Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic Models for the Disposition of Lead (Pb) in Humans, in Support of Application to Occupational Exposure Limit Derivation
Abstract
The National Research Council (NRC) issued a report on the exposure of Department of Defense (DOD) personnel to lead (Pb) at firing ranges (NRC, 2013). In this report, they expressed the opinion that the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) was not sufficiently protective of DOD firing range personnel. A need has been identified by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) to derive of airborne Pb levels corresponding to the blood Pb levels (BLL) associated with various levels of concern identified by U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC, 2014). Mechanistic models for prediction of blood Pb, such as biokinetic or physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models, are appropriate tools for such a task. The two models under consideration were similar in their ability to simulate BLL measured in the selected studies. The OFlaherty model, however, more accurately described urinary vs. biliary clearance of Pb than the Leggett model, indicating that the OFlaherty model will more accurately predict BLL in subpopulations with impairments in either mode of clearance. The OFlaherty model, therefore, is recommended for use in future DOD applications to derive occupational exposure limits for Pb.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1000455
Entities
People
- Lisa M. Sweeney
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton