In vivo bone lead measurements have been made on a group of about 120 people, most of whom were lead exposed workers. Two different x-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques were used to make measurements at three bone sites. Finger lead was measured using 57Co sources, and lead measurements were made in both tibia and calcaneus with a technique based on 109Cd sources. The results of the bone lead measurements correlated strongly with each other and with the index of cumulative exposure, thus confirming the value and reliability of these in vivo measurements as a tool in the study of chronic lead exposure. Measurement precision, +/- 1 standard deviation, was highest for tibia +/- 7.4 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1, +/- 16.6 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1 for the calcaneus and lowest for phalangeal lead +/- 25.0 micrograms (g bone mineral)-1. Maximum absorbed doses to the skin were comparable for all three measurements (1-3 mGy). The mean whole body dose equivalents were all low, but that for the finger measurement, 0.1 microSv, was significantly less than for the calcaneus and tibia measurements 3-5 microSv.

SKERFVING S. Chelated lead and bone lead. Scand J Work En viron Health 1992;18:113-9. In this study a close correlation [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.86, P < 0.001) was found between the blood lead level of 20 lead workers and their urinary excretion of lead for 24 h after intravenous infusion with I g of the chelating agent calcium disodium edetate, In addition , there were significant associations between lead levels in different bones (tibia /calcaneus: r=0.93, P

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