al. (1981).  In May, 1978, venipuncture blood samples were collected from 95 one- to
three-year-old children  living within  1 km  of the smelter.   Blood leads were  determined by
graphite AAS.
     Before  the  blood  sampling,  an environmental sampling program was conducted.  The samples
collected are  listed in Table 11-69.   Questionnaires  were administered to collect background
and  further exposure information.  A  subset of  39  children  was closely observed  for  1 or 2
days  for  mouthing behavior.   Table 11-69 also presents the overall results of the environmen-
tal  sampling.   As  can  be readily seen,  there  is a low exposure to  airborne lead (geometric
mean) 0.41 ug/m3 with a range of 0.28-0.52 |jg/m3).  Soil exposure was moderate, although high.
Interior dust was  high in lead (geometric mean of 967 ug/g with a maximum of 4741 ug/g).  In a
few  homes,  high  paint lead levels were  found.   Diemel et al. (1981) extended the analysis of
the  environmental  samples.   They  found that  indoor pollution was  lower than  outside.   In
Arnhem,  it  was found that lead  is  carried  into the homes  in particulate  form by sticking to
shoes.  Most of  the  lead originated from soil from gardens and street dust.
      Simple  correlation coefficients  were calculated  to  investigate  the relationship between
log  blood lead  and the independent variables.   Significantly, correlations  were found with
quantity  of house dust, quantity of deposited  lead  indoors,  observational score of dustiness,
age  of  child,  and the average number of times  an object is put in the mouth.  Multiple regre-
ssion  analyses  were calculated  on  four separate  subpopulations.   Among children  living in
houses  with gardens, the combination of  soil  lead level  and educational level of the parents
explained 23 percent of the variations of blood lead.   In  children without gardens, the amount
of deposited lead indoors explained 26 percent  of the  variance.  The authors found that an in-
crease  in soil  lead level  from  100-600 ug/g  resulted in an increase  in blood lead of 6.3
ug/dl.
      In a Dallas,  Texas, study of two secondary lead smelters, the average blood  lead level of
exposed children was found to be  30 ug/dl  versus an  average of  22 ug/dl  in control children
(Johanson and  Luby, 1972).   For  the two study populations,  the air and soil  lead  levels were
3.5  and 1.5  ug/m3  and 727 and  255 ug/9,  respectively.
                                          11-168

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                  TABLE 11-69.   ENVIRONMENTAL  PARAMETERS  AND METHODS:   ARNHEM LEAD STUDY,  1978d
Parameter
        Method
                                                                                  Geometric mean
   Range
I
I—»
uo
1. Lead in ambient air
     (ug/m3)
2. Lead in dustfall
     (ug/m3-day)
3. Lead in soil
     (pg/g)

4. Lead in street dust
     (ug/g)
5. Lead in indoor air
     (ug/m3)

6. Lead in dustfall
     indoors  (ug/m3*day)

7. Lead in floor dust
     (M9/g)
 8.  Easily available
      lead indoors

 9.  Lead in tapwater


 10.  Dustiness of homes
High-volume samples;  24-hr measurements
  at 6 sites, continuously for 2 months

Standard deposit gauges; 7-day measurements
  at 22 sites, semicontinuously for 3 months

Sampling in gardens of study populations;
  analysis of layers from 0 to 5 cm and
  5 to 20 cm

Samples at 31 sites, analysis of fraction
  <0.3mm

Low-volume samples;  1-month measurements
  in  homes of study  population, continuously
  for 2 months

Greased glass plates, of 30 x  40 cm;  1-month
  measurements  in homes of study  population,
  continuously for 3 months

Vacuum cleaner  with  special  filter
  holder;  5  samples, collected on 3 different
  occasions;  with intervals of approximately
  1 month, in  homes  of study  populations

Wet tissues,  1  sample  in homes of study
  population

 Proportional  samples,  during  1 week in
   homes  of study population

 Visual estimation, on a simple scale ranging
   from 1 (clean) to  3 (dusty);  6  observations
   in homes of study  population
                                                                                         0.41
                                                                                       467
                                                                                       240
                                                                                       690
                                                                                          0.26
                                                                                          7.34
                                                                                      fine 957
                                                                                     course 282
0.28-0.52
108-2210
 21-1126
77-2667
 0.13-0.74
 1.36-42.35
 463-4741
 117-5250
                                                                                   85% of samples     <20 ug Pb/tissue
                                                                                          5.0
                                                                                   (arithmetic) mean
   <0.5-90.0
  All lead analyses were performed by atomic absorption  spectrophotometry,  except part of the tapwater analysis,
  which was performed by anodic stripping voltametry.   Lead in tapwater analyzed by the National  Institute  of
  Drinking Water Supply in Leidscherdam.   Soil  and street dust analyzed by  the Laboratory of Soil  and Plant
  Research in Oosterbeek.   (Zielhuis, et. al.,  1979;  Diemel,  et.  al.,  1981)

-------
     In Toronto, Canada, the effects of two secondary lead smelters on the blood and hair lead
levels of nearby residents have been extensively studied (Ontario Ministry of the Environment,
1975; Roberts et al., 1974).  In a preliminary report, Roberts et al.  (1974) stated that blood
and  hair  lead  levels were  higher in  children  living near the two smelters  than  in  children
living in an  urban  control  area.   Biologic and environmental lead levels were reported to de-
crease with increasing distance from the base of the smelter stacks.
     A later  and more  detailed report identified a  high  rate of lead fallout  around  the two
secondary smelters  (Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 1975).   Two groups of children living
within 300 m  of each of the smelters had geometric mean blood lead levels of 27 and 28 ug/dl ,
respectively; the geometric  mean  for 1231 controls was 17 (jg/dl.  Twenty-eight percent of the
sample children tested  near one smelter during the  summer and 13 percent of the sample chil-
dren tested near the second smelter during the winter had blood lead levels  greater  than 40
ug/dl.   Only 1 percent of the controls had blood lead levels greater than 40 ug/dl .   For chil-
dren, blood  lead concentrations increased with proximity to both smelters, but this trend did
not  hold  for  adults, generally.  The report concluded that soil lead levels were the main de-
terminant of blood lead levels; this conclusion was disputed by Horn (1976).
     Blood lead  levels  in 293 Finnish individuals,  aged  15-80,  were  significantly correlated
with proximity  to a secondary lead smelter (Nordman et al., 1973).   The geometric mean blood
lead concentration  for  121  males  was 18.1 ug/dl >  for *72 females, it was  14.3 (jg/dl.   In 59
subjects  who  spent  their entire day at  home,  a positive correlation was  found between blood
lead and  distance from  the smelter up to  5  km.   Only one of these 59 individuals had a blood
lead greater  than 40 pg/dl , and none exceeded 50 ug/dl .
11.5.4  Secondary Exposure of Children
     Excessive  intake  and  absorption of lead on  the  part of children can result when parents
who  work  in  a  dusty environment with  a high  lead content bring dust  home  on their clothes,
shoes, or even  their automobiles.  Once they are home, their children are exposed to the dust.
     Landrigan  et al.  (1976) reported that the 174 children of smelter workers who lived with-
in 24 km of the smelter had significantly higher blood lead levels, a mean of 55.1 ug/dl , than
the  511   children  of   persons  in  other   occupations living  in  the  same   areas  whose mean
blood lead levels were 43.7 ug/dl.  Analyses by EPA of the data collected in Idaho showed that
employment of the  father at a  lead  smelter,  at a zinc smelter, or in a lead mine resulted in
higher blood  lead levels in the  children living in the same house as opposed to those children
whose fathers were  employed in  different locations (Table 11-70).  The effect associated with
parental  employment appears to  be much more  prominent  in the  most  contaminated study areas
nearest to the  smelter.  This may be the effect of an intervening socioeconomic variable:  the

                                          11-170

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    TABLE 11-70.  GEOMETRIC  MEAN  BLOOD LEAD LEVELS FOR CHILDREN BASED ON REPORTED OCCUPATION
               OF FATHER, HISTORY OF PICA, AND DISTANCE OF RESIDENCE FROM SMELTER
                                      (micrograms per deciliter)
Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
Distance
from
smelter, km
1.6
1.6 to 4.0
4.0 to 10.0
10.0 to 24.0
24.0 to 32.0
75
Lead
smelter
worker
No
Pica Pica
78.7 74.2
50.2 52.2
33.5 33.3
30.3
24.5
-
Lead/zinc mine
worker
Pica
75.3
46.9
36.7
38.0
31.8
-
No
Pica
63.9
46.9
33.5
32.5
27.4
-
Zinc smelter
worker
No
Pica Pica
69.7 59.1
62.7 50.3
36.0 29.6
40.9 36.9
-
-
Other
occupations
No
Pica Pica
70.8
37.2
33.3
-
28.0
17.3
59.9
46.3
32.6
39.4
26.4
21.4
 Source:   Landrigan  et  al.  1976.

