Blood lead and blood pressure in occupationally exposed workers

ABSTRACT

The association of increased blood lead concentration to elevated blood pressure was investigated in 184 male workers occupationally exposed to inorganic lead and in 51 non-exposed male workers matched for age as a control group. The study participants received complete medical examinations, including standard measurement of blood pressure and body weight. Occupational exposure to lead was detected by history taking and by measuring blood lead level, urinary delta aminolevulinic acid [delta-ALA] and hemoglobin level. Exposed workers had comparatively higher blood lead concentrations [46.08 +/- 6.54 microg/dl] than the control [26.29 +/- 5.47 microg/ dl] [P<0.001]. Similarly, urinary delta-ALA was higher than controls [P<0.001]. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP, DBP] were higher among exposed than controls [P<0.001] for both and correlated positively with blood lead concentrations and urinary delta-ALA. The hemoglobin level was lower in the exposed group compared with the control group [P<0.01]. These data may support the existence of a causal association between higher blood lead concentrations and elevated blood pressure among occupationally exposed workers