Health examinations of persons with long-term occupational exposure to lead
Kirkby, H.; Nielsen, C.J.; Nielsen, V.K.; Gyntelberg, F.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(14): 942-945
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3576798 Document Number: 303933
We evaluated the health effects of long-term occupational lead exposure in 92 men and four women who had been employed between nine and 45 years at a secondary lead smelting works. A control group of 96 non-lead exposed persons with the same age, sex and employment status was chosen from a population health study. Blood lead concentrations were in excess of 60 .mu.g/100 ml in 31 percent of the lead workers, and zinc protoporphyrin levels were higher than 500 .mu.mol/mol Hb in 19 percent. The prevalence of lead-related subjective symptoms (fatigue, headache, nervousness, sleep disturbances, constipation and colic) was the same as in the control group. Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the exposed group, and six persons had anemia. A statistically negative correlation between hemoglobin and zinc protoporphyrin was found. The average reticulocyte count in the exposed group was above the upper normal limit. Weight, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and physical activity were identical in the two groups. The lead exposed group had slightly higher diastolic blood pressures. Ischemic electrocardiographic changes were more frequent and the high-density lipoprotein levels lower than in the control group. These findings suggest a higher coronary risk profile for long-term lead exposed subjects.