Effect of Occupational Lead on Male Sex Hormones / 대한산업의학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between biological markers of lead exposure and level of sex hormones in men occupationally exposed to lead. METHODS: In this study, 33 male workers who employed at smelting and battery factories were compared with 33 male workers who were not exposed to lead. As biological markers of lead exposure, hemoglobin, ZPP, blood lead and urine lead were measured. As sex hormones, FSH, LH, testosterone, SHBG and FTI were determined. RESULTS: Hemoglobin level was significantly lower in exposed than in nonexposed group. Level of ZPP, blood lead, and urine lead were significantly higher in exposed than in nonexposed group. There was a trend that level of FSH, testosterone, SHBG, and FTI was lower in exposed than in nonexposed group respectively, but there were no statistical significance. In exposed group, FSH level was correlated with age, ZPP, and blood lead; testosterone level was correlated with hemoglobin, blood lead, urine lead, and SHBG; and FTI level was correlated with age. CONCLUSIONS: Level of some sex hormones were lower in exposed than in nonexposed group but there were no statistical significance between the exposed and the nonexposed group. But level of sex hormones were correlated with several biological markers of lead in exposed group. It suggests that occupational lead exposure might affect sex hormones.