Determination of lead in paired samples of blood and synovial fluid of bovines.

Exposure of synovial fluid to lead allows the entrance of this metal into the systemic circulation. In this study we report lead concentrations measured in bovine paired samples of synovial fluid and whole blood withdrawn from the coxo-femoral joints and jugular vein, respectively. Lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This study provides the "normal" values for lead in synovial fluid 12.15 +/- 5.41 and blood 3.54 +/- 1.31 micrograms% (mean +/- SD). The data distribution fits the GAUSSIAN curve (p < 0.02). The difference of concentration between synovial fluid and blood can not be explained only in terms of the solubility of lead in both fluids; other factors must be considered.