학술논문

Effects of Lead on the Endocrine System in Lead Smelter Workers.
Document Type
Article
Source
Archives of Environmental Health. Sep/Oct2001, Vol. 56 Issue 5, p449. 7p. 3 Charts.
Subject
*LEAD
*ENDOCRINOLOGY
*BLOOD plasma
*HEALTH
Language
ISSN
0003-9896
Abstract
ABSTRACT. In this study of the effects of lead on the endocrine system, 77 secondary lead-smelter workers (i.e., 62 active and 15 retired) were compared with 26 referents. Lead concentrations were determined in plasma with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (i.e., index of recent exposure), in blood with atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and in fingerbone with K x-ray fluorescence technique (i.e., index of long-term exposure). In addition, pituitary hormones were determined in serum by fluoroimmunoassay, and thyroid hormones and testosterone in serum were determined with radioimmunoassay. Nine lead workers and 11 referents were challenged with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, followed by measurements of stimulated pituitary hormone levels in serum. Median levels of lead in plasma were 0.14 μg/dl (range = 0.04–3.7 μg/dl) in active lead workers, 0.08 μg/dl (range = 0.05–0.4 μg/dl) in retired lead workers, and 0.03 μg/dl (range = 0.02–0.04 μg/dl) in referents (1 μg/dl = 48.3 nmol/l). Corresponding blood lead concentrations were 33.2 μg/dl (range = 8.3-93.2 μg/dl), 18.6 μg/dl (range = 10.4–49.7 μg/dl), and 4.1 μg/dl (range 0.8–6.2 μg/dl), respectively. Respective bone lead levels were 21 μg/gm (range = −13 to 99 μg/gm), 55 μg/gm (range = 3–88 μg/gm), and 2 μg/gm (range = −21 to 14 μg/gm). Concentrations of basal serum hormone (i.e., free thyroid hormones, thyrotrophin, sex hormone binding globulin, and testosterone) were similar in the 3 groups. There were no significant associations between the hormones mentioned herein and blood plasma, blood lead, and bone lead levels. In the challenge test, stimulated follicle-stimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in lead workers (p = .014) than in referents, indicating an effect of lead at the pituitary level. Also, there was a tendency toward lower basal... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]