| Author/Editor | Sartor, F; Thijs, L; Staessen, JA; Dolenc, P; Amery, A; Buchet, J-P; Claeys, F; Fagard, R; Lauwerys, RR; Lijnen, P; Roels, H; Rondia, D | |
| Title | Environmental lead exposure does not increase blood pressure in the population: evidence from the Cadmibel study | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | J Hypertens | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 11, št. Suppl 2 | |
| Publication year | 1993 | |
| Volume | str. S35-S41 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | Objective: Long-term exposure to high concentrations of lead may adversely affect several organ systems, but the possible influence of low-level lead exposure on blood pressure remains debatable. The present study examined this relationship in a cross-sectional population survey. Methods: Blood pressure and lead exposure were measured in 1648 subject (827 males and 821 females; mean age 45 years), drawn at random from the general population, but not being treated for hypertension. Results: Systolic/diastolic blood pressure averaged 131/77 mmHg in the males and 124/74 mmHg in the females. Blood lead was higher in males than in females (0.5 versus 0.3 micromol/l, P less th. 0.0001), but the opposite was observed for zinc protoporphyrin (1.0 versus 1.1 microg/g haemoglobin, P less th. 0.0001). Total serum calcium was similar in both sexes (2.37 mmol/l). After adjustment for significant covariates (age, body mass index, pulse rate, serum creatinine and serum calcium, and for contraceptive pill intake and menopapuse in females), systolic pressure was negatively correlated with blood lead in men (P less th. 0.05); the partial correlations with blood lead were not significant for systolic pressure in females nor for diastolic pressure in either sex. After excluding males possibly exposed at work, the partial correlations between systolic and diastolic pressure and blood lead were negative (P less th. 0.05). Neither males nor females showed a significant relationship between blood pressure and the zinc protoporphyrin level in blood, an alternative index of lead exposure. Conclusion: This study does not support the hypothesis that exposure to lead is associated with increased blood pressure in the population at large. | |
| Descriptors | LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE HYPERTENSION MIDDLE AGE AGED LEAD ZINC COMPOUNDS PROTOPORPHYRINS CALCIUM ADULT |