Evaluation of the use of salivary lead levels as a surrogate of blood lead or plasma lead levels in lead exposed subjects

Abstract

We conducted a study to evaluate the use of parotid salivary lead (Pb-saliva) levels as a surrogate of the blood lead (Pb-B) or plasma lead levels (Pb-P) to diagnose lead exposure. The relationship between these biomarkers was assessed in a lead exposed population. Pb-saliva and Pb-P were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, while in whole blood lead was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. We studied 88 adults (31 men and 57 women) from 18 to 60 years old. Pb-saliva levels varied from 0.05 to 4.4 microg/l, with a mean of 0.85 microg/l. Blood lead levels varied from 32.0 to 428.0 microg/l in men (mean 112.3 microg/l) and from 25.0 to 263.0 microg/l (mean 63.5 microg/l) in women. Corresponding Pb-Ps were 0.02-2.50 microg/l (mean 0.77 microg/l) and 0.03-1.6 microg/l (mean 0.42 microg/l) in men and women, respectively. A weak correlation was found between Log Pb-saliva and Log Pb-B (r=0.277, P<0.008), and between Log Pb-saliva and Log Pb-P (r=0.280, P=0.006). The Pb-saliva/Pb-P ratio ranged from 0.20 to 18.0. Age or gender does not affect Pb-saliva levels or Pb-saliva/Pb-P ratio. Taken together, these results suggest that salivary lead may not be used as a biomarker to diagnose lead exposure nor as a surrogate of plasma lead levels at least for low to moderately lead exposed population.

Reference concentrations for trace elements in urine for the Brazilian population based on q-ICP-MS with a simple dilute-and-shoot procedure

“…Data were acquired in counts per second (cps). The following isotopes were selected: 27 Al, 9 Be, 59 Co, 63 Cu, 133 Cs, 55 Mn, 60 Ni, 195 Pt, 121 Sb, 119 Sn, 205 Tl, and 238 U. Correction equations were adopted for cadmium:…”

Exploiting dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (DRC-ICP-MS) for sequential determination of trace elements in blood using a dilute-and-shoot procedure

“…This transition is occurring because ICP-MS instrumentation has become more affordable, and because the analytical methods developed for clinical purposes have become more robust [6]. Moreover, ICP-MS has some distinct advantages, including sequential multielement measurement capability coupled with very low detection limits; thus, this technique is suitable for biomonitoring studies and for monitoring of occupational exposures [6][7][8][9][10]. Compared with inductively coupled plasma atomic (optical) emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), ICP-MS provides much lower detection limits and sim- * Corresponding author.…”

Niveles de metales pesados en muestras biológicas y su importancia en salud

“…También es posible que durante la recolección se contamine la saliva con otros fluidos como sangre o por la manipulación inadecuada durante el procedimiento; además, no existen protocolos ni materiales de referencia estándar o certificados ni valores de referencia fiables para la población humana [49].…”