 lowest  paid workers, employed in the highest exposure areas within  the  industry, might be ex-
 pected  to  live  in the  most undesirable locations, closest to the  smelter.
      Landrigan  et al.  (1976) also reported a positive history of  pica for 192 of the 919 chil-
 dren  studied  in Idaho.   This  history  was  obtained by  physician and nurse  interviews  of
 parents.   Pica was  most  common among 2-year-old children and only 13  percent  of  those with
 pica  were  above age 6.  Higher  blood  lead  levels were observed  in children with pica than in
 those without pica.   Table  11-70 shows the mean blood lead levels in children as they were af-
 fected  by  pica, occupation of the  father,  and  distance  of residence from the smelter.   Among
 the populations living nearest to the smelter, environmental exposure appears to be  sufficient
 at times  to more than overshadow the effects  of pica,  but this finding may also be caused by
 inadequacies inherent  in collecting data on pica.  These data indicate  that  in  a heavily con-
taminated  area,  blood lead levels  in children  may be significantly increased by  the  inten-
 tional  ingestion of nonfood materials having a high lead content.
     Data  on the  parents'  occupation are, however, more reliable.  It  must be remembered also
that the  study  areas were   not homogeneous  socioeconomically.   In addition,  the  specific type
of work an individual  does in an industry  is  probably  much more important  than  simply  being
employed in a particular industry.   The presence in the home of  an industrial employee exposed
occupationally  to lead may produce  increases in  the  blood  lead levels  ranging from 10  to  30
percent.
                                          11-171

-------
     The importance of  the  infiltration of lead dusts onto  clothing,  particularly the  under-
garments, of  lead workers  and their subsequent transportation has been demonstrated in  a num-
ber of  studies  on  the effects of smelters  (Martin  et al. ,  1975).   It was  noted in the  United
Kingdom that  elevated blood  lead levels were found in the  wives and children of workers  even
though  they  resided some considerable  distance  from  the  facility.   It was  most  prominent  in
the workers  themselves, who  had elevated  blood  lead levels.   Quantities  of  lead  dust were
found  in  workers'  cars  and  homes.   It apparently  is not  sufficient for a  factory  merely  to
provide outer protective clothing and shower facilities for lead workers.   In another study  in
Bristol, 650-1400 ug/g of lead was found in the undergarments of workers as compared with 3-13
|jg/g in  undergarments of control subjects.  Lead dust will  remain  on the  clothing even after
laundering:   up to 500 mg of lead has been found to remain  on an overall garment after washing
(Lead Development Association, 1973).
     Baker et al.  (1977a)  found blood  lead levels  greater  than 30 ug/dl  in 38 of 91 children
whose  fathers were  employed  at a secondary lead smelter in Memphis, TN.  House dust, the only
source of lead in the homes of these children,  contained a  mean of 2687 ug/g compared with 404
ug/g  in the  homes  of a group  of matched  controls.   Mean blood lead  levels  in  the workers'
children were significantly higher than  those for controls and were  closely correlated with
the lead content  of household dust.   In homes  with lead in dust less than  1000 ug/g, 18 chil-
dren had a  mean blood  lead level of 21.8 ± 7.8 ug/dl, whereas in homes where lead in dust was
greater than  7000  ug/g, 6 children had mean blood lead levels of 78.3 ± 34.0 ug/dl.   See Sec-
tion 7.3.2.1.6 for a further discussion of household dust.
     Other studies  have documented  increased lead absorption in children of families where  at
least  one  member was occupationally exposed to  lead  (Fischbein et al., 1980a).   The occupa-
tional  exposures  involved battery operations  (Morton et  al., 1982; U.S.  Centers for Disease
Control, 1977b;  Dolcourt et al., 1978, 1981;  Watson  et al. , 1978;  Fergusson et al., 1981)  as
well as other occupations (Snee, 1982b; Rice et al., 1978).
     In  late  summer of  1976, a battery plant in southern Vermont provided the setting for the
first  documented instance of increased  lead absorption in children of employees in the battery
industry.   The  data were first  reported  by the  U.S.  Centers for Disease  Control  (1977b) and
more  completely by Watson et al. (1978).   Reports  of plant workers exposed to high levels  of
lead  stimulated a  study of plant employees and  their children in August and September, 1975.
In  the plant,  lead  oxide powder is  used  to  coat plates   in  the construction  of batteries.
Before the  study,  the work setting of  all 230 employees of the plant had been examined and  62
workers  (22 percent) were  identified   as  being  at risk for high lead exposure.   All  of the
high-risk workers  interviewed reported changing clothes before leaving work and 90 percent  of
them  reported  showering.   However,  87 percent of  them  stated  that  their work  clothes were
washed at home.
                                          11-172

-------
     Of  the  high-risk employees, 24  had  children  between the ages of 1 and 6 years.  A case-
control  study was  conducted  in  the  households of 22 of these employees.  Twenty-seven children
were identified.   The  households were matched with neighborhood controls, including 32 control
children.   None of  the control family  members worked  in  a lead  industry.   Capillary blood
specimens were  collected  from all children and  the 22 battery plant employees had venous spec-
imens  taken.    All blood  samples were analyzed for lead  by  AAS.   Interviewers  obtained back-
ground data, including an assessment  of potential lead exposures.
     About  56  percent of the employees'  children  had blood leads greater  than  30 ug/dl com-
pared  with  about  13 percent of the  control  children.   Mean blood  lead  levels  were signifi-
cantly different,  31.8 ug/dl and 21.4 ug/dl, respectively.  Blood lead levels in children were
significantly correlated with employee blood lead levels.
     House  dust lead  levels were  measured  in  all  children's homes.   Mean  values were 2239.1
M9/Q and 718.2  ug/g for employee  and  control  homes, respectively;  this  was  a statistically
significant  difference.  Examination of the  correlation coefficient between  soil  lead  and
blood  lead  levels  in the two sets  of homes showed a marginally significant coefficient in the
employee households  but no  correlation in the control homes.  Tap water and paint lead levels
did  not  account for the observed  difference  in  blood leads between  children  of workers  and
neighborhood controls.  It is significant that these findings were obtained despite the chang-
ing of clothes  at  the plant.
     Morton et  al. (1982) conducted their study of children of battery plant workers and con-
trols  during February-March,  1978.   Children were included  in  the  study if one parent had at
least  1  year of occupational exposure,  if they had lived at the same residence for at least 6
months  and if  they were from 12-83 months of age.   Children for the control group had to have
       '  . ,      atinnal  PXDosure  to  lead for  5 years,  and had to have lived  at the same  ad-
no parental occupational  exposure  >.»             j     >
dress at least  6 months.                                                   ,
     Th-  t  four children were  control-matched  to  the exposed group  by  neighborhoods  and  age
(+1 year"/" ^matching  was thought necessary for sex  because  in this age group blood  lead
 ~                             Th  seiection of the control  population attempted  to adjust  for
levels are unaffected by sex.   me
both socioeconomic status as well as exposure to automotive lead.
       pillary  blood  specimens  were collected  concurrently for  each  matched pair.  Blood lead
       p    .        J  .   ..0 rnr iab using a modified  Delves cup AAS procedure.  Blood  lead
levpl*; wpre  measured  by  tne i»uv,  !«•"     =
levels for the  employees  for the previous year  were  obtained from company  records.   Question-
             ... *    A  ,t  thP same  time as the  blood sampling to  obtain  background informa-
naires were administered  at  tne bai"<=
                                  complete the  interview to try  to get a more accurate  picture
tion.   The homemaker was asked to comH.e
of the hygiene practices followed by the employees.
                                          11-173

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     Children's  blood  lead  levels differed  significantly  between  the  exposed and  control
groups.  Fifty-three percent  of  the employees'  children had blood lead levels greater than 30
jjg/dl, while  no  child  in the control population  had  a value greater than 30 ug/dl.   The mean
blood  lead  for  the children of the employees was 49.2 ug/dl with a standard deviation of 8.3
(jg/dl.   These data represent the population average for yearly individual  average levels.   The
employees  had an  average  greater  than  60  |jg/dl.   Still,  this is  lower than the  industry
average.   Of  the  eight  children  with blood  levels  greater than 40 ug/dl,  seven  had fathers
with blood  lead  greater  than 50 ug/dl.   Yet  there was not  a  significant  correlation between
children's blood lead level  and father's blood lead level.
     Investigations were  made into the possibility that other lead exposures could  account for
the observed  difference  in  blood  lead levels between  children of employees and control  chil-
dren.  In  11 of  the  33  pairs finally  included  in the study, potential  lead exposures  other
than fathers'  occupations were found  in  the employee child of the matched  pair.   These in-
cluded a variety  of lead  sources such as  automobile  body  painting,  casting of  lead,  and
playing  with  spent shell casings.   The  control  and exposed  populations  were again compared
after removing these 11 pairs from consideration.   There was still a statistically  significant
difference in blood lead  level between the two groups of children.
     An  examination of personal  hygiene  practices of  the  workers showed  that within high-ex-
posure category  jobs, greater compliance with recommended lead containment practices resulted
in lower mean blood lead  levels in children.   Mean blood leads were 17.3,  36.0, and 41.9 ug/dl
for good, moderately good,  and poor compliance groups, respectively.  In fact, there was only
a  small  difference between the good  hygiene  group within the high-exposure  category and the
mean of  the  control group  (17.3  ug/dl  versus  15.9  ug/dl).   Insufficient  sample  sizes were
available to  evaluate the effect of compliance on medium  and low lead exposures for fathers.
     Dolcourt  et al.  (1978)  investigated lead absorption in children of workers  in a plant
that manufactures  lead-acid storage batteries.  The plant became known to these researchers as
a  result of  finding an  elevated   blood  lead   level  in  a  20-month-old  child during routine
screening.   Although  the child was asymptomatic,  his  mother proved not to  be.  Two siblings
were also found to have elevated blood lead levels.  The mother was employed by the plant; her
work involved much hard  labor and brought her into continual contact with powdery  lead oxide.
No uniforms  or  garment covers were provided  by the  company.  As a  result  of these findings,
screening was offered to  all children of plant employees.
     During February to  May,  1977, 92 percent of 63 eligible children appeared for screening.
Age  ranged from  10 months to 15  years.  About  equal  numbers  of  girls and  boys  underwent
screening.   Fingerstick  blood samples were  collected on  filter paper and  were analyzed for
lead by  AAS.   Children with blood lead  levels equal  to or greater than 40 ug/dl were referred

