Abstract
We undertook a 2 year pilot study in premenopausal and postmenopausal females and male partners in which the subjects were administered a biphosphonate, for 6 months. The aim of the study was to determine how lead isotopes and lead concentrations changed in relation to bone remodelling processes. Each subject had blood and urine samples collected for markers of bone turnover and for lead isotope studies monthly for 7 - 9 months before and then 3 monthly during and for up to 6 months after treatment with alendronate as an agent for inhibiting bone resorption. There were significant decreases in the lead isotope ratio, 206Pb/204Pb, for the migrant subjects during treatment compared with pre-treatment period (p<0.01). The average blood lead concentrations in migrant subjects decreased by about 20% during the treatment compared with the pre-treatment period (p<0.01). The changes in lead isotopic composition and lead concentration are consistent with a decrease in bone resorption and associated mobilisation of lead during alendronate therapy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 601-604 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal De Physique. IV : JP |
Volume | 107 |
Issue number | I |
Publication status | Published - May 2003 |