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

AX6-243
Table AX6-9.6. Effects of Lead on the Endocrine System in Adults
Reference, Study
Location, and Period Study Description Pb Measurement Findings, Interpretation
United States
Cullen et al. (1984)
Connecticut
1979
NR
Robins et al. (1983
Connecticut
NR
Braunstein et al.
(1978)
California
NR
Refowitz (1984)
NR
Design: clinical case study
Subjects: adult males with neurological
symptoms of Pb poisoning
Outcome measures: serum, FSH, LH, PRL,
TES
Analysis: clinical outcomes in terms of
abnormal values
Design: cross-sectional
Subjects: adult male brass foundry workers
(n = 47), age range 20–64 yr
Outcome measures: FT4
Analysis: simple linear regression with
stratification by age and race.
Design: clinical
Subjects: adult male secondary Pb smelter
(n = 12), mean age 38 yr, reference group,
(n = 9), mean age 29 yr
Outcome measures: serum EST, FSH, LH,
TES, HCG-stimulated EST and TES, GnRHstimulated
serum FSH and LH
Analysis: comparisons of outcome measures
between patients symptomatic for Pb
poisoning, Pb-exposed patients not
symptomatic, reference group
Design: cross-sectional survey
Subjects: secondary copper smelter workers
(n = 58)
Outcome measures: FT4, TT4
Analysis: linear regression
Blood Pb (µg/dL) range:
66–139
Blood Pb (µg/dL) range:
16–127
Blood Pb (µg/dL) mean (SD):
Symptomatic (n = 9):
Time of test: 38.7 (3.0)
Highest: 88.2 (4.0)
Asymptomatic (n = 4):
Time of test: 29.0 (5.0)
Highest: 80.0 (0.0)
Reference: 16.1 (1.7)
Blood Pb (µg/dL) range:
5–60
Five subjects with defects in spermatogenesis (including
azospermia), with no change in basal serum FSH, LH,
PRL, and TES.
Significant association between increasing blood Pb
concentration and decreasing FT4 (∀ = 1.22,
∃ = −0.0042 [95% CI: −0.0002, −0.0082], r 2 = 0.085,
p = 0.048). Significant interaction between race (black,
white) and blood Pb.
When stratified by race:
Black: ∀ = 1.13, ∃ = −0.0051 (95% CI: 0.0007,
−0.0095), r 2 = 0.21, p = 0.03
White: r 2 = 0.05, p = 0.27
Strength of association not changed by including age in
the regression model.
Statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower basal serum
TES, higher TES response to HCG, and significantly
reduced LH response to GnRH in workers symptomatic
for Pb poisoning (including EDTA-provoked urinary Pb
>500 µg/24 hr).
No significant association between blood Pb and
hormone levels:
FT4: ∀ = 2.32, ∃ = −0.0067 (95% CI: −0.18, 0.0043)
TT4: ∀ = NR, ∃ = −0.28 (95% CI: −0.059, 0.0002)
No significant association when ratified by race (black,
white)