Enamel lead biomarker for prenatal exposure assessment

The development of the enamel biomarker for heavy metal exposure assessment is designed to improve studies of dose-effect relationships to embryonic anomalies, particularly neurotoxic dysfunction. This report documents initial demonstrations of ambient lead (Pb) relative to calcium (Ca) in histological cross sections of deciduous tooth enamel of three human subjects, by use of ion mass spectrometry. The goal of this research was to measure Pb and Ca in tooth enamel for use as a temporal biomarker in assessing prenatal and postnatal exposure. This involves measurement of these heavy metals in enamel at high spatial resolution along histological transects following the temporal pattern of enamel growth. The technique may be applied when completely developed to cross-sectional and longitudinal research. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science.