Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

Abstract

A cross‐sectional study of unionized construction workers not currently known to be performing lead work was conducted. Participants completed an interviewer‐administered questionnaire obtaining information about demographics, work history, other possible sources of lead exposure and health status (including hypertension, noise‐induced hearing loss and renal disease). Blood was then obtained via venipuncture for whole blood lead level, hematocrit and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin determination. Two hundred and sixty‐four Maryland construction workers had median whole blood lead determinations of 7 μg/dl and mean values of 8.0 μg/dl, with a skewed distribution ranging from 2 to 30 μg/dl. None were currently engaged in known lead work. Blood lead levels were significantly higher for the 124 who had ‘ever’ worked in demolition (8.8 μg/dl vs. 7.2 μg/dl, p = .004), and for the 79 who had ever burned paint and metal and welded on outdoor structures compared to the 48 who had done none of these activities (8.6 μg/dl vs. 6.8 μg/dl, p = .01). The 58 workers who had ever had workplace lead monitoring performed had higher lead levels (9.7 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .003). Blood lead levels increased with age, and cigarette smoking. African Americans (N = 68) had higher lead levels (9.1 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .01). There were only two women in the study, one with a lead level of 21 μg/dl and one, 7 μg/dl. Blood lead levels did not predict either systolic or diastolic blood pressure in this population. However, there was a significant interaction between race and lead as predictors of blood pressure, with blacks demonstrating a trend‐significant correlation, and whites showing a nonsignificant but negative association. Demolition and hotwork on outdoor structures are known to cause acute episodes of lead poisoning. They also appear to cause slight but persistent increases in blood lead levels. Future workplace regulation should recognize and seek to maintain the low baseline now apparent even in urban, East Coast, construction workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:188–194, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Erectile dysfunction and depression in patients with chronic lead poisoning

“…Smoking was presented as a significant risk factor for ED by Elbendary et al (2009) in their comparison of 434 patients with ED and 272 patients as controls under 40 years old, and a negative correlation between smoking index and IIEF-5 scores of patients with ED was detected. Some studies suggested cut-off values between 20 and 30 lg dl À1 and these studies accepted lead intoxication as over these values (Murata et al, 1993;Sokas et al, 1997;Lustberg & Silbergeld, 2002;Anis et al, 2007). In our study, the mean age was under 40 years old and smoking was a risk factor for ED in both groups of patients.…”

“…Previous studies have reported that elevated blood lead levels were associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension (HT) and cerebrovascular disease (Sokas et al, 1997;Lustberg & Silbergeld, 2002). Lead exposure causes elevation in oxidative stress indicators (Hsu et al, 1997;Marchlewicz et al, 2007).…”

Environmental Security and Ecoterrorism

“…In the United States, the expansion and intensified use of training and testing lands since World War II has resulted in split set of environmental conditions. While use of these materials contributed to providing Hobbes-like security to the state and to its citizens, they also increase health risks to service personnel on the installations and to members of the general public who are exposed to pollution through transmission via the atmosphere or hydrologic systems [81]. Until the 1970s, regulation of dangerous wastes that are associated with the manufacture and use of weapons systems was limited and the result was contaminated soils, groundwater, and buildings [34,36].…”

“…Energy used to 81 6 Impact of Pesticides as Organic Micro-Pollutants on the Environment metabolize pesticides and other xenobiotics (foreign chemicals) is not available for other body functions and can seriously impair growth and reproduction of the organism. Energy used to 81 6 Impact of Pesticides as Organic Micro-Pollutants on the Environment metabolize pesticides and other xenobiotics (foreign chemicals) is not available for other body functions and can seriously impair growth and reproduction of the organism.…”

“…Association between lead exposure and CVD in humans was recently emphasized in a number of original studies and reviews [21,51,81]. Specifically, cardiotoxic effects of lead are manifested as peripheral arterial occlusive disease, direct myocardial injury, myocarditis and sinus bradycardia.…”