                                          11-174

-------
for more  detailed medical evaluation  including an  analysis  of a  venous  blood  specimen  for
lead.   Dust samples were  collected from carpeting in each  home  and analyzed for  lead  by  gra-
phite furnace AAS.  Home  tap  water was analyzed for lead by AAS,  and house paint  was analyzed
for lead by XRF.
     Of the 58 children  who  had the initial  fingerstick blood  lead elevation,  69 percent had
blood lead levels equal to or greater than 30 pg/dl.   Ten children from six families had blood
lead  levels  equal  to or  greater  than 40  ug/dl,  and  blood  lead  levels  were  found  to  vary
markedly with age.  The 0- to 3-year-old category exhibited the  highest mean (48.6 ug/dl)  with
the 3-  to 6-year-olds the next highest  (38.2  ug/dl).   Lowest  mean values  were  found in the
equal  to or greater than 10-year-old group (26.7 ug/dl).
     More  detailed  investigation of the  six families  with the highest blood  lead levels in
their children  revealed  the  following:   five of  the six lived in  rural communities,  with no
pre-existing source  of lead  from  water  supply,  house   paint,  industrial  emissions,  or heavy
automobile traffic.   However,  dust  samples from the carpets exhibited excessively high lead
concentrations.   These ranged from 1700 to 84,050 ug/g.
     Fergusson et al.  (1981)  sampled three population  groups:   general population, employees
of a battery plant, and children of battery plant employees, using  hair lead levels as indices
of lead.  Hair lead levels ranged  from 1.2 to  110.9 ug/g in the 203 samples from the general
population.  The distribution of hair lead levels was nearly lognormal.  Employees of the bat-
tery factory had the highest hair lead levels (median ~250 ug/g), while family members (median
~40 ug/g)  had a  lesser  degree  of contamination and the general  population (median  ~5 ug/g)
still less.
     Analysis of  variance results  indicated a highly significant difference between mean lead
levels of the general  survey and family members of the  employees, and a significant difference
between the  mean  lead levels in the hair of the employees and their families.  No significant
differences  were  found comparing mean  hair  lead levels among family members in  terms of age
and sex.   The  analyses of the  house dust suggested that the mechanism of exposure of family
members is via the lead in dust that is carried home.   Mean dust lead level  among the homes of
factory  employees was 5580  ug/g while the  dust  inside of houses  along a  busy  road  was only
1620 ug/g.  Both  of these  concentrations  are for particles less than 0.1 mm.
     Dolcourt et  al.  (1981) reported two  interesting cases of familial  exposure to lead caused
by  recycling of  automobile  storage batteries.   The  first  case  was  of   a 22-member, four-
generation family living  in a three-bedroom house in rural eastern  North Carolina.  The great-
grandfather  of  the  index  case worked  at  a battery recycling plant.  He had two  truckloads of
spent  casings  delivered  to  the home  to  serve  as  fuel for the wood  stove; the casings were
burned  over a 3-month  period.
                                           11-175

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     The index case presented with classic signs of acute lead encephalopathy,  the most severe
and potentially  fatal  form  of acute lead poisoning.   The blood lead level  was  found to be 220
pg/dl.  Three  months after  initial  diagnosis  and  after chelation therapy, she  continued to
have  seizures  and was  profoundly mentally  retarded.   Dust  samples  were  obtained  by  vacuum
cleaner and  analyzed for lead  by flameless AAS.  Dust  from  a sofa near the wood  stove  con-
tained  13,283  ug/g  lead, while  the kitchen  floor dust  had 41,283 ug/g.  There  was  no paint
lead.    All  other members of the family  had elevated blood  lead  levels ranging from 27-256
ug/dl.
     The  other case  involved a  truck  driver  working  in  a  low-exposure  area  of  a  battery
recycling operation  in  rural  western North Carolina.   He was operating an  illegal battery re-
cycling operation  in his  home by melting down reclaimed  lead on the kitchen stove.   No family
member  was  symptomatic for  lead  symptoms but  blood  lead  levels  ranged from 24  to  72 ug/dl
Soil  samples taken  from the driveway,  which was paved with fragments  of the discarded battery
casings, contained 12-13 percent lead by weight.
     In addition  to  families being  exposed as  a  result  of employment at battery plants  stu-
dies have been reported recently for smelter worker families (Rice et  al.,  1978;  Snee  1982c)
Rice  et al.  studied  lead contamination in the homes of secondary lead smelters.   Homes of em-
ployees of secondary smelters in two separate geographic  areas of the  country were examined to
determine whether those homes had a greater degree of lead contamination than homes of workers
in the same area not exposed to lead.  Both sets of homes (area I  and  II) were  examined at the
same time of the year.
     Thirty-three homes of  secondary smelter employees were  studied;  19 homes  in the same or
similar neighborhoods were studied as controls.   Homes studied were in good condition and were
one-  or two-family  dwellings.    Blood  lead levels were not  obtained  for  children  in these
homes.   In  the  homes  of  controls, a  detailed  occupational  history  was  obtained  for  each
employed  person.   Homes  where one  or  more residents  were  employed  in a  lead-contaminated
environment were excluded from the analysis.
     House dust  samples were collected by Vostal's method  and were analyzed for lead by AAS
In one  of the  areas, samples of  settled  dust were collected  from  the  homes of  employees and
controls.   Dust  was  collected over the doorways.  In homes where the  settled dust was collec-
ted,  zinc protoporphyrin  (ZPP)  determinations were made  in family members  of the lead workers
and in the controls.
     In both areas,  the wipe samples were  statistically significantly higher  in the homes of
employees compared to controls (geometric mean 79.3 ± 61.8 ug/g versus 28.8 ± 7.4 ug/g Area I;
112.0 ± 2.8  ug/g versus 9.7 ± 3.9 ug Area II).   No significant differences were  found between
workers'  homes or controls  between  Area  I  and  Area II.   Settled  dust  lead  was  significantly
                                          11-176

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higher  in  the  homes of employees compared to controls (3300 versus 1200 ug/g).   Lead contents
of participate  matter  collected at the curb and of paint chips collected in the home were not
significantly  different  between employee homes and controls.   Zinc  protoporphyrin determina-
tions were  done on 15 children, 6 years or younger.   ZPP levels were higher in employee chil-
dren  than  in control  children.   Mean  levels  were 61.4  ug/ml  and 37.6  ug/ml,  respectively.
      It should  be  noted  again that the wipe samples were not different between employee homes
in the  two  areas.   Interviews with employees indicated that work practices were quite similar
in the  two  areas.   Most workers  showered  and  changed before going home.  Work  clothes were
washed  by  the  company.   Obviously, much closer attention  needs  to be paid to other potential
sources of lead introduction into the home (e.g.,  automobile surfaces).
      From Mexico  (Molina-Ballesteros et al.,  1983)  comes a report of yet  another occupation
which can  contribute to  the lead  burden of children  whose parents work  in  settings contami-
nated by lead.   One hundred and fifty-three children belonging to pottery-making families with
home  workshops  were studied,  as  well  as  80 randomly selected children  serving  as controls.
Venipuncture blood samples were collected and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Mean  blood  lead levels were 15 ug/dl higher  for  children whose parents  had  the  home pottery
workshops than  for control children.  The mean blood lead level  in the  exposed  children was
39.5 M9/d"l, which indicates a high degree of lead  absorption in these children.

11.5.5  Miscellaneous Studies
11.5.5.1  Studies Using Indirect Measures of Air Exposure.
11.5.5.1.1  Studies in the United States.   A 1973  Houston study examined the blood lead levels
of  parking  garage attendants,  traffic policemen,  and  adult  females  living  near  freeways
(Johnson et  al.,  1974).   A control group for each of the three exposed populations was selec-
ted by  matching for age, education, and race.   Unfortunately,  the matching was  not altogether
successful; traffic policemen had less education than their controls,  and the  garage employees
were  younger than their  controls.   Females were  matched adequately,  however.    It should be
noted that the mean blood lead values for traffic  policemen and parking garage attendants, two
groups  regularly exposed  to  higher concentrations of automotive exhausts, were  significantly
higher  than  the means for their  relevant control groups.  Statistically significant differ-
ences in mean values were not found, however, between  women living near a freeway, and control
women living at greater distances from the freeway.
     A  study of the effects of lower-level  urban  traffic densities  on blood lead  levels was
undertaken  in   Dallas, Texas,  in  1976  (Johnson et al.,  1978).   The  study  consisted  of two
phases.   One phase measured  air  lead  values  for selected traffic densities and conditions,
ranging from equal to or  less than 1,000 to about  37,000 cars/day.   The second phase consisted

                                          11-177

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of an epideim'ological  study of traffic density and blood lead levels among residents.  Figure
11-31 shows the relationship between arithmetic means of air lead and traffic density.  As can
be seen from the graph, a reasonable fit was obtained.
            ^
            "01

             Z
             LU
             u
             o
             o
             Q
                2.0
I      I     I      I     I
                           Y = 0.6598 + 0.0263 X
                           X = TRAFFIC COUNT/1000
                    0    4.000 8.00012.00016,00020,00024.00028,00032.00036,00038,000
                                     TRAFFIC VOLUME, cars/day

                Figure 11-31. Arithmetic mean of air lead levels by traffic
                volume. Dallas, 1976.

