Association of Bone Lead with Neurobehavioral Test Scores in Lead Workers

연작업자들에서 골중 연량이 신경행동학적 검사성적에 미치는 영향

  • Lee, Sung-Soo (Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College and Institute of Industrial Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Kim, Nam-Soo (Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College and Institute of Industrial Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Kim, Hwa-Sung (Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College and Institute of Industrial Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Ahn, Kyu-Dong (Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College and Institute of Industrial Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Lee, Byung-Kook (Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College and Institute of Industrial Medicine, Soonchunhyang University)
  • 이성수 (순천향대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 및 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 김남수 (순천향대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 및 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 김화성 (순천향대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 및 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 안규동 (순천향대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 및 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 이병국 (순천향대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실 및 산업의학연구소)
  • Received : 2004.10.20
  • Accepted : 2005.08.01
  • Published : 2005.08.26

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in lead workers, 652 lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 102 non-occupationally lead exposed blue collar workers in general manufacturing industries were also joined this study. All study subjects joined this study with written informed consent. The study variables of lead exposure were blood and patella lead. For the general characteristics of study subjects, standardized questionnaire regarding age, sex, past disease history, job duration, body mass index (BMI), drinking and smoking habit were provided. For the past history of neurotoxicity related diseases, all study subjects were interviewed by qualified occupational health physician. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposed subjects had worse performance on all tests(p<0.05). 2. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for blood lead were negative for 13 of the 14 tests. Blood lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms & root MSD), Trail-Making Test B, Digit Symbol Substitution, Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention, and Purdue pegboard both hand). 3. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for patella lead were negative for 12 of the 14 tests. Patella lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms). Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention. Pursuit Aiming rest (no. of correct & no. of incorrect), Purdue pegboard non-dominant hand and both hand). With above results, blood lead and patella lead were associated with poorer performance of neurobehavioral tests. In addition, patella lead was confirmed to be better predictor of manual dexterity test in neurobehavioral test battery in lead workers

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 한국학술진흥재단

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