title: Environmental and occupational exposure to lead as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: We have evaluated current knowledge on relations between environmental and occupational exposure to lead with a strong emphasis on cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as the influence of lead compounds on lipid disturbances and arterial blood pressure. In addition, "novel" biochemical and vascular risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were discussed, as well as the combination of lead exposure and genetic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases. Occupationally and educationally, awareness of the unfavourable effects of lead on cardiovascular diseases risk factors should be emphasised. Indeed, accurate identification of the various mechanisms that might account for the effects of lead on the cardiovascular system should be of the highest priority in this field of research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases and Hypertension, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteur 4, PL 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland. sogood@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gać
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrzejak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead