Immunologic Findings Among Lead-Exposed Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Biagini, Raymond E. ; Boeniger, Mark F. ; Deddens JA ; Hull, R. DeLon ; Luster MI ; MacKenzie, Barbara A. ; Pinkerton LE ; Schnorr, Teresa M. ; Ward, Elizabeth M.
• Description:
  A cross sectional study of lead (7439921) exposed and unexposed workers was conducted using a comprehensive panel of immunologic parameters to evaluate the association between lead exposure and changes in the immune system. Studies focused particularly on determining whether the number of CD4+ T-cells was affected by lead exposure. Lead exposed workers were recruited from a large secondary lead smelter in the United States. The final study group included 145 exposed and 84 unexposed workers. The median blood lead level (BLL) was 39 micrograms/deciliter (microg/dl) among the exposed (range 15 to 55microg/dl) and the median among the unexposed group was less than 2microg/dl (range of 2 to 12microg/dl). Median zinc-protoporphyrin (ZPP) was 48 among the exposed and 17.5microg/dl among the unexposed group. No association was found between lead exposure and the percentage of CD4+ T-cells. Even though a significant interaction between age and lead exposure for the absolute number of CD4+ T-cells was noted, this finding may have been related to an increase in lymphocyte count with age in the unexposed population. In exposure response analyses among lead exposed workers, no evidence was found of a significant relationship between the number and percentage of CD4+ cells and estimates of exposure including current blood lead, ZPP, or estimated cumulative lead exposure. Lead exposed workers had a significantly lower percentage of monocytes than unexposed workers, although the magnitude of the difference was small. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Hematologic Tests Immune System Lead Lead Poisoning Metals Metals, Heavy Metal Workers Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Lead Blood-analysis Blood-cells CD41 T Lymphocyte Heavy-metals Immune System Immunoglobulins Immunology Lead-poisoning Lead-smelting Occupational-exposure Smelters Smelting

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  400-408
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00241284
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 1998 Apr; 33(4):400-408
• Contact Point Address:
  Lynne E. Pinkerton, M.D.., 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-15, Cinicinnati OH 45226
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1998
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:701cc898aa80badb83a152464c9151cde6dd3b24876beef6634c25435f9e3d7ceafb3f3e16d4397055caa4b62bedac9c83b96d622b36d7d5943f51d53c76b473
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198086/cdc_198086_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 72.17 KB ]