It has been noted by some investigators that lead is present in human parotid saliva, but there are no data on lead concentrations in parotid saliva of lead-exposed workers.
This report describes the changes caused by Ca-EDTA administration and lead concentrations in parotid saliva of lead-exposed workers.
The results were as follows:
1) The distribution of lead concentrations in parotid saliva of lead-exposed workers was approximately logarithmic-normal.
2) The geometric mean of lead concentrations in parotid saliva of lead-exposed workers was 0.617 μg/dl.
3) Significant correlation was observed between the lead in plasma and parotid saliva (r=0.628) and the lead in blood and parotid saliva. The mean ratio of the lead concentrations in simultaneously obtained parotid saliva to plasma was 0.792.
4) Lead concentrations in parotid saliva reached a maximum at 1 to 3 hours after Ca-EDTA administration and the rate of increase was 70-80%.
5) Lead in parotid saliva had a molecular weight of approximately 15, 000, and it seems possible that lead binds to salivary proteins.
