A neurobehavioural study of long-term occupational inorganic lead exposure
(1997) In Science of the Total Environment 201(1). p.39-51- Abstract
A group of 38 male workers at a secondary smelter (period of employment 2-35 years; median 10 years) was divided into two subgroups depending on bone-lead concentration, arranged as 19 matched pairs according to age, education and job level. The median concentrations for finger-bone lead (Bone-Pb) were 16 vs. 32 μg/g; for current blood-lead (B-Pb), 1.6 vs. 1.8 μmol/l; for retrospective peak blood-lead (Peak-Pb), 2.7 vs. 3.0 μmol/l; and for a retrospective cumulative blood lead index (CBLI), 143 vs. 233 μmol/l x months. Nineteen unexposed male workers from a nearby mechanical plant served as controls, using the same matching algorithm. The triplets were examined with a standardised neuropsychological test battery, and four questionnaires... (More)
A group of 38 male workers at a secondary smelter (period of employment 2-35 years; median 10 years) was divided into two subgroups depending on bone-lead concentration, arranged as 19 matched pairs according to age, education and job level. The median concentrations for finger-bone lead (Bone-Pb) were 16 vs. 32 μg/g; for current blood-lead (B-Pb), 1.6 vs. 1.8 μmol/l; for retrospective peak blood-lead (Peak-Pb), 2.7 vs. 3.0 μmol/l; and for a retrospective cumulative blood lead index (CBLI), 143 vs. 233 μmol/l x months. Nineteen unexposed male workers from a nearby mechanical plant served as controls, using the same matching algorithm. The triplets were examined with a standardised neuropsychological test battery, and four questionnaires for self-rating of symptoms and activity/stress level related to work environment. No sign of behavioural deterioration was observed in the exposed groups, either in objective cognitive tests or in subjective symptom/mood self-rating scales. Despite the limited sample size, the statistical power was sufficient to conclude that a concealed lead-associated effect was unlikely. Covariations between behavioural measures and lead exposure indices were generally low and non-significant, as a whole not exceeding a random level. No confounding or effect-modifying factor was detected that could explain the results as a type II error. To conclude, a current B-Pb of 1.8 μmol/l was not associated with adverse behavioural effects, and a long-term lead exposure around 2.0 μmol/l for 13 years (mean values) was not associated with permanent brain dysfunction.
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- author
- Österberg, Kai LU ; Börjesson, Jimmy ; Gerhardsson, Lars LU ; Schütz, Andrejs LU and Skerfving, Staffan LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 1997-08-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Lead, Neuropsychological tests, Neurotoxins
- in
- Science of the Total Environment
- volume
- 201
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:0342275229
- pmid:9232024
- ISSN
- 0048-9697
- DOI
- 10.1016/S0048-9697(97)84051-X
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6203741a-a359-4088-9b9d-1ac3643519b1
- date added to LUP
- 2018-11-18 13:53:25
- date last changed
- 2024-04-01 13:59:48
@article{6203741a-a359-4088-9b9d-1ac3643519b1,
abstract = {{<p>A group of 38 male workers at a secondary smelter (period of employment 2-35 years; median 10 years) was divided into two subgroups depending on bone-lead concentration, arranged as 19 matched pairs according to age, education and job level. The median concentrations for finger-bone lead (Bone-Pb) were 16 vs. 32 μg/g; for current blood-lead (B-Pb), 1.6 vs. 1.8 μmol/l; for retrospective peak blood-lead (Peak-Pb), 2.7 vs. 3.0 μmol/l; and for a retrospective cumulative blood lead index (CBLI), 143 vs. 233 μmol/l x months. Nineteen unexposed male workers from a nearby mechanical plant served as controls, using the same matching algorithm. The triplets were examined with a standardised neuropsychological test battery, and four questionnaires for self-rating of symptoms and activity/stress level related to work environment. No sign of behavioural deterioration was observed in the exposed groups, either in objective cognitive tests or in subjective symptom/mood self-rating scales. Despite the limited sample size, the statistical power was sufficient to conclude that a concealed lead-associated effect was unlikely. Covariations between behavioural measures and lead exposure indices were generally low and non-significant, as a whole not exceeding a random level. No confounding or effect-modifying factor was detected that could explain the results as a type II error. To conclude, a current B-Pb of 1.8 μmol/l was not associated with adverse behavioural effects, and a long-term lead exposure around 2.0 μmol/l for 13 years (mean values) was not associated with permanent brain dysfunction.</p>}},
author = {{Österberg, Kai and Börjesson, Jimmy and Gerhardsson, Lars and Schütz, Andrejs and Skerfving, Staffan}},
issn = {{0048-9697}},
keywords = {{Lead; Neuropsychological tests; Neurotoxins}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{39--51}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
title = {{A neurobehavioural study of long-term occupational inorganic lead exposure}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(97)84051-X}},
doi = {{10.1016/S0048-9697(97)84051-X}},
volume = {{201}},
year = {{1997}},
}