Increased concentrations of serum inhibin B among male workers with long-term moderate lead exposure.
Lead is known to have an adverse effect to human reproductive system. This study investigates the association between different lead indices (both current and cumulative) and serum inhibin B as well as hormone concentrations in a group of 181 male lead workers. We used data collected during annual health examinations, including measurements of blood lead levels, inhibin B, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (TTE) as well as age, gender, height, weight, smoking and drinking habits. The cumulative lead index included index of cumulative blood lead (ICL) and time weighted index of cumulative blood lead (TWICL) which were calculated from the series blood lead concentrations by annual health examinations since 1991 to the time of the study. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple regressions. We found the Pearson correlation coefficients of ICL and TWICL vs. inhibin B to be 0.220 (p=0.003) and 0.231 (p=0.008), respectively. After adjusting for age, smoking, drinking, LH, FSH, and TTE, our multiple regression models revealed that with each unit increase in ICL and TWICL, there was a 0.047 pg/mL (p=0.017) and 1.333 pg/mL (p=0.007) increase in inhibin B. We found an association between cumulative lead index and concentration of serum inhibin B in male workers exposed to lead over long period, possibly indirectly affecting spermatogenesis.
Hsieh
Shu-Jung
SJ
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, and Center of Excellence for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
Chiu
Yu-Wen
YW
Li
Wan-Fen
WF
Wu
Ching-Hu
CH
Chen
Hsin-I
HI
Chuang
Hung-Yi
HY
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D049628:Body Size; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C422364:inhibin B; D007854:Lead; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone