Biliary excretion of lead in rats drinking lead-containing water

In three groups of rats, drinking lead-containing water (at 100, 250 and 2500 mg lead (Pb)/l) for 80 days, biliary excretion of Pb was studied. In comparison with a control group (0.05 +/- 0.04 micrograms Pb/ml) biliary excretion of Pb in the exposed groups reached 0.08 +/- 0.01, 0.20 +/- 0.04 and 1.46 +/- 0.09 micrograms/ml, respectively. In rats receiving 2500 mg Pb/l, i.v. administration of CaEDTA (0.2 mumol/kg body weight) significantly decreased biliary Pb excretion and increased the concentration of Pb in the kidneys.