Blood lead and blood pressure: evidence from the Health Survey for England 1995

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between blood lead and blood pressure (BP) and to estimate the possible effects of a decrease in blood lead on BP. Methods: A 2-ml blood sample was collected from a sub-sample of those included in the Health Survey for England 1995, a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of the adult English population. Blood lead concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry and three BP readings were taken under standardised conditions using the Dinamap 8100 monitor. Analyses were carried out using data on 2563 men and 2763 women aged 16 and over. Results: In stepwise multiple regression analyses adjusting for various confounders-age, body mass index, smoking status, social class, region of residence

Blood Lead Level and Blood Pressure of Bus Drivers in Bangkok, Thailand

“…It is a known toxic substance that induces adverse health effects in multiple systems, including neurological, hematological and cardiovascular 1,2) . Most studies have indicated that environmental exposure to lead is associated with an increased risk of hypertension [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . Our previous study found a relationship between blood lead level and hypertension among traffic policemen working in the eastern region of Thailand 11) .…”

Pb2+Inhibition of Sympathetic α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Mediated Nitrergic Neurogenic Dilation in Porcine Basilar Arteries

“…Chronic exposure to low levels of lead (Pb 2ϩ ) is known to cause high blood pressure in humans and experimental animals (Harlan, 1988;Schwartz, 1995;Bost et al, 1999;Carmignani et al, 2000;Vaziri and Ding, 2001). Altered endothelial and vascular smooth muscle functions (KhalilManesh et al, 1993;Gonick et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2001) may account in part for the vascular effects of lead.…”

Characterizing Golden Eagle Risk to Lead and Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure: A Review

“…For example, adjusting for alcohol consumption will decrease the apparent association between blood lead concentration and blood pressure, if alcohol consumption contributes to lead intake and, thereby, blood lead concentration (Bost et al 1999;Hense et al 1993;Hertz-Picciotto and Croft 1993;Wolf et al 1995). Conversely, failure to account for important effect modifiers (e.g., inherited disease) will result in overestimation of the apparent strength of the association.…”

“…Covariate-adjusted risk of ischemic heart disease (OR) was not significantly associated with PbB. PbBs in cases (n=316) of ischemic heart disease were not statistically different, (Bost et al 1999). Multiple seated blood pressure measurements were taken.…”