Evaluation of Postural Stability in Workers Exposed to Lead at a Secondary Lead Smelter

Details

• Personal Author:
  Biagini, Raymond E. ; Brightwell WS ; Deddens JA ; Dick, Robert B. ; Grubb, Paula L. ; Krieg EF Jr. ; Pinkerton LE ; Russo, John M. ; Taylor BT
• Description:
  Postural sway testing was carried out on a group of 145 workers exposed to lead in a secondary lead smelter and 84 workers not exposed to lead in a hinge manufacturing plant. All workers were measured for blood lead levels (BLL) and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) concentrations at the time of testing and both a total cumulative and a time-weighted average BLL value was constructed for the lead exposed workers. The lead exposed workers mean BLL at the time of testing was 38.9 microg/dl and the non-exposed workers mean was 2.3 microg/dl. ZPP levels averaged 55.2 microg/dl for exposed workers and 18.9 microg/dl for non-exposed workers. Total cumulative BLL averaged 83476 microg/dl days for the exposed workers, with a mean time-weighted average BLL of 35.1 microg/dl. Six tests of postural stability, four two leg conditions and two single leg conditions were administered to all subjects using a force platform to produce measurements of sway for comparison purposes. The two leg conditions also manipulated the visual and proprioceptive systems. A statistically significant association was observed for sway measurements and the current BLL for all workers, but not with the current BLL of only the lead exposed workers. No statistically significant associations were present with the cumulative measures of long-term exposure. Of the six tests of sway, only the single leg conditions showed significant exposure effects. The results suggest effects of lead exposure among those with average BLL near 40.0 microg/dl, but only in the most challenging one leg conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Hematologic Tests Lead Lead Poisoning Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Occupational Health Poisoning Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Neurotoxicity Blood Lead Blood Samples Blood Tests Lead Absorption Lead Compounds Lead Exposure Lead Poisoning Lead Production Lead Smelting Postural Sway Posture Statistical Analysis Visual Fields Visual Perception Zinc Protoporphyrin

  More +
• ISSN:
  0161-813X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  20
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025234
• Citation:
  Neurotoxicology 1999 Aug; 20(4):595-607
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert B. Dick, Ph., D, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C-24, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
• Email:
  rbdi@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1999
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Neurotoxicology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a40fc4279f1d174fe0cd5892ee18693dc3c40c155deffbb558b845ea7f01fd5e9273692abc538c23903df72d2e5f24821297b03cd98a959bf4eac98c210afd76
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196698/cdc_196698_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.47 MB ]