Clinical evaluation of a lead mobilization test using the chelating agent dimercaptosuccinic acid.

Background: The lead mobilization test reflects the mobilizable and likely toxicologically active fraction of the lead body burden. We propose a safe and convenient protocol for this test, to assess concomitant copper and zinc excretion and to determine the size of the chelatable lead pool in nonoccupationally exposed adults.

Methods: The study population included 80 white adults: 40 controls [median blood lead concentration (PbB), 25 microg/L] and 40 lead-exposed individuals (315 microg/L).