A novel portable KXRF measurement system for in vivo metal measurements

项目摘要 近年来，随着工业的发展，金属暴露量急剧增加， 农业和制造业。铅（Pb）一直是金属暴露的核心， 健康影响几乎影响身体的每个器官系统。铅和其他金属的监测通常是 通过简单的血液测试，但血液水平只能反映最近的暴露水平。半衰期很短， 即使是连续测量，相对于累积暴露量也可能存在显著的误差， 将降低我们将暴露与职业工作相关的终身健康风险联系起来的能力。骨 是身体的铅的主要水库，并已被证明反映了多年来的累积暴露， 因此，它是一种更好的生物标志物，用于与职业性疾病相关的慢性健康风险。 暴露。几十年来，研究人员一直使用X射线荧光研究骨铅。但 这种非常有价值的技术的适用性受到几个因素的严重限制，包括缺乏 便携性、长测量时间以及限制其使用范围的许可要求。在本提案中，我们 通过开发一种新型便携式KXRF骨铅测量系统解决了这些问题， 使用更高能量的方法的优点，同时大大提高了便携性和适用性， 技术。在拟议的研究中，我们将开发和验证我们的新型KXRF技术，以测量 铅在体内骨和确定运动功能与累积铅暴露。总之， 该提案的具体目标是：1）使用实验室内的方法构建、优化和验证便携式KXRF系统 样品; 2）将便携式KXRF系统用于在100人的组中进行体内测量;以及3）测试 运动功能障碍与较高的累积铅暴露相关的假设。在完成此 研究，一种新型的便携式KXRF测量系统将被验证用于人口以前 目前的技术限制无法达到，并可能导致未来的健康研究的相关风险 人口。该提案将推进NIOSH暴露评估计划的目标， 一种新的工具，用于工人监测职业健康的关键生物标志物。NIOSH部门为 建筑和制造业在识别健康危害和肌肉骨骼方面具有优先领域 紊乱铅暴露是建筑工人的主要关注点，因为金属暴露是一种常见的健康问题 工人的风险。铅监测是金属和电子产品制造和回收的核心， 累积接触评估对于确定这些工人的终生风险至关重要。在未来 作为该建议的一部分而开发的技术可以被推进用于各种金属暴露 评估设置和监督程序。除了有价值的技术， 和经验将准备我的职业生涯作为一个独立的研究人员的发展和应用 职业健康暴露评估的新工具。

Project Summary Metal exposure has increased dramatically through the years with increased development of industry, agriculture, and manufacturing. Lead (Pb) has been a centerpiece for metal exposures with its numerous health effects impacting almost every organ system in the body. Monitoring of Pb and other metals is typically done using simple blood tests, but blood levels only reflect recent exposure levels. With the short half-life of blood, even serial measurements can have a significant amount of error relative to cumulative exposure and will reduce our ability to relate exposures with the lifetime health risks associated with occupational work. Bone is the body's primary reservoir for Pb and has been shown to reflect cumulative exposure over many years to decades, and, thus, is a much better biomarker for chronic health risks associated with occupational exposures. For decades researchers have studied bone Pb using x-ray fluorescence. However, the applicability of this tremendously valuable technology is significantly limited by several factors including lack of portability, long measurement times, and licensing needs that restrict where it can be used. In this proposal we address these issues by developing a novel portable KXRF bone Pb measurement system with the advantages of using a higher energy approach, while drastically improving the portability and applicability of the technology. In the proposed research, we will develop and validate our novel KXRF technology to measure Pb in bone in vivo and identify motor function associations with cumulative Pb exposure. In summary, the specific aims for the proposal are: 1) Build, optimize, and validate the portable KXRF system using in-lab samples; 2) Validate the portable KXRF system for in vivo measurement in a group of 100 people; and 3) Test the hypothesis that motor dysfunction is associated with higher cumulative Pb exposure. At completion of this study, a novel portable KXRF measurement system will be validated for use in populations previously inaccessible by current technology restrictions and can lead to future health studies of relevant at-risk populations. The proposal will advance the goals of the NIOSH Exposure Assessment Program by developing a new tool for worker surveillance of critical biomarkers to occupational health. The NIOSH Sector Agendas for Construction and Manufacturing have a priority area in identifying health hazards and musculoskeletal disorders. Pb exposure is a primary concern for construction workers as metal exposures are a common health risk for workers. Pb monitoring is a centerpiece to metal and electronics manufacturing and recycling, and cumulative exposure assessment is critical in identifying the lifetime risks to these workers. In the future the technology developed as part of this proposal can be advanced for use in a variety of metal exposure assessment settings and surveillance programs. In addition to the valuable technology, the proposed training and experience will prepare me for a career as an independent researcher for the development and application of more novel tools for exposure assessment in occupational health.