                Source: Johnson et al. (1978).
      In addition, for  all  distances measured (1.5-30.5 m  from  the road), air lead concentra-
 tions declined rapidly with  distance from the street.  At 15 m, concentrations were about 55
 percent of  the street concentrations.   In air  lead  collections from 1.5 to 30.5  m from the
 street, approximately 50 percent of the airborne lead was in the respirable range (<1 pm), and
 the  proportions  in  each  size class  remained  approximately the same as the  distance from the
 street increased.
      Soil  lead concentrations were higher in areas with greater traffic density, ranging from
 73.6 pg/g at  less than 1,000 cars  per  day to a mean of 105.9 at greater than 19,500 cars per
 day.  The maximum soil  level obtained was 730  ug/g.   Dustfall samples for  28  days from nine
 locations showed  no relationship  to traffic densities,  but outdoor  levels  were  at least 10
 times the indoor concentration in nearby residences.
                                           11-178

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     In the second  phase,  three groups of subjects,  1 to 6 years old,  18 to 49 years old,  and
50 years  and  older, were  selected in  each  of  four  study areas.  Traffic  densities selected
were  less  than  1,000,  8,000-14,000,  14,000-20,000, and  20,000-25,000  cars/day.    The  study
groups averaged  about  35  subjects,  although the  number  varied  from 21 to  50.  The smallest
groups  were  from  the  highest  traffic  density  area.    No  relationship  between  traffic
density and blood  lead  levels in any  of  the age groups was found (Figure 11-32).   Blood lead
levels were significantly higher in children, 12-18 ug/dl, than in adults, 9-14 pg/dl.
     Caprio et al.  (1974)  compared blood "lead levels and  proximity  to major traffic arteries
in a  study  reported in 1971 that  included 5226  children in Newark,  New Jersey.  Over 57 per-
cent of the children  living within 30.5 m of roadways  had blood lead  levels  greater  than 40
ug/dl.  For those  living  between 30.5  and  61 m from the roadways,  more than  27  percent had
such  levels,  and  at distances greater than 61 m, 31  percent exceeded 40 ug/dl.   The effect of
automobile traffic was seen only in the group that lived within 30.5  m of the road.
     No other sources of lead were considered in this study.  However,  data from other studies
on mobile  sources  indicate  that it is  unlikely that the blood lead  levels observed  in this
study resulted entirely from automotive exhaust emissions.
     In 1964, Thomas  et al.  (1967) investigated  blood  lead levels  in 50 adults who had lived
for  at  least  3 years within  76 m of a  freeway  (Los  Angeles) and those of  50  others  who had
lived for  a  similar period near the ocean or at least 1.6 km from a freeway.  Mean blood lead
levels  for those near  the freeway were  22.7 ±5.6  for  men and 16.7 ±  7.0 ug/dl  for women.
These concentrations were  higher than for control subjects living near the ocean:   16.0 ±8.4
ug/dl  for  men and  9.9 ±  4.9 ug/dl  for  women.   The higher  values,  however, were  similar to
those  of  other  Los Angeles  populations.    Measured  mean air concentrations  of lead  in  Los
Angeles for October, 1964, were as follows:  12.25 ± 2.70 ug/m3 at a location 9 m from the San
Bernardino freeway; 13.25 ± 1.90 ug/m3 at a  fourth-floor location 91.5 m from the freeway; and
4.60  ±  1.92  ug/1"3 1-6 km from the nearest freeway.  The investigators concluded that the dif-
ferences observed were  consistent with coastal  inland atmospheric and blood lead gradients in
the  Los Angeles basin and that the effect of  residential proximity to a freeway (7.6-76 m) was
not  demonstrated.
      Ter Haar and Chadzynski  report a  study  of blood lead levels of children living near three
heavily  travelled streets in Detroit  (Ter Haar, 1981;  Ter Haar  and Chadzynski, 1979).  Blood
lead  levels were not found to be  related to  distance from the road but were related to condi-
tions of housing and age of the child  after  multiple regression analyses.
11.5.5.1-2  British studies.   In  a  Birmingham,  England,  study,  mean  blood  lead levels in 41
males  and  58  females living within 800 m of  a highway interchange were 14.41 and 10.93 ug/dl,
respectively,  just  before the opening of  the interchange in May, 1972 (Waldron, 1975).   From

                                           11-179

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      25
Z
O

<
c
t-

LU
O

o
o
o
8
CO
      20
15
10
                                                     MALES<9
                                          «o	
   MALES>49

FEMALES 19-49


 rs
FEMALES >49
                    I
                         I
                 < 1,000    1,00013.500   13.500      19.500-

                                        19,500      38,000

                          TRAFFIC DENSITY, cars/day


          Figure 11-32. Blood lead concentration and traffic density by

          sex and age, Dallas, 1976.



         Source: Johnson et al. (1978).
                                        11-180

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October,  1972,  to February,  1973,  the  respective values for the  same  individuals were 18.95
and  14.93  ug/dl.   In October, 1973, they were 23.73 and 19.21 pg/dl.  The investigators noted
difficulties  in the blood collection method during the baseline period and changed from capil-
lary  to venous  blood collection  for  the remaining  two sets  of  samples.   To  interpret  the
significance  of  the  change  in blood collection method, some  individuals  gave both capillary
and  venous blood  at  the second  collection.   The means for both  capillary  and  venous bloods
were  calculated  for  the  18 males  and 23  females who gave both types of blood samples (Barry,
1975).   The  venous blood mean values for  both  these males and females were  lower by 0.8 and
0.7  ug/dl ,  respectively.   If these differences were applied to the means of the third series,
the  mean for males  would be  reduced  to 24.8 (jg/dl  and that for the  females to  18.7 ug/dl.
These  adjusted  means still  show an increase  over the  means  obtained for  the  first series.
Comparing  only the means for venous bloods, namely  series  two and  three, again  shows an  in-
crease  for  both  groups.   The increase in blood lead values was larger than expected following
the model of  Knelson et al.  (1973), because air lead values near the road were approximately I
ug/m3.   The  investigators  concluded that  either  the  lead aerosol  of very  small  particles
behaved  more  like a  gas so  that  considerably more  than  37 percent of  inhaled  material  was
absorbed, or  that  ingestion of lead-contaminated dust might be responsible.
     Studies  of  taxicab  drivers  have  employed different variables  to  represent  the drivers'
lead exposure (Flindt et al., 1976; Jones et  al.,  1972):  one variable was  night  versus  day-
shift drivers (Jones  et  al.,  1972); the other was  mileage driven (Flindt et  al.,  1976).   No
difference was observed,  in either case.
     The studies  reviewed  show that automobiles produce sufficient  emissions  to  increase  air
and nearby  soil  concentrations  of lead as well,  and  to increase blood lead  concentrations in
children and  adults.   The problem  is  of  greater importance when  houses  are  located within
100 ft (30 m) of  the roadway.
11.5.5.2  Miscellaneous  Sources  of  Lead.   The  habit of  cigarette  smoking  is  a source of  lead
exposure.   Shaper  et al. (1982)  report that  blood  lead concentration is higher  for  smokers
than  nonsmokers  and  that cigarette  smoking  makes  a  significant independent  contribution to
blood lead  concentration  in  middle-aged  men  in British  towns.  A  direct  increase  in lead  in-
take  from  cigarettes is  thought  to be  responsible.   Hopper and Mathews (1983) comment that
current  smoking has  a significant effect on  blood lead  level,  with  an  average  increase of  5.8
percent  in  blood  lead  levels  for every 10 cigarettes smoked  per  day.   They also  report that
past  smoking  history had no  measurable effect  on  blood lead levels.   Hasselblad and Nelson
(1975) report an  average increase in women's blood lead levels  of  1.3  ug/dl  for  smokers com-
pared to nonsmokers in the study of Tepper  and  Levin  (1975).
                                          11-181

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     Although no studies  are  available,  it is conceivable that destruction of lead-containing
plastics (to recover copper),  which has caused cattle poisoning, also could become a source of
lead exposure  for  humans.  Waste  disposal  is a more general  problem  because lead-containing
materials  may  be  incinerated and  may thus  contribute  to  increased  air lead  levels.   This
source of  lead  has  not been studied  in  detail.   Tyrer  (1977) cautions of the  lead hazard in
the recycling of waste.
     The consumption of illicitly distilled liquor has been shown to produce clinical  cases of
lead  poisoning.   Domestic  and  imported  earthenware  (De  Rosa  et  al., 1980) with  improperly
fired glazes have  also been related to clinical lead poisoning. This source becomes important
when  foods  or  beverages high in acid  are  stored in earthenware containers,  because  the  acid
releases lead from the walls of the containers.
     Particular cosmetics,  popular  among some Oriental  and Indian ethnic groups, contain high
percentages of lead that sometimes are absorbed by users in quantities sufficient to be toxic.
Ali et al. (1978) and Attenburrow et al.  (1980) discuss the practice of surma and lead poison-
ing.  In addition to lead-containing cosmetics causing lead poisoning, folk remedies have also
been  linked  to  lead poisoning (U.  S. Centers for Disease Control, 1983a,b).   Two Mexican folk
remedies, Azarcon  and  greta,  have been implicated as causing lead poisoning in children (U.S.
Centers  for  Disease  Control,  1983a).  These products have a high lead content (70-90 percent)
and  are  primarily lead tetroxide  and lead oxide for Azarcon  and  greta,  respectively.   There
have been  a  minimum of 15  reported cases of lead poisoning associated with these products.  A
survey of  Mexican-Hispanics living in Los Angeles estimated that 7.1-21.1 percent of Mexican-
Hispanic households had at  some time used these products.
     A  folk medicine  used  by Hmong  refugees  from Northern Laos has  also been implicated in
lead  poisoning  of  children (U.S. Centers for Disease Control,  1983b).  The product, "pay-loo-
ah,"  has a variable composition and texture, making control more difficult.  Other sources of
lead are presented  in  Table 11-71.

                                 TABLE 11-71.  SOURCES OF LEAD
      Source                                                    References
Gasoline sniffing                                        Kaufman and Wiese (1978)
                                                         Coodin and Boeckx (1978)
                                                         Hansen and Sharp  (1978)
Colored  gift wrapping                                    Bertagnolli and  Katz (1979)
Gunshot  wound                                            Dillman et al. (1979)
Drinking glass  decorations                               Anonymous (1979)
Electric  kettles                                         Wigle  and Charlebois (1978)
Hair dye                                                Searle and Harnden (1979)
Snuff use                                                Filippini and Simmler  (1980)
Firing ranges                                            Fischbein et  al.  (1979, 1980b)
Glazed pottery                	Acra  et al. (1981)
—=====                                 11-182                       -=               ~=

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11.6  SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
     Using  the  bones and teeth  of  ancient populations, studies show  that  levels  of internal
exposures  of lead  today are  substantially  elevated over past  levels.   Studies  of  current
populations  living  in  remote areas far from  urbanized  cultures  show blood lead levels in the
range of  1-5 |jg/dl.   In contrast to  the  blood lead levels found  in  remote  populations,  data
from current U.S.  populations  have geometric means  ranging from  <10 to 20 ug/dl depending on
age, race, sex,  and degree of urbanization.  These higher current exposure levels appear to be
associated  with  industrialization and  widespread commercial  use  of lead,  e.g.,  in gasoline
combustion.
     Age  appears  to  be  one  of the single  most important demographic covariates of blood lead
levels.  Blood lead  levels  in children up  to  six  years  of age are generally higher than those
in  non-occupationally exposed  adults.  Children aged two to three years tend to have the high-
est levels,  as  shown in Figure 11-33.  Blood lead levels in non-occupationally exposed adults
may increase slightly with age due to skeletal lead accumulation.
     Sex has a differential  impact on blood lead levels  depending on age.   No significant dif-
ferences exist between males and females less than seven years of age.   Males above the age of
seven generally have higher blood lead levels than females.
     Race  also  plays a role,  in  that blacks  generally have higher  blood  lead  levels  than
either  whites  or Hispanics  and  urban black  children (aged  6  months-5 years)  have markedly
higher blood lead concentrations than any other racial or age  group.   Possible genetic  factors
associated  with  race have  yet to be  fully untangled  from  differential  exposure  levels  and
other factors as important determinants of blood lead levels.
     Blood  lead  levels  also generally increase with degree of urbanization.   Data  from NHANES
II  show blood lead  levels  in the United  States, averaged over 1976-1980,  increasing  from  a
geometric mean of  11.9  ug/dl  in rural populations  to 12.8  ug/dl  in urban populations  of  less
than one  million,  and  increasing again to  14.0 ug/dl in urban  populations of  one  million  or
more.
     Blood  lead  levels,  examined on  a population basis,  have similarly skewed distributions.
Blood lead  levels,  from a  population thought  to be homogeneous  in terms of  demographic  and
lead exposure characteristics,  approximately  follow a lognormal distribution.   The  geometric
standard  deviations,  an estimation  of dispersion,  for  four  different studies  are shown  in
Table 11-72.  The values,  including analytic  error,  are about  1.4 for children and possibly
somewhat  smaller  for adults.  This  allows an estimation of the  upper  tail  of  the  blood  lead
distribution, the  group at  higher  risk.   A  somewhat  larger  geometric standard deviation  of
1.42 may  be  derived from  the  NHANES  II  study  when only  gasoline and  industrial air  lead
emission exposures are assumed  to be  controllable  sources of variation.

                                          11-183

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  40
  35 U-
  30
01
cT
<
  25
CD
  20
   15
 IDAHO STUDY
 NEW YORK SCREENING - BLACKS
• NEW YORK SCREENING - WHITES
• NEW YORK SCREENING - HISPANICS
• NHANES II STUDY - BLACKS
 NHANES II STUDY - WHITES
                                                    \
                                                      \
    o*
   d
                       j	j
                                           5
                                         AGE, yr
                                                                                 10
 Figure 11-33. Geometric mean blood lead levels by race and age for younger children in the
 NHANES II study, and the Kellogg/Silver Valley and New York Childhood Screening Studies.
                                        11-184

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            TABLE  11-72.   SUMMARY  OF  BLOOD  LEAD  POOLED GEOMETRIC  STANDARD DEVIATIONS
                                  AND ESTIMATED  ANALYTIC  ERRORS
Pooled geometric standard deviations
Study
NHANES II
N.Y. Childhood
Inner city
black children
1.37a
1.41
Inner city
white children
1.39a
1.42
Adult
females
1.36b
Adult
males
1.40b
Estimated
analytic
error
0.021
_c
 Screening  Study
Tepper-Leven
Azar et al.
1.30
1.29
0.056°
0.042d
Note:  To calculate an estimated person-to-person GSD, compute Exp [((In(GSD))2 -
                      1/2-1
       Analytic Error)
aA geometric standard deviation of 1.42 may be derived when only gasoline and industrial
 air lead emission exposures are assumed to be controllable sources of variability.
 Pooled across areas of differing urbanization
cNot known, assumed to be similar to NHANES II
dTaken from Lucas (1981).

     Recent  U.S.  blood  lead  levels  show  a  downward  temporal  trend  occurring  consistently
across race, age,  and geographic location.  The  downward  pattern  commenced in the early part
of the 1970's  and has continued into  1980.   The  downward trend has  occurred  from a shift in
the entire distribution and not through a truncation in the high blood lead levels.  This con-
sistency  suggests  a general  causative factor, and  attempts have been made to  identify the
causative element. Reduction in lead emitted from the combustion of leaded gasoline is a prime
candidate.
     Studies of data from blood lead screening programs (i.e., New York City) suggest that the
downward trend  in  blood  lead levels noted earlier is due to the reduction in air lead levels,
which has been  attributed  to the reduction of lead in gasoline.   The NHANES II  analysis found
a highly significant association between the declining blood lead concentrations for the over-
all  U.S.  population  and decreasing amounts  of  lead  used  in gasoline  in  the United  States
during the same time period.  Two studies used isotope ratios of lead to estimate the relative
proportion of lead  in  the  blood coming from airborne lead.   From one study, by Manton,  it can
be estimated  that between  7  and 41 percent  of  the  blood lead  in  study  subjects  in  Dallas
                                          11-185

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resulted from  airborne  lead.   Additionally,  these data provide  a  means of estimating the in-
direct contribution  of  air lead to blood  lead.   By  one estimate,  only 10 - 20 percent of the
total airborne contribution in Dallas is from direct inhalation.
     From the  ILE  data  in Facchetti and Geiss  (1982)  and Facchetti (1985), as shown in Table
11-73, the  direct  inhalation  of air lead  may  account  for 60 percent of the total  adult blood
lead uptake from leaded gasoline in a large urban center,  but inhalation is a much  less impor-
tant pathway  in  suburban  parts of the region (19 percent of the total gasoline lead contribu-
tion) and  in  the  rural  parts of the region  (9 percent of the  total  gasoline  lead contribu-
tion).   EPA analyses of the  preliminary results  from  the ILE study  separated  the  inhalation
and  non-inhalation  contributions of  leaded  gasoline  to  blood  lead  into  the  following three
parts:   (1)  an increase of about 1.7 |jg/dl  in  blood lead per (jg/m3 of air lead, attributable
to  direct  inhalation of the  combustion products  of  leaded gasoline;  (2)  a  sex  difference of
about 2  ug/dl  attributable to  lower  exposure of women to  indirect (non-inhalation) pathways
for  gasoline  lead;  and  (3) a non-inhalation background attributable to indirect gasoline lead
pathways, such as  ingestion  of dust and  food, increasing  from  about 2 ug/dl in Turin to 3
|jg/dl in remote rural areas.   The non-inhalation background represents only two to  three years
of environmental accumulation at the new experimental lead isotope  ratio.   It is not clear how
to numerically extrapolate these estimates  to U.S. subpopulations;  but it is evident that even
in rural and suburban parts of a metropolitan area, the indirect (non-inhalation) pathways for
exposure to leaded gasoline make a significant contribution to blood lead. This can be seen in
Table 11-73.   It  should  also  be  noted that  the blood  lead  isotope ratio  responded fairly
rapidly  when the  lead isotope ratio returned to its pre-experimental value, but it is not yet
possible to  estimate the  long-term change  in blood  lead  attributable to persistent exposures
to accumulated environmental   lead.
     The strongest  kind of scientific evidence about  causal  relationships is based on an ex-
periment in  which  all possible extraneous  factors are  controlled.   The evidence derived from
the  Isotopic Lead Experiment  (ILE)  comes  very  close  to this ideal.   The experimental inter
vention  consisted of  replacing the normal  206Pb/207Pb isotope ratio by a very different ratio.
There is no plausible mechanism by which other concurrent lead exposure variables (food, water
and  beverages,  paint, and industrial  emissions) could  have also changed their isotope ratios.
Hence the  very large changes in  isotope  ratios  in blood  were responding  to  the  change  in
gasoline. There was  no  need  to carry out detailed aerometric and ecological modeling to track
the  leaded  gasoline  isotopes  through the various environmental pathways.   In fact,  our analy-
ses  (Section 11.3.6.2.1)   show  that consideration of  inhalation of  community air  lead alone
will substantially  under  estimate  the total effect  of  gasoline  lead, at least in  the 35 sub-
jects whose blood  leads  were tracked  in  the  ILE  Preliminary Study.  This  may be partially
explained by the differences  in the lead concentration  measured by  stationary monitors
                                           11-186

