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. 1998 Dec;106(Suppl 6):1589–1594. doi: 10.1289/ehp.98106s61589

Bioavailability of soilborne lead in adults, by stable isotope dilution.

M Maddaloni 1, N Lolacono 1, W Manton 1, C Blum 1, J Drexler 1, J Graziano 1
PMCID: PMC1533442  PMID: 9860919

Abstract

Using stable isotope dilution, we determined the bioavailability of soilborne lead (Pb) in human adult volunteers. Soil from a residential yard at a mining-impacted federal Superfund site that had negligible amounts of other priority pollutants was dried and screened through a 25-micron mesh sieve. The < 250-micron fraction, which likely represents that ingested via hand-to-mouth activity, was then sterilized by exposure to radiation. Ten replicate samples yielded a mean (SD) soil Pb concentration of 2924 +/- 36 ppm, and a mean 206Pb/207Pb ratio of 1.1083 +/- 0.0002, indicating remarkable soil homogeneity. Six adults with 206Pb/207Pb ratios of > 1.190 were admitted to the clinical research center and fasted overnight prior to dosing with 250 micrograms Pb/70 kg bw (i.e., 85.5 mg soil/70 kg) in a gelatin capsule. Blood for Pb and 206Pb/207Pb ratios was obtained at 14 time points through 30 hr. Results of the isotopic analyses from these subjects indicate that on average 26.2% +/- 8.1 of the administered dose was absorbed. Six additional subjects were subsequently studied but ingested soil immediately after a standardized breakfast. Bioavailability in this group was only 2.52% +/- 1.7. Collectively, this study provides the first experimental estimates of soil Pb absorption in humans, and should allow for more precise estimates of health risks due to Pb-contaminated soil.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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