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

AX6-227
Table 6-9.2 (cont’d). Effects of Lead on Biochemical Effects in Adults
Reference, Study
Location, and Period Study Description Pb Measurement Findings, Interpretation
Asia (cont’d)
Kristal-Boneh et al.
(1999)
Israel
1994–1995
Solliway et al. (1996)
Israel
NR
Ito et al. (1985)
Japan
NR
Design: cross-sectional cohort
Subjects: adult male battery manufacture
workers (n = 56), mean age 43.1 yr (SD 10.6);
reference group (n = 87), mean age 43.2 yr
(SD 8.3)
Outcome measures: serum total-, HDL-, LDLcholesterol,
HDL: total ratio, triglycerides
Analysis: comparison of outcome measures
between Pb workers and reference group
(ANOVA), multivariate linear regression
Design: cross-sectional cohort
Subjects: adult male battery manufacture
workers (n = 34), mean age: 44 yr (SD 13);
reference subjects (n = 56), mean age 43 yr
(SD 12); cohorts constructed to have similar
age, ethnic characteristics, socioeconomic
status, education level, and occupation
Outcome measures: urinary ALA, erythrocyte
GSH-peroxidase
Analysis: parametric comparison of outcome
measures between Pb and reference groups,
correlation
Design: cross-sectional cohort
Subjects: adult male steel (smelting, casting)
workers (n = 712), age range 18–59 yr;
reference (office workers) group (n = 155,
total), age range 40–59 yr
Outcome measures: serum LPO and SOD,
total and HDL-cholesterol, phospholipid
Analysis: comparison of outcome measures
between Pb workers and reference group,
correlation
Blood Pb (µg/dL) mean
(SD):
Pb: 42.3 (14.9)
Reference: 2.7 (3.6)
Blood Pb (µg/dL) mean
(SD, range):
Pb: 40.7 (9.8, 23–63)
Reference: 6.7 (2.4, 1–13)
Blood Pb (µg/dL) range:
Pb: 5–62
Reference: NR
Covariate-adjusted serum total-cholesterol (p = 0.016) and HDLcholesterol
(p = 0.001) levels were significantly higher in Pb
workers compared to reference group. Covariates retained in
ANOVA: age, body mass index, season of sampling, nutritional
variables (dietary fat, cholesterol, calcium intakes), sport activities,
alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, education, job seniority.
Increasing blood Pb concentration was significantly associated
with covariate-adjusted total cholesterol (∃ = 0.130 [SE 0.054],
p = 0.017) and HDL-cholesterol (∃ = 0.543 [SE 0.173], p = 0.002).
Covariates retained: age, body mass index. Stepwise inclusion of
other potential confounders had no effect.
Significantly lower mean erythrocyte GSH-peroxidase activity
(p < 0.005) in and higher urinary ALA (p < 0.001) in Pb workers
compared to reference group.
When stratified by age, significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum HDLcholesterol
and LPO in Pb workers, age range 40–49 yr, compared
to corresponding strata of reference group. Serum lipoperoxide
levels increased as blood Pb increased above 30 µg/dL (p = NR),
SOD appeared to decrease with increasing blood Pb concentration
(p = NR)