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             TABLE 11-73.   ESTIMATED CONTRIBUTION OF LEADED GASOLINE TO BLOOD LEAD
                           BY INHALATION AND NON-INHALATION PATHWAYS




Location
Turin
<25 km
>25 km


Air lead
fraction
from
gasoline3
0.873
0.587
0.587

Blood
lead
fraction
from
i • b
gasol me
0.214
0.114
0.101
Blood
lead
from
gasol ipe
in air
(M9/dl)
2.79
0.53
0.28

Blood lead
not inhaled
from .gaso-
line0
(ug/dl)
1.88
2.33
2.93


Estimated
fraction
gas- lead
inhalation6
0.60
0.19
0.09
^Fraction of air lead in Phase 2 attributable to lead in gasoline.
 Mean fraction of blood lead in Phase 2 attributable to lead in gasoline.
^Estimated blood lead from gasoline inhalation = p x a x b,  p = 1.6.
 Estimated blood lead from gasoline, non-inhalation = f-e.
fraction of blood lead uptake from gasoline attributable to direct inhalation = f/e.
Source:   Facchetti and Geiss (1982), pp.  52-56; Facchetti (1985).

compared to  those  that  would be measured by personal monitors, expecially if higher exposures
occur in certain  microenvironments.   Diet lead is also an explanation for the large excess  of
gasoline lead isotope ratio in blood beyond that expected from inhalation  of ambient air lead,
both from gasoline  lead entering the food chain and added by food processing and preparation.
The subjects  in  the ILE study cannot be  said  to represent some defined population, and it  is
not clear how the  results can be extended  to  U.S.  populations.   Turin's  unusual  meteorology,
high lead levels,  and  "reversed" urban-rural gradient of the  subjects  in the ILE study indi-
cate the need for  future research.   But  in  spite  of the variable gasoline  lead  exposures  of
the subjects,  there  is  strong evidence that changes in gasoline lead  produce large  changes  in
blood lead.
     Because  the main purpose of this chapter is  to examine relationships of lead  in  air and
lead in blood under ambient conditions,  the results  of  studies  most  appropriate  to this  area
have been emphasized.   A  summary of the most  appropriate studies  appears in Table  11-74.   At
air lead exposures  of  3.2 ug/m3 or less, there is no statistically significant difference be-
tween curvilinear and linear blood lead inhalation relationships.   At  air  lead exposures of  10
pg/rn3 or  more, either  nonlinear or  linear  relationships  can be fitted.   Thus,  a  reasonably
consistent picture emerges  in which the  blood lead to air lead relationship by direct  inhala-
tion was  approximately  linear in the range  of  normal  ambient exposures of  0.1-2.0  ug/m3 (as
discussed in Chapter 7).   Differences among individuals  in  a given study  (and  among  several

                                          11-187

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                      TABLE 11-74.   SUMMARY  OF  BLOOD  INHALATION  SLOPES,  (B)
                                        pg/dl per (jg/m3

Population
Children


Children


(P)
Study Slope, Model sensitivity
Study type N (jg/dl per ug/m3 of slope*
Angle and Population 1074 1.92 (1.40 - 4 40)a>b'c
Mclntire, 1979
Omaha, NE
Roels et al . Population 148 2.46 (1.55 - 2 46)a>b
(1980)
Belgium
Children
Adult males
Adult males
Yankel et al.     Population
  (1977); Walter
  et al.  (1980)
  Idaho
Azar et al.
  (1975). Five
  groups

Griffin et al.
  (1975), NY
  prisoners
Population
Experiment
                   879
149
 43
         1.52
1.32
1.75
(1.07 -  1.52)a'b>c




(1.08 -  2.39)b'C



(1.52 -  3.38)d
Adult males

Adult males


Gross
(1979)
Rabinowitz et
al. (1973,1976,
1977)
Experiment 6 1.25

Experiment 5 2.14
l

(1.25 -

(2.14 -


1.55)b

3.51)e


^Selected from among the most plausible statistically equivalent models.
 models, slope at 1.0 (jg/m3.

Sensitive to choice of other correlated predictors such as dust and soil

bSensitive to linear versus nonlinear at low air lead.

Sensitive to age as a covariate.

^Sensitive to baseline changes in controls.

Sensitive to assumed air lead exposure.
                                                           For nonlinear


                                                           lead.
                                          11-188

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studies)  are  large,  so that pooled  estimates  of the blood lead inhalation  slope  depend upon
the weight  given  to  various studies.  Several studies  were  selected for analysis, based upon
factors  described  earlier.   EPA  analyses*  of experimental  and clinical  studies  (Griffin et
al., 1975;  Rabinowitz  et  al.,  1974, 1976, 1977;  Kehoe 1961a,b,c; Gross, 1981;  Hammond et al.,
1981) suggest  that blood  lead  in adults increases by 1.64 ± 0.22 ug/dl  from direct inhalation
of each  additional M9/n>3  of air  lead.  EPA  analysis  of Azar's population study (Azar et al.
1975) yields  a slope  of  1.32 ±  0.38 for adult males.  EPA  analyses  of  population  studies
(Yankel  et  al.,  1977;  Roels et al.,  1980; Angle and Mclntire, 1979) suggest  that,  for chil-
dren, the median blood lead increase is 1.97  ug/dl per ug/m3 for inhaled air lead.
     These slope estimates are  based on the assumption that an equilibrium level of blood lead
is achieved within a few months after exposure begins.  This is only approximately true, since
lead stored in  the  skeleton may  return to blood after some years.   Chamberlain et al.  (1978)
suggest  that long-term  inhalation slopes  should  be about 30 percent larger than these estima-
tes.   Inhalation slopes quoted  here are associated with a half-life of blood lead in adults of
about 30 days.   0'Flaherty  et  al.  (1982) suggest that the blood lead  half-life  may increase
slightly  with  duration of  exposure, but  this has  not been  confirmed  (Kang  et  al.,  1983).
     One possible approach  would  be to regard all  inhalation  slope studies as equally infor-
mative and  to  calculate  an  average slope  using reciprocal squared standard error estimates as
weights.   This approach has been rejected for two reasons.   First,  the  standard error estima-
tes characterize only the internal precision  of an estimated slope,  not  its representativeness
(i.e.,  bias) or  predictive  validity.   Secondly,  experimental  and clinical  studies obtain more
information from a single  individual  than do  population  studies.   Thus,  it may not be appro-
priate  to combine the two types of studies.
     Estimates  of the  inhalation  slope  for children  are  only  available from  population
studies.   The  importance  of dust ingestion as a  non-inhalation pathway  for children is estab-
lished  by many  studies.   A  pooled slope estimate,  1.97 ± 0.39, has been derived for air lead
inhalation  based  on  those studies (Angle and  Mclntire,  1979;  Roels et al., 1980;  Yankel  et
al., 1977)  from  which the  air inhalation and  dust ingestion  contributions  can both  be esti-
mated.    Aggregate analyses  of  data from these and several other studies typically yield slope
estimates in the  range  of 3-5  for the combined  impact of both direct  (inhaled)  and  indirect
(via dust, etc.) contributions  of air lead to blood lead in  children.
*Note:  The term  EPA  analyses refers to calculations done  at  EPA.   A brief discussion of the
 methods  used  is  contained  in  Appendix 11-B;  more  detailed information is available  at EPA
 upon request.
                                          11-189

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     While direct  inhalation  of  air lead is stressed, this is not the only air lead contribu-
tion that  needs  to be considered.  Smelter  studies  allow partial assessment of  the  air lead
contributions to soil,  dust,  and finger lead.   Conceptual models allow preliminary estimation
of the propagation of lead through the total food chain as shown in Chapter 7.   Useful mathe-
matical models to  quantify the propagation of  lead  through  the food chain need  to  be devel-
oped.  The direct  inhalation  relationship does provide useful information on changes in blood
lead as  responses   to  changes in air  lead on  a time scale of  several  months.   The indirect
pathways through dust and  soil and through the food chain may thus delay the total blood lead
response to  changes in air lead, perhaps by one or more years.  The Italian ILE study facili-
tates partial assessment of this delayed response from leaded gasoline as a source.
     Dietary absorption  of lead  varies greatly  from  one  person to another and depends on the
physical and chemical  form of the  carrier,  on  nutritional  status, and on whether lead is in-
gested with food or between meals.  These distinctions are particularly important for consump-
tion by  children of leaded paint, dust, and soil.  Typical values of 10 percent absorption of
ingested  lead  into blood  have been assumed  for adults  and 25  to  50 percent  for children.
     It  is difficult  to obtain accurate dose-response relationships between blood lead levels
and  lead levels in food  or  water.   Dietary intake  must be  estimated  by duplicate diets or
fecal  lead determinations.  Water  lead  levels  can  be determined with  some  accuracy,  but the
varying  amounts  of water consumed by different  individuals add to the uncertainty of the esti-
mated  relationships.
     Quantitative  analyses relating blood lead  levels and dietary lead exposures have been re-
ported.   Studies  on  infants  provide  estimates  that are in  close  agreement.   Only one indi-
vidual study is  available  for  adults (Sherlock  et al. 1982);  another estimate from a number of
pooled  studies   is  also available.   These  two  estimates are  in  good  agreement.   Most of the
subjects in  the  Sherlock et al.  (1982) and United Kingdom Central Directorate on Environmental
Pollution  (1982)  studies  received  quite high  dietary lead  levels  (>300 ug/day).   The fitted
cube root equations  give  high  slopes  at lower dietary lead  levels.   On  the  other hand, the
linear slope of  the United Kingdom  Central Directorate on Environmental Pollution  (1982) study
is  probably  an  underestimate  of  the  slope at  lower  dietary  lead levels.   For these  reasons,
the  Ryu  et al.   (1983)  study  is  the most believable, although  it only applies to infants and
also probably underestimates  to some extent  the value  of  the  slope.   Estimates for adults
should  be  taken from  the  experimental studies  or calculated  from assumed  absorption and half-
life values.   Most of  the dietary  intake supplements were so  high  that  many  of the  subjects
had  blood  lead concentrations much in  excess  of 30  ug/dl for a considerable  part of  the ex-
periment.   Blood  lead  levels thus may not  completely reflect lead  exposure,  due  to the
previously noted nonlinearity of blood  lead  response at high exposures.  The  slope estimates

                                           11-190

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for adult  dietary  intake are about 0.02 ug/dl  increase  in blood lead per  ng/day  intake,  but
consideration of blood lead kinetics may increase this value to about 0.04.   Such values are a
bit lower than slopes of about 0.05 ug/dl per ug/day estimated from the population studies ex-
trapolated to typical dietary intakes.   The value for infants is larger.
     The relation  between  blood  lead and water  lead  is  not clearly defined and  is  often  de-
scribed  as  nonlinear.   Water lead intake varies  greatly from one person to another.   It  has
been assumed that  children can absorb 25-50 percent  of  lead in water.   Many authors chose to
fit cube root models to their data, although polynomial and logarithmic models  were also used.
Unfortunately,  the  form  of the model greatly  influences  the estimated contributions to blood
leads from relatively low water lead concentration.
     Although there  is  close  agreement in the quantitative  analyses  of the relationship bet-
ween blood  lead  level  and dietary lead, there is a larger degree of variability in results of
the various water lead studies.  The relationship is curvilinear, but its exact form is yet to
be determined.   At  typical  levels for U.S.  populations,  the relationship appears linear.  The
only study  that  determines the relationship based  on lower water lead  values  (<100 ng/1) is
the Pocock  et  al.  (1983) study.   The data from this study, as well as the authors themselves,
suggest  that in  this lower range of water  lead  levels,  the relationship is linear.   Further-
more, the  estimated contributions to blood  lead levels  from this study  are quite consistent
with the polynomial  models from other studies.   For  these reasons,  the  Pocock  et al.  (1983)
slope of 0.06  is  considered  to  represent  the best estimate.   The possibility  still  exists,
however, that the  higher estimates of the other studies  may be correct in certain situations,
especially at higher water lead levels (>100 ug/1).
     Studies relating soil  lead  to blood lead levels are difficult to compare.   The relation-
ship obviously depends  on  depth  of soil lead, age  of the children,  sampling method, cleanli-
ness of  the  home,  mouthing activities of the children, and possibly  many other factors.   Var-
ious soil  sampling  methods and sampling depths have been used over time, and as  such they  may
not be  directly  comparable and may produce a  dilution effect of the  major lead  concentration
contribution from  dust  which  is  located primarily  in  the top 2 cm of the soil.   Increases in
soil dust lead significantly increase blood lead in children.  From several  studies (Yankel et
al., 1977;  Angle and Mclntire, 1979) EPA estimates an increase of 0.6-6.8 ug/dl  in blood lead
for each increase  of 1000 ug/g  in  soil  lead concentration.   Values of about 2.0  ug/dl  per
1,000 |jg/g  soil  lead from the Stark  et al.  (1982)  study may represent a  reasonable  median
estimate.  The relationship of housedust lead to blood  lead is  difficult to obtain.    House-
hold dust also increases blood lead,  as children from the cleanest homes in the Silver Valley/
Kellogg  Study had  6 ug/dl  less lead in blood,  on average, than those  from the  households with
the most dust.

                                          11-191

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     A  number  of  specific  environmental  sources of  airborne lead  have  been identified  as
having  a  direct   influence  on  blood lead  levels.    Primary  lead  smelters,  secondary  lead
smelters, and battery  plants  emit lead directly into the air and ultimately increase soil  and
dust lead  concentrations  in  their vicinity.   Adults, and especially children,  have been shown
to exhibit elevated  blood  lead levels when living close  to  these sources.   Blood lead levels
in these residents have been shown to be related to air,  as well  as to soil  or  dust exposures.
The  habit  of  cigarette smoking  is  a source  of lead exposure.   Other  sources   include  the
following:   lead based cosmetics, lead-based folk remedies, and glazed pottery.
                                           11-192

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11.7  REFERENCES


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Brunekreef,  B.;  Noy, 0.;  Biersteker,  K.;  Boleij,  J.  (1983) Blood  lead  levels of Dutch city
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Stark, A.  D. ;  Quah, R.  F.; Meigs,  J.  W.; DeLoulse, E. R.  (1982) The  relationship of environ-
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                                           11-209

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                                            11-210

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Yankel,  A.  J.; von  Lindern,  I.  H.;  Walter, S.  D.  (1977)  The Silver  Valley lead study:  the
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     Pollut. Control Assoc.  27:  763-767.

Z1elhu1s,  R.  L.;  del  Castllho,  P.; Herber, R. F. M.; Wibowo, A.  A.  E.;  Salle",  H. J. A.  (1979)
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     living near a secondary smelter. Int.  Arch. Occup. Environ.  Health  42: 231-239.
                                          11-211

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                                         APPENDIX 11A
                                    COMPARTMENTAL ANALYSIS
     Many  authors  have noted that under conditions of constant lead exposure, blood lead con-
centrations  change  from  one  level  to another  apparent equilibrium  level  over a  period  of
several  months.   A  mathematical  model  is  helpful in estimating  the  new apparent equilibrium
level  even when  the duration of  the  experiment  is not sufficiently long for this equilibrium
level  to have been achieved.  The model assumes  that lead in the body is held in some number
of  homogeneous and  well -mixed  pools  or compartments.  The compartments  have similar kinetic
properties  and may or may not correspond  to  identifiable  organ systems.  In a linear kinetic
model  it is assumed that the rate of change  of the mass of  lead in compartment i at time t,
denoted  X^ (t), is a  linear function of the mass of lead in each compartment.   Denote the frac-
tional  rate of transfer  of lead into  compartment i  from compartment j  by  K. .  (fraction per
day),  and  let I..(t)  be  the total external lead  input  into  compartment i at time  t in units
such  as  ug/day.  The  elimination rate  from  compartment i is  denoted  K~..   The  compartmental
model  is
for each of the n compartments.  If the inputs are all constant, then each X^t) is the sum of
(at most) n exponential functions of time (see for example, Jacquez, 1972).
     For the one-compartment model
                                              Ij - KQ1 Xt(t)                   (11-24)
         with an initial lead burden X:(0) at time 0,
                        Xi(t) = Xj(0) exp(-KQlt) + [(l!/K01) (l-exp(-K01t)]     (11-25)

The mass of  lead at equilibrium is  Ii/KQi ug.   We  may think of this  pool  as  "blood lead".  If
the pool  has volume  Vj  then the  equilibrium concentration  is  li/Kg!  Vx ug/dl.  Intake  from
several pathways will have the form

                    Ix = At (Pb-AIr) + A2 (Pb-D1et)+ '  '  '                       (11-26)
                                           11A-1

-------
so that the long-term concentration is

                                       VO  Pb-Air +  '  '  '                        (11-27)

The inhalation coefficient is p = A^K^V!.   The blood lead  half-life  is  0.693/KQl.
     Models with two  or  more compartments  will  still  have equilibrium concentrations  in  blood
and  other  compartments  that are  proportional  to  the  total  lead  intake,  and thus  increase
linearly with  increasing  concentrations  in  air, dust, and diet.   The  relationship  between  the
exponential parameters and the fractional  transfer coefficients  will be much more complicated,
however.
     Models with two  or  three pools have been fitted  by Rabinowitz et al.  (1976, 1977) and by
Batschelet et  al.  (1979).   The pools are tentatively  identified  as mainly blood,  soft tissue
and bone.  But as  noted  in Section 11.4.1.1, the  "blood" pool  is much larger than the volume
of blood itself, and so  it is convenient to  think  of this  as the effective volume of distri-
bution  for pool 1.   A five-pool model has  been proposed by Bernard   (1977), whose pools  are
mainly blood,  liver, kidney, soft bones and hard bone.
     The major conclusion  of  this Appendix  is that   linear  kinetic  mechanisms imply linear
relationships  between  blood lead and lead concentrations in environmental  media.   An  extended
discussion  of  nonlinear  kinetic mechanisms  is  given in  Chapter 10, based  on   analyses  in
Marcus  (1985).  One  important  mechanism  involves an apparent  limitation  on  the amount  of
lead  that  can  be  absorbed by the  red blood  cells.   However, at blood  lead  levels <30  ug/dl
this  limitation does  not greatly affect the  linearity  of the relationship between blood lead
and lead exposure.
                                           11A-2

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                                         APPENDIX 11B
                               FITTING CURVES TO BLOOD LEAD DATA
     The  relationship  between blood lead  and  the concentrations of lead  in  various  environ-
mental media  is  a principal  concern of this chapter.   It is generally accepted that  the geo-
metric mean blood lead is some function,  f, of  the concentration of air  lead  and  of lead in
diet, dust, soil,  and  other media.  It has been observed that blood lead levels have  a highly
skewed  distribution  even for  populations  with relatively homogeneous exposure,  and  that the
variability in blood  lead is roughly proportional  to  the geometric mean blood lead or to the
arithmetic  mean   (constant coefficient  of variation).   Thus,  instead of  the usual  model  in
which random  variations  are  normally distributed, a model is assumed here in which the random
deviations are multiplicative  and lognormally  distributed with geometric mean 1 and geometric
standard deviation (GSD) e°.  The model is written

               Pb-Blood = f (Pb-Air, etc.) eoz                                  (11-28)

where z is a random  variable with mean  0  and  standard  deviation 1.  It  has  a Gaussian or
normal distribution.   The model is  fitted  to data in logarithmic  form

               In(Pb-Blood) =  In  (f)                                            (11-29)

even when  f is assumed to be a linear function, e.g.,

               f  = p Pb-Air +  pQ  +  pi Pb-Dust + ...                             (11-30)

The  nonlinear function,  fitted by  most authors  (e.g., Snee, 1982b),  is a power function with
shape parameter \,

               f  = (p  Pb-Air + p   + Pi Pb-Dust +  ...)A                         (11-31)

These  functions   can all  be  fitted to data using nonlinear  regression techniques.   Even when
the  nonlinear shape  parameter A.  has  a small statistical  uncertainty  or  standard error as-
sociated  with it, a highly  variable data  set  may  not clearly distinguish the  linear  function
(A = 1) from  a nonlinear  function (\ $ 1).  In particular, for the  Azar  data  set, the  residual
sum  of  squares is shown  as  a  function of  the  shape parameter \,  in Figure 11B-1.   When  only a

                                           11B-1

-------
   9.3
   9.2 r-
ffi
oc
<

a
w
u.
O
   g.o
(A  8.9
Q

55
   fla
   O.O
   8.7
    8.6 J-
                                                                    I       T
             MINIMUM SIGNIFICANT

             DIFFERENCE FOR 1 DF
                         A =0.26
           MINIMUM SIGNIFICANT

           DIFFERENCE FOR 5 DF
                                        SSE FOR In (Pb-Blood) = A In 
-------
separate  intercept  (background) is  assumed  for each  subpopulation,  the best  choice is A  =
0.26; but  when  age  is also used as  a covariate for each subpopulation,  then the linear  model
is  better.   However,  the  approximate  size  of the  difference  in  residual sum  of  squares
required to  decide  at the 5 percent  significance  level  that  a nonlinear model   is better  (or
worse) than  a linear  model  is  larger than the  observed  difference in sum of squares  for  any
A>0.2 (Gallant,  1975).   Therefore,  a linear model  is  used  unless evidence  of nonlinearity  is
very  strong, as  with some  of  Kehoe's  studies and   the Silver  Valley/Kellogg study.  Non-
linearity  is  detectable  only  when  blood lead is high  (much above 35  or  40  ug/dl), and intake
is high, e.g.,  air  lead  much above  10 ug/m3.   Additional  research is needed on the  relation-
ship between  lead levels  and lead intake from all environmental  pathways.
                                           11B-3

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                                          APPENDIX  11C
                       ESTIMATION  OF  GASOLINE  LEAD  CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADULT
                          BLOOD  LEAD  BURDENS BASED  ON ILE STUDY RESULTS
      As  discussed in Chapter 11  (pp.  11-118 to 11-123) the results of  the  Isotopic Lead Ex-
periment  (ILE)  carried out in  Northern  Italy provide one basis by which to estimate contribu-
tions  of  lead in gasoline  to blood  lead burdens of populations exposed in the ILE study area.
Figures  11C-1 to  5  of this  appendix,  reprinted from  Facchetti  and  Geiss (1982), illustrate
changes  in isotopic  206Pb/207Pb  ratios  for  35  adult  subjects,  for whom repeated measurements
were  obtained over time during the  ILE  study.   The percent of total blood lead in those sub-
jects  contributed by Australian  lead-labeled gasoline  (petrol) used in automotive vehicles in
the  ILE  study area was estimated by the approach reprinted below verbatim from Appendix 17 of
Facchetti  and Geiss  (1982):
     The  main purpose of the ILE project  was  the  determination of the contribution of petrol
lead  to  total lead in blood.   A  rough value for the fraction  of  petrol  lead in blood can be
derived from  the  following  equations:

                                      R! X + f (1-X) = R1
                                      R2 X + f (1-X) = R"

each of them  referring to a given time at which equilibrium conditions hold.
     R' and  R"  represent the blood lead isotopic ratios measured at each of the two times;  if
R1 and R«  represent the local petrol  lead isotopic ratios measured at the same times,  X is the
fraction  of  local petrol  lead  in blood due to petrols affected by  the  change  in  the  lead
isotopic  ratio,  irrespective of  its  pathway to  the  blood i.e., by inhalation  and  ingestion
(e.g., from  petrol  lead  fallout).  The  term (1-X)  represents  the  fraction of the sum  of  all
other  external  sources of  lead in the  blood  (any  «other»  petrol lead  included),  factor  f
being  the  unknown isotopic  ratio  of  the mixture of these sources.   It  is  assumed that X and  f
remained constant over the  period of the experiment, which implies  a  reasonable constancy of
both the lead contributing sources in the test areas and the  living habits  which,  in  practice,
might not be entirely the case.
     Data  from  individuals  sampled  at  the  initial and final   equilibrium  phases  of  the  ILE
study  together  with  petrol  lead  isotopic ratios measured  at  the  same  times,  would  ideally
provide  a means  to  estimate  X  for  Turin  and  countryside adults.   However, for  practical
reasons,  calculations  were  based on  the initial and final data of the subjects  whose first

                                           11C-1

-------
sampling  was  done  not later  than 1975  and the  final  one during  phase  2.   Their  complete
follow-up data are shown in Table 27.   For RI and R2 the values measured in the phases 0 and 2
of  ILE  were used  (Rj  = 1.186,  RZ =  1.060).   Hence, as  averages  of the individual X  and f
results, we obtain:
Turin
countryside
<25 km

countryside
>25 km
K! = 0.237 ± 0.054
fi = 1.1560 ± 0.0033

X2 - 0.125 ± 0.071
f2 = 1.1542 i 0.0036

X3 - 0.110 ± 0.058
f3 = 1.1576 ± 0.0019
i.e 24%


i.e.  12%


i.e 11%
              1.16  -
                  Figure 11C-1. Individual values of blood Pb-206/Pb-207 ratio
                  for subjects follow-up in Turin (12 subjects).

                  Source: Facchetti and Geiss (1982).
                                           11C-2

-------
           I    I     I    I    I    I    I     I    I    I    I    I
£
8

£
   1.16
   1.15
   1.14
   1.13
   1.12
         -PHASE 0—»
           I     I    I
                        — PHASE 1	»+•	
                         I    I   I    I     I
                • PHASE 2	H-
                  I    I    I    I
          74
                    75
76
77
78
79
                                                              80
         Figure 11C-2. Individual values of blood zoepb/zoJRb ratio
         for subjects follow-up in Castagnetto (4 subjects).
           T
                                                    I    I     I
   1.16
   1.15
£
S
a   1.14
a.
    1.13
    1.12
                — DRUENTO

                •- FIANO
          -PHASE 0.
            I    I    T
                          -PHASE 1.
                         J	  I
       -4*
          I    J_
        -PHASE 2.
          I     I
          I	I
           74
                    75
 76
 77
78
79
         Figure 11C-3. Individual values of blood 2o6pb/207Pb ratio
         for subjects follow-up in Druento and Fiano (6 subjects).

         Source: Facchetti and Geiss (1982).

                              11C-3

-------
    1.16
    1.15
    1.14
    1.13
    l.i:
             I    I  1   I    I    I    I     I    I    I    I    I    I
                       \     v      '
                    \   V     V  '-.'
        •- MOLE

        — SANTENA
                                               .PHASE 2.
.*-. PHASE 0-^L,	PHASE 1	»»h—
    I    I    l'~  I    I     I    L    I    I    I    1    I
            74
            75
76
                            77
                                        78
         79      80
          Figure 11C-4. Individual values of blood 2°«Pb/207Pb ratio
          lor subjects follow-up in Nole and Santena (9 subjects).
8
    1.15
    1.14
    1.13
    1.12
            I
                          -PHASE 1
• PHASE 0
 L    I   l'    I     I    I    'I    I     I    I     I    1
                                      • PHASE 2.
                               H*
           74
            75
76
                            77
78
79
80
          Figure 11C-5. Individual values of blood 2ocpb/207p|, ratio
          for subjects follow-up in Viu (4 subjects).

          Source: Facchetti and Geiss (1982).
                                11C-4


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