Effect of lead on cardiac parasympathetic function.
A cross-sectional survey was performed on 172 male, lead exposed workers to clarify the effects of lead on the cardiac autonomic nervous system expressed as the decrease of R-R interval variation on an electrocardiogram and to obviate the dose-effect relationship between blood-lead level (Pb-B) and the degree of the decrease. For 132 workers who were exposed to lead for more than one year and whose Pb-B levels were relatively stable (Pb-B variation less than 20 micrograms/dl during recent one year), a significant dose-related decrease of R-R interval variation during deep breathing was observed. Age-adjusted R-R interval variation during deep breathing in those whose Pb-B were 30 micrograms/dl or above was significantly decreased compared with those whose Pb-B levels were 20 micrograms/dl or below. This decrease was observed more clearly in younger workers. These results suggest that an effect on autonomic nervous system expressed as decrease of R-R interval variation during deep breathing might be one of the earliest effects of lead exposure.
Teruya
K
K
Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan.
Sakurai
H
H
Omae
K
K
Higashi
T
T
Muto
T
T
Kaneko
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012119:Respiration
D007854:Lead