Air Quality Criteria for Lead Volume II of II - (NEPIS)(EPA) - US ...

AX6-101
Table AX6-4.2 (cont’d). Renal Effects of Lead in the Occupational Population
Reference, Study
Location, and
Period Study Description Pb Measurement Findings, Interpretation
Asia (cont’d)
Weaver et al. (2005c)
Korea
1997-1999
Ye et al. (2003)
Chinese Pb workers
Study date not
provided
798 current and former Pb workers.
Same population as in Weaver et al. (2003a,b).
216 Pb workers.
Renal outcomes = urinary NAG and albumin.
Geometric mean blood Pb
37.8 μg/dL (n = 14 workers
with the ALAD12 genotype)
32.4 μg/dL (n = 212 workers
with the ALAD11 genotype)
31.9 µg/dL (VDR bb)
41.7 µg/dL (in 20 participants
with VDR Bb or BB)
Data were analyzed to determine whether
polymorphisms in the genes encoding δ-aminolevulinic
acid dehydratase (ALAD), endothelial nitric oxide
synthase (eNOS), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR)
were associated with uric acid or modified relations of
Pb exposure and dose measures with uric acid.
Uric acid not different by ALAD or VDR genotype.
Among older workers (age ≥ median of 40.6 yrs),
ALAD genotype modified associations between Pb
dose and uric acid levels. Higher Pb dose was
significantly associated with higher uric acid in
workers with the ALAD11 genotype; associations were
in the opposite direction in participants with the variant
ALAD12 genotype.
After adjustment for age, NAG was borderline higher
in those with the ALAD variant allele whose blood Pb
levels were ≥40 μg/dL (p = 0.06). In all Pb workers,
after adjustment for age, gender, smoking, and alcohol
ingestion, a statistically significant positive association
between blood Pb and creatinine adjusted NAG was
observed in the workers with the ALAD12 genotype
but not in Pb workers with the ALAD11 genotype (the
groups were analyzed separately rather than in an
interaction model).
No effect modification by VDR genotype on
associations between blood Pb and urinary albumin
and NAG observed (separate analysis reduced power).