SKERFVING S. Chelated lead and bone lead. Scand J Work En viron Health 1992;18:113-9. In this study a close correlation [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.86, P < 0.001) was found between the blood lead level of 20 lead workers and their urinary excretion of lead for 24 h after intravenous infusion with I g of the chelating agent calcium disodium edetate, In addition , there were significant associations between lead levels in different bones (tibia /calcaneus: r=0.93, P<O.OOI; tibia /phalanx: r

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... 0.67, P < 0.002; calcaneu s/phalanx: r = 0.80, P < 0.001), as measur ed by in vivo X-ra y fluorescence. Chelation produced no significant chang e in the lead level in either tibia or calcaneu s. There was a significant correlation between chelated lead and bone lead (eg, for calcaneu s, r=0.62) in currently expo sed workers . Ho wever, there was no significant relation ship when a retired worker and an inactive worker were included (r = 0.14). It was concluded that chelatable lead mainly reflects the blood and soft-tissue lead pool, which is only partly dependent upon the skeletal lead content that comprises the biggest sha re of the total bod y burden.