• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.311-322
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• 2012

Objective: The effect of lead on blood pressure remains controversial in spite of the numerous studies which have been conducted in the recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to lead on blood pressure among non-smokers. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 1416 male and female non-smokers were enrolled, aged 20 years or older, from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008. Blood pressure, blood lead levels (BLLs), height, weight, and cotinine level were measured for all subjects. Results: Geometric mean BLLs of the participants was 2.20 ${\mu}g$/dl. BLLs were higher in the older, male, and lower education groups than the younger, female and higher education groups. After adjusting for age, sex, education and BMI through multiple regression analysis, a significant positive association between systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0357), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0111) and BLLs. Also, among the normal BMI group (18.5 kg/$m^2$ < BMI < 25 kg/$m^2$), we also found a significant positive association between diastolic blood pressure and BLLs (p = 0.0370). Conclusion: The present study showed that blood lead serves as a good predictor of blood pressure changes and that there was a statistically significant association between blood lead and blood pressure, especially diastolic blood pressure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 1982

For the purpose of the curative effects of oral D-penicillamine in lead poisoning, D-penicillamine was orally administered to 7 lead poisoned workers which were employed in glaze product industry dealing with the lead oxide ($Pb_3O_4$). The doses of D-penicillamine was 1,200mg per day which was administered by oral 7days schedules, taking for 5 days and stopping for the following 2days, repeatedly during 3 months period. (All the poisoned workers started working again in that industry after 1 month treatment, and were treated by oral D-penicillamine for 2 months still being exposed to contaminated environment.) In order to evaluate the curative effects of D-penicillamine, 10gm of whole blood and 24 hours urine were collected every 14 days during the curative period for laboratory analysis(hemoglobin, blood lead, urine $\sigma$-aminolevulinic acid, urine coproporphyrin, and urine lead levels) with the observation of the clinical symptoms. The results were as follows; 1. Oral D-penicillamine effected good curative results as that hemoglobin, blood lead, urine $\sigma$-aminolevulinic acid, and urine coproporphyrin levels were decreased below the critical level within 1 month treatment. 2. After re-exposure, oral D-penicillamine effected to some extent as that urine lead level was decreased below the critical level after 3 months treatment with disappearence of the clinical symptoms after 2 months treatment. However, the curative effects of oral D-penicillamine in the lead exposure state is questionable since increasement of blood lead level and remarkable decreasement of urine lead level after 3 months treatment can be observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1130-1134
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• 2005

An experiment was performed using 20 calves of about one-month old to investigate the effect of chelation therapy with calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate ($CaNa_2$EDTA) alone or along with antioxidant $\alpha$-tocopherol in lead loaded calves on blood trace minerals, erythrocytic sulfahydryl groups and some haematobiochemical parameters. Fifteen calves were given lead orally at a daily dose of 7.5 mg of 99% pure lead acetate/kg body weight for 28 days. Then the lead was withdrawn on day 28 and the calves were randomly divided into three groups. Each group of five animals was either treated with $CaNa_2$EDTA alone at the dose rate of 110 mg/kg body weight in two divided doses for 4 days or along with $\alpha$-tocopherol at the dose rate of 100 mg/kg body weight orally daily for 7 days, keeping the remaining five calves as lead-exposed untreated controls. Blood samples were collected at the end of the lead exposure (day 0) and thereafter on day 2, 4, 7 and 10 from the start of the chelation treatment. The treatment with EDTA alone led to slow but non-significant improvement in blood copper level, but incorporation of antioxidant $\alpha$-tocopherol in chelation therapy resulted in its significant decline, as recorded on day 7-post treatment. Withdrawal of lead or treatment with $CaNa_2$EDTA alone or along with $\alpha$-tocopherol enhanced the erythrocytic thiol contents and the levels of T-SH and P-SH became statistically (p<0.05) comparable to those of lead-exposed controls by day 7 and 4, respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) change in serum urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin levels between the treatment groups. It is concluded from the present investigation that treatment with $CaNa_2$EDTA at the present dose rate is safe to be used for chelation in lead loaded calves.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.8
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• pp.345-350
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• 2014

Iron deficiency affects approximately one-third of the world's population, occurring most frequently in children aged 6 months to 3 years. Mechanisms of iron absorption are similar to those of other divalent metals, particularly manganese, lead, and cadmium, and a diet deficient in iron can lead to excess absorption of manganese, lead, and cadmium. Iron deficiency may lead to cognitive impairments resulting from the deficiency itself or from increased metal concentrations caused by the deficiency. Iron deficiency combined with increased manganese or lead concentrations may further affect neurodevelopment. We recently showed that blood manganese and lead concentrations are elevated among iron-deficient infants. Increased blood manganese and lead levels are likely associated with prolonged breast-feeding, which is also a risk factor for iron deficiency. Thus, babies who are breast-fed for prolonged periods should be given plain, iron-fortified cereals or other good sources of dietary iron.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.340-348
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• 2012

This study was performed in order to investigate dietary habits, health related lifestyle and blood cadmium and lead levels in female college students. 80 college students (43 males and 37 females) participated in the survey questionnaires. Body weight and height, blood pressure, and body composition were measured. The systolic blood pressure of male and female students were $128.9{\pm}13.9$ and $109.8{\pm}12.0$, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure of male and female students were $77.1{\pm}10.3 $and $66.0{\pm}6.9$, respectively, showing that male students had significantly higher blood pressure than female students (P < 0.001). The BMI of male and female students were $23.4{\pm}3.3$ and $20.2{\pm}2.3$, respectively. Most male students were in the range of being overweight. The dietary habits score of female students was significantly higher than that of male students (P < 0.01).The blood cadmium level of male and female students were $0.54{\pm}0.23$ and $0.52{\pm}0.36$, respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female students. The blood lead level of male and female students were $1.09{\pm}0.49 $and $0.59{\pm}0.45$, respectively. The blood lead level of male students was significantly higher than that of female students (P < 0.001). The blood cadmium level of smokers and nonsmokers were $0.69{\pm}0.29 $and $0.49{\pm}0.29$ respectively (P < 0.05). The blood cadmium level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). The blood lead level of smokers and nonsmokers were $1.09{\pm}0.43$ and $0.80{\pm}0.54$, respectively. The blood lead level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). Therefore, proper nutritional education programs are required for college students in order to improve their dietary and health related living habits.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.98-106
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• 2020

Purpose: This study utilized data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to explore differences in the timing of menarche in Korean girls according to blood heavy metal concentrations. Methods: This study performed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the sixth KNHANES. Data from 179 female children and adolescents aged 10~18 were included in this study. The relationships of blood heavy metal concentrations (lead, mercury, and cadmium) with age of menarche were analyzed using complex sample multiple logistic regression. Results: In the participants of this study, the geometric mean values of blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations were 1.15±0.04 ㎍/dL, 1.80±0.08 ㎍/L, and 0.30±0.03 ㎍/L, respectively. Mercury poisoning (>5 ㎍/L) was found in 1.5% of participants. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between blood lead and mercury concentrations and age at menarche (p for trend: p<.001 and p=.015, respectively). Conclusion: Through an analysis of national big data, this study found evidence that Korean girls showed a younger age at menarche in response to higher blood lead and mercury concentrations. To prevent and manage precocious puberty in Korean children and adolescents, a systematic policy that monitors both exposure to environmental hazards and blood heavy metal concentrations is needed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2016

Earlier studies conducted on lead-exposed workers have determined the reticulocyte count (RC) (%), but the parameters of Absolute Reticulocyte Count (ARC), Reticulocyte Index (RI), and Reticulocyte Production Index (RPI) were not reported. This study assessed the effect of lead (Pb) exposure on the status of reticulocyte count indices in workers occupied in lead battery plants. The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 391 male lead battery workers. The blood lead levels (BLL) were determined by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The RC (%) was estimated by using the supravital staining method. The parameters, such as ARC, RI, and RPI, were calculated by using the RC (%) with the red cell indices (RBC count and hematocrit). The levels of RBC count and hematocrit were determined by using an ABX Micros ES-60 hematology analyzer. The levels of reticulocyte count indices - RC (%), ARC, RI, and RPI significantly increased with elevated BLL. The association between BLL and reticulocyte count indices was positive and significant. The results of linear multiple regression analysis showed that the reticulocyte count (${\beta}=0.212$, P < 0.001), ARC (${\beta}=0.217$, P < 0.001), RI (${\beta}=0.194$, P < 0.001), and RPI (${\beta}=0.208$, P < 0.001) were positively associated with BLL. The variable, smoking habits, showed a significant positive association with reticulocyte count indices: RC (%) (${\beta}=0.188$, P < 0.001), ARC (${\beta}=0.174$, P < 0.001), RI (${\beta}=0.200$, P < 0.001), and RPI (${\beta}=0.151$, P < 0.005). The study results revealed that lead exposure may cause reticulocytosis with an increase of reticulocyte count indices.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2009

This study analyzed the concentration of the lead in blood (n=774) from May, 2007 to Oct 2007. The subject was residents in G, Y, H industrial area, Jeollanam-do, in which exposure to the lead is expected due to the adjacency of the industrial complex. As to the lead concentration in the blood of the residents in the whole exposed region and the comparing region, $2.81{\mu}g/dl$ in the exposed region group, and $2.86{\mu}g/dl$ in the comparing region group Respectively, which indicates that the concentration of the comparing group was higher than that of the exposed group. The geometric mean concentration of lead in blood was $3.26{\mu}g/dl$ as to men, and $2.46{\mu}g/dl$ as to women, which indicates that the concentration of men is higher than that of women (p<0.01). The lead concentration for each age group increased in proportion to age except those under 10 for some substances (p<0.01). As to geometric mean concentration in blood according to the smoking history of the subject, the concentration of the smoking group and the non-smoking group was $3.57{\mu}g/dl$ and $2.66{\mu}g/dl$ respectively, which indicates the former is higher than the latter (p<0.01). To clarify the factors affecting the heavy metal concentration in blood among the subjects, the multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a result, it turned out that as to lead content in blood, gender, age, smoking all affect the lead concentration of the subjects ($R^2$=23.3%).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate distribution of lead particles by operation of industry, to evaluate the effect of particle size on the absorption to workers, and to recommend the Occupational Health Standard for lead. Total lead concentrations in the secondary smelting industry were higher than those in the battery and litharge manufacturing industry. Total lead concentrations in other industries except radiator manufacturing industry exceeded the standard of $50{\mu}g/m^3$. Only radiator manufacturing industry indicated lead concentrations significantly lower than those in other industries(p<0.05). Average blood lead level of workers was $85.1{\mu}g/dl$ in secondary smelting manufacturing, $51.3{\mu}g/dl$ in the battery manufacturing, and below $40{\mu}g/dl$ in the litharge and radiator manufacturing industry. Blood lead levels of workers by industry were significantly different(p<0.05). From relationship between airborne lead concentrations by size and lead in blood, confidence limits of airborne lead concentration equivalent to $40{\mu}g/dl$ of permissible limit in blood, was $147.9-489.8{\mu}g/m^3$ as total lead and $28.8-79.4{\mu}g/m^3$ as ACGIH-RPM. It is recommended that two separate occupational health standards for lead should be established by particle size. Airborne concentration of $150{\mu}g/m^3$ as fatal lead dust and $30{\mu}g/m^3$ as respirable lead dust was recommended.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.113-124
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• 2022

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the levels of lead (Pb) exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Korean adult women. We used cross-sectional data on blood lead and self-reported diagnoses of ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke and hypertension in a subsample of 1.821 adults 19 years and older who participated in the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). CVD and blood Pb concentrations were analyzed through logistic regression analysis, and correlations between factors were confirmed using the pearson correlation coefficient. An increase of blood Pb was associated with an increased risk of IHD (OR 5.68, 95% CI 1.01-17.51) and hypertension (OR 3.37, 95% CI 2.24-5.07) only in women. Additionally, there was a correlation between blood Pb and nutrient intake. This suggest that blood Pb levels may be used as a key predictor of CVD development, and that women are more susceptable to IHD and hypertension associated with Pb exposure.