[Neurological disorders in workers with low levels of lead in the blood. I: Peripheral neuropathy].
This is a cross-sectional study with a randomized choice of individuals aiming at studying the validity of the Brazilian biological exposure limits applied to lead level in the blood (PbB) and delta-aminolevulinic acid in the urine (ALAU), which are 60 micrograms/dl and 10 mg/g.creat., respectively. For this purpose, twenty workers, whose PbB and ALAU values have been below these limits over the past two years, were selected at random at a battery production plant in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. The workers were submitted to a peripheral nerve conduction study. The results were compared with those obtained for workers of a control group also chosen at random. The lead workers showed a decrease in the velocity conduction of the radial nerves. Comparing this group with a randomized control group, a significant difference was observed (p-value = 0.0067). The results suggest that the Brazilian biological exposure limits above should be rearranged.
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Departamento de Saúde Pública da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, SP-Brasil. cordeiro@fmb.unesp.br
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D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology