Air Quality Criteria for Lead Volume II of II - (NEPIS)(EPA) - US ...

AX4-19
Reference, Study
Location, and
Period Study Description
United States
Korrick et al.
(2002)
Boston, MA
1990-95
Popovic et al.
(2005)
Bunker Hill, ID
1994
Nurses’ Health Study. Crosssectional
study of 264 elderly
women; 46-54 yr (n = 80) 55-64
yr (n = 102), 65-74 yr (n = 82).
Tibia and patella Pb. Multivariate
linear regression models.
108 former female smelter
employees and 99 referents to
assess the PbB versus bone Pb
relationship
Table AX4-6. Bone Lead Contribution to PbB
Lead Measurement (SD or range)
PbB in µg/dL, Bone Pb in µg/g Bone Mineral Findings, Interpretation
46-54 yr: PbB 2.7 (SE ±0.3), tibia 10.5 (±1.0), patella
14.9 (±1.2)
55-64 yr: PbB 3.4 (±0.2), tibia 12.7 (±0.9), patella 17.0 (±1.1)
65-74 yr: PbB 3.3 (±0.3), tibia 16.4 (±0.9), patella 19.8 (±1.2).
An increase from the first to the fifth quintile of tibia Pb level
(19 µg/g) was associated with a 1.7 µg/dL increase in PbB
(p 0.0001).
Exposed: PbB 2.73 (±2.39), tibia 14.4 (±0.5)
Referents: PbB 1.25 (±2.10), tibia 3.22 (±0.50)
Pb concentrations in tibia and blood significantly higher in the
exposed group. Endogenous release rate (µg Pb per dL blood/µ
Pb/g bone) in postmenopausal women was double the rate found
in premenopausal women (0.132 ± 0.019 vs. 0.067 ± 0.014).
Tibia and patella Pb values were significantly
and positively associated with PbB but only
among postmenopausal women who were not
using estrogens. Older age and lower parity
were associated with higher tibia Pb; only age
was associated with patella Pb. They
suggested the observed interaction of bone Pb
with estrogen status in determining PbB
supports the hypothesis that increased bone
resorption, as occurs postmenopausally
because of decreased estrogen production,
results in heightened release of bone Pb stores
into blood.
Higher tibia bone Pb (and PbB) was associated
with use of estrogen (present or former) in
both the whole referent group and
postmenopausal women in the referent group.