Occupational exposure to lead and blood pressure: A study in 105 workers

Abstract

A group of workers, occupationally exposed to lead and cadmium compounds (n = 53), was compared to a group of workers not exposed to these metals (n = 52). The average values of systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure were found to be higher in the exposed group (p less than 0.05). In contrast with the correlation between CdU and blood pressure, the correlation between PbB and systolic and mean blood pressure remained statistically significant after controlling for age and pulse rate (r = 0.22, p less than 0.05). The prevalence of potential hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg and/or under treatment for hypertension) was higher in the exposed group, but the observed relative risk was not statistically significant: relative risk = 1.91 (95% confidence limits, 0.90-4.05). Furthermore, a significant correlation between PbB and Hgb (r = -0.28, p = 0.004) was observed. Differences in kidney function, as assessed in this study, were not detected.

Cadmium and hypertension in exposed workers: A meta-analysis

“…However, the full texts of four more articles could not be found [41][42][43][44], and thus the articles in question were excluded (Figure 1). Finally, a total number of six works was included in the meta-analysis [45][46][47][48][49][50] (Table 1, Figure 1). In these six articles, the exposed workers, identified by means of working medical histories, were nickel-cadmium battery factory workers, farmers, those working with pigments and cadmium resins, workers employed in the disposal of cadmium, steel industry workers, and workers in factories producing plastic materials.…”

“…A subject was considered hypertensive when his systolic arterial pressure was equal to or higher than 140 mmHg, or the diastolic arterial pressure was equal to or higher than 90 mmHg, according to the latest guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) [50]. Cadmiemia, which was analyzed in four studies, and obtained by the use of atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace [45][46][47]49] was expressed in μg/l. However, cadmiuria was expressed in μg/g of creatinine in three studies: by the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy [46], atomic absorption spectrometry using carbon rods [48] or the modified method of Pruszowska [49].…”

“…Cadmiemia, which was analyzed in four studies, and obtained by the use of atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace [45][46][47]49] was expressed in μg/l. However, cadmiuria was expressed in μg/g of creatinine in three studies: by the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy [46], atomic absorption spectrometry using carbon rods [48] or the modified method of Pruszowska [49]. In the case of one study [50], the values of urinary cadmium were unknown.…”

Genetic Susceptibility to Lead Poisoning

“…At high exposure levels, lead causes encephalopathy (6,7), kidney damage (8,9), anemia (10), and toxicity to the reproductive system (11,12). Lead exposure may also induce hypertension in some individuals (13,14). Even at lower doses, lead produces alterations in cognitive development in children (15)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

Ambulatory (24 Hour) Blood Pressure Monitoring in Police Officers

“…Studies on animals and human subjects have suggested that urban pollutants may alter blood pressure (BP) values; these agents are cadmium [1][2][3][4][5] , lead [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] benzene, toluene and xylene 13,14) . Besides these, physical agents such as noise [15][16][17][18][19] and psycho-social stressors [20][21][22][23] could alter BP values.…”