A comprehensive neurobehavioral and neurophysiological study for low level lead-exposed workers.
A comprehensive neurobehavioral and neurophysiological study was performed to evaluate the adverse effect of low level lead-exposure, and to compare the sensibility, easiness of the test methods utilized. The tests were: WHO recommended Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB), Autonomic Nouvers System Function (ANS) Test Battery, Brain Electricity Active Mapping (BEAM), and Nerve Conduction Velocity. 44 lead-exposed workers were selected, with 34 age, education degree, family economic level, smoking and drinking matched referents.


RESULTS
The mean blood lead concentration of lead-exposed workers was 1.3870 mumol/L, whereas that of referents was 0.6080 mumol/L, the difference was very significant. The negative Profile of Mood State (POMS) score of lead-expose workers was higher than that of referents, whereas the positive POMS score of the referents was higher than that of lead-exposed group, with a covariance analysis. The lead-exposure affected some NCTB test items, such as simple reaction time (SRT), digital symbol (DSY), correct dots (PAC) and total dots (PA). The heart-rate response to Valsalva manoeuvre (HR-V), heart-rate response to deep breathing (HR-DB), and blood-pressure response to immediate standing (BP-IS) were lowered in lead-exposed workers significantly. Some abnormal brain electric waves (dominant beta frequency, semetry-diffuse abnormal and non semetry-diffuse abnormal wave distribution, dominant low wave amplitude) appeared in lead-exposed workers. Left ulnar nerve maximal conduction velocity was significantly lowered in lead-exposed group.


CONCLUSIONS
The NCTB (including POMS), and ANS function test should be the regular screening battery for low level lead-exposed workers. The threshold blood lead concentration for health surveillance should be 30 micrograms/dL, or 1.4 mumol/L.
Department of Occupational Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, P.R. China. SXYDWSXY@public.ty.sx.cn
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Niu
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Li
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Wang
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Dai
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Chen
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data