XRF-measured bone lead (Pb) as a biomarker for Pb exposure and toxicity among children diagnosed with Pb poisoning

Abstract

Childhood lead (Pb) poisoning remains a global issue, especially in industrial areas. In this study, 115 children with average age 5.7 years were recruited as either patient diagnosed with Pb poisoning or controls at Xinhua Hospital in China. The subjects’ bone Pb was measured with a K-shell X-ray fluorescence (KXRF) and a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) system. A significant correlation between KXRF bone Pb and blood Pb and portable XRF and KXRF measurements were observed. The half-life of blood-lead was calculated to be 9.96 ± 3.92 d. Our results indicate that bone is a useful biomarker for Pb in children.

Quantification of manganese and mercury in toenail in vivo using portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF)

“…The portable XRF technology was developed and validated in our group, and was successfully used to noninvasively quantify the bone lead concentration in vivo within 3 min (Nie et al 2011, Specht et al 2014, 2016). Furthermore, portable XRF applications in different metal assessment in human nail and nail clippings have been widely investigated in recent studies (Gherase and Fleming 2011, McIver et al 2015, Fleming and Ware 2017).…”

Theoretical modeling of a portable x-ray tube based KXRF system to measure lead in bone

“…Even considering these initial problems, the system would still be viable for measurement with a detection limit only slightly greater than current modern Cd-109 based systems, but with many potential advantages in portability and avoiding source licensing. The system would also have advantages over current portable XRF technology because it would not have the issues with skin thickness that degrade the measurement significantly for some individuals (Specht et al 2014, 2016). Our study also shows the validity of using MCNP for x-ray tube and XRF simulations through comparison with experimental work.…”

Using Bone Lead as a Biomarker for Lead Toxicity in Condors: Accuracy of Portable L-X- ray Fluorescence (LXRF) Device to Quantify Lead (Pb) in Condor Bone In Vivo

“…A KXRF bone Pb measurement system was used in our previous studies to validate the portable LXRF for in vivo PbBn measurement in humans (Nie et al, 2006;Specht et al, 2014Specht et al, , 2016. This system contains Our group developed a cadmium-109 ( 109 Cd) based K-shell x-ray fluorescence (KXRF) PbBn measurement system, which has been validated and applied in human health studies (Nie, Chettle, Luo, & O'Meara, 2006;Specht et al, 2016) The KXRF system makes use of the characteristic Pb K x-rays with relatively high energy. The higher energy yields less soft tissue attenuation and so is not as dependent on skin thickness as the portable L-shell x-ray fluorescence (portable LXRF) system.…”

“…Researchers' understanding of Pb poisoning of condors has been confi ned to PbB measurements or measurements taken from feathers. Blood level is an adequate biomarker of acute Pb exposure, as the average PbB half-life in humans is around a month (Specht et al, 2016). Bone lead (PbBn) would be a more suitable biomarker to observe the chronic Pb exposure of condors, as the half-life of Pb in human bone is several decades and PbBn contains over 90% of the total Pb body burden (Wilker et al, 2011).…”

“…Figure 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of the portable XRF device for in vivo PbBn measurement (Nie et al, 2011). This technique has been calibrated and used previously for in vivo human studies in our group (Specht et al, 2014(Specht et al, , 2016. The current study aims to determine whether the device can accurately quantify Pb in condor bones.…”