Effect of occupational lead exposure on the blood pressure of lead-exposed workers

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of occupational lead exposure on blood pressure and pro-vide supportive evidence of health protection on lead - exposed workers. Methods: 612 workers (452 lead - ex-posed workers, 160 workers as control) were recruited in the battery factory. The blood lead concentration and blood pressure were detected by occupational health examination and biological monitoring. The relationship of blood lead concentration and blood pressure wasanalyzed. Results: The blood lead concentration in the exposed group (249.84±137.74) μg/L was higher than that of the control group (117.25±70.15) μg/L, and the differ-ence was statistically significant (P<0.01) . The difference of abnormal blood pressure and diastolic pressure among the exposed and the control group was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The abnormal blood pressure rate, systolic pressure rate and diastolic pressure rate in the 400~726 μg/L group was higher than that of the 6~199 μg/L and 200~399 μg/L group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01) . Multiple lin-ear regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of the systolic pressure followed by sex, age, length of service and blood lead concentration, diastolic pressure followed by sex, age, smoke and blood lead concen-tration. Conclusion: These findings suggest that long - term occupational lead exposure may result in the in-crease of blood lead concentration.