Relationship of Blood Lead Levels to Blood Pressure in Exhaust Battery Storage Workers

Abstract

Several researches has focused the hypothesis that low blood lead levels could be associated with an increased risk of hypertension. To assess the relation between occupational lead exposure and elevated blood pressure a group of 27 workers, age range from 27 to 62 years, mean (SD) 36.52 ( 8.16) yr; length of employment mean (DS) 2.97 ( 1.67) yr, were recruited as study subjects. The following variables were measured: blood lead concentration (BPb), δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) activity, Zinc Protoporphirin (ZPP), creatinine, hematocrit, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood (DBP) Pressure. The results showed that long term occupational exposure was related to a slight increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure among workers who had been exposed to higher level of lead with respect to workers exposed to lower level of lead. Furthermore, blood lead concentration (BPb) and ZPP resulted higher among workers exposed to higher level of ambient lead, while in the same group of workers ALAD activity resulted more inhibited. The authors concluded long term cumulative lead exposure can significantly increase blood pressure in low level Pb exposed workers.

Biochemical Effects of Lead Exposure on Battery Manufacture Workers with Reference to Blood Pressure, Calcium Metabolism and Bone Mineral Density

“…It is reported that long term occupational exposure to lead is related to a slight increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure among workers who had been exposed to higher level of lead with respect to workers exposed to lower levels of lead [21,22]. Schuhmacher [23] showed a significant rise of blood pressure with the increases in blood lead levels in 36 male subjects who were occupationally exposed to lead.…”

Occupational Lead Exposure: Blood Lead Levels of Apprentices in Bursa, Turkey

“…Human studies have generally provided less conclusive evidence for the role of lead and/or cadmium in hypertension 24) . It has been reported that long-term occupational exposure is related to a slight increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure 25) . As in similar studies evaluating the effect of lead exposure on blood pressure 26) , our study showed that there was no significant relationship between blood lead levels and systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure.…”

Blood Lead Level and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Bus Drivers in Bangkok, Thailand

“…Earlier studies have reported the effect of Pb-B on cardiovascular functions, such as blood pressures and peripheral blood flow [2][3][4]7) . Finger blood flow decrease among workers exposed to lead 5) .…”

“…Some researchers have reported significant relationships between blood lead at low levels and cardiovascular and/or peripheral arterial disease 5,6) , impaired renal function, and elevated blood pressure [7][8][9][10][11][12] .…”