Relationship between blood lead levels and renal function in lead battery workers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between blood lead (PbB) levels and renal function indices of blood-urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SC) and uric acid (UA) among lead battery workers with exposure to lead.


METHODS
A total of 229 workers of both genders from two lead battery factories were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The personal airborne and blood samples were collected on the same day. The airborne lead (PbA) and PbB levels, and individual renal function parameters were measured and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
A positive correlation between PbB levels and individual renal function index of BUN, SC, and UA was found ( P<0.01). The PbB levels and renal function indices showed significant difference between male and female workers. Based on a multiple regression model, an increment of 10 micro g/dl PbB produced an increase of 0.62 mg/dl BUN, after being adjusted for work duration and age, and an increase of 0.085 mg/dl UA, after being adjusted for gender and body weight. Workers with PbB <or=60 microg/dl and >60 microg/dl showed a positive dose-effect relationship with significant difference in BUN ( P<0.001) and UA ( P<0.05), and the percentage of workers with BUN and UA over the reference value also showed an increasing trend.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood-urea nitrogen and uric acid could be considered as suitable prognostic indicators of renal dysfunction in lead-exposed workers. Our results showed that PbB levels higher than 60 micro g/dl had increasing chances of inducing adverse renal effects.
Wang
Ven-Shing
VS
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical College, 91 Hsueh-shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lee
Ming-Tsung
MT
Chiou
Jyh-Yann
JY
Guu
Chiam-Fang
CF
Wu
Chin-Ching
CC
Wu
Trong-Neng
TN
Lai
Jim-Shoung
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
D007854:Lead