Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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The effect of body lead burden on neurobehavioral function in retired lead workers

퇴직한 납 근로자들의 체내 납 부담 노출지표가 신경행동학적 기능에 미치는 영향

  • Kim, Nam-Soo (Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Ho (Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Lee, Byung-Kook (Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Soonchunhyang University)
  • 김남수 (순천향대학교 환경산업의학연구소) ;
  • 김진호 (순천향대학교 환경산업의학연구소) ;
  • 이병국 (순천향대학교 환경산업의학연구소)
  • Received : 2010.05.15
  • Accepted : 2010.07.05
  • Published : 2010.09.30
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Abstract

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in retired lead workers, 131 retired lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 56 non-occupationally lead exposed subjects were recruited from same area of retired lead workers with consideration of demographic characteristics. The mean levels of blood and bone lead of retired lead workers were significantly higher than control group and there were significant correlation among other lead biomarkers. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposured subjects had worse performance on 10 tests out of 12 neurobehavioral tests, but only two tests(Purdue pegboard nondominant and both hand) showed statistical significance of differences. In multiple linear regression analysis of neurobehavioral tests with lead biomarkers and demographic and lifestyle variables, age was associated negatively with 11 neurobehavioral tests, whereas log-transformed ZPP was associated with Purdue pegboard(both hand) and Santa Ana manual dexterity(non-dominant hand). On the other hand, tibia lead was associated Pursuit aiming test(correct) and Purdue pegboard(dominant hand) and calcaneal lead was associated with Purdue pegboard(dominant hand). This study confirmed that among all relevant variables age was most significantly associated with the poor performance of neurobehavioral tests. The blood lead did not have any significant association with neurobehavioral tests, but tibia and calcaneal bone lead and blood ZPP showed significant association with a few tests even after more than mean 9 years from their retirements.

Keywords

References

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