A study on the effect of lead on event-related potentials among lead-exposed workers.
OBJECTIVE
In order to clarify the effect of lead on higher cerebral functions, lead-exposed workers (Pb group) and controls were examined for event-related potentials.


METHODS
Fourteen lead-exposed workers with a mean age of 57.1 yr (SD=4.27, range 48-64; lead concentration of whole blood ranged from 33 to 106 microg/dl with a mean of 58.6 and SD 28.6 microg/dl) and 19 age-matched control workers with a mean age of 57.3 yr (SD=4.80, range 48-65) were examined. Visual P300 was recorded by button pushing to the target image (minute checkerboard pattern, 20%), and the NO-GO potential by no button pushing to the target image (same as above, 50%).


RESULTS
Latencies of P300 in the Pb group (475+/-46.0 ms) were significantly delayed compared with those in controls (407+/-42.4 ms, p<0.01 by Student's t test). Amplitudes of the NO-GO potential in the Pb group (4.59+/-2.04 microV) significantly increased compared with those in the controls (3.18+/-1.41 microV, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The finding suggests that lead exposure affects high cerebral functions of cognition and attention, but is unclear in suppression of movement.
Hirata
Mamoru
M
Department of Research Planning, National Institute of Industrial Health, Nagao 6-21-1, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan.
Kosaka
Hiroshi
H
Yoshida
Toshiaki
T
D000368:Aged; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid