Abstract

This study was to investigate the effect of lead on the selected clinical renal function in female lead workers. The 123 female lead workers from 9 lead industry and 177 females who were not occupationally exposed were examined. Females who had history of renal disease or oral medication were excluded. Blood lead, zinc protoporhphyrin in blood, delta-aminolevulinic acid and haemoglobin were examined as of lead exposure indices and blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum uric acid and urine protein were examined as of renal function indices. Mean concentration of lead were 40.7(+/-13.02)ug/dl for lead workers and 10.7(+/-3.56)ug/dl for non-lead workers. Differences between lead workers and non-lead workers in blood lead, zinc protoporhphyrin in blood and delta-aminoleuvulinic acid were statistically significant. There were significant differences between lead workers and non-lead workers in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum uric acid except urine protein but their mean concentrations were all within normal limits. Serum creatinine and urine protein were not increasing according to the increasing blood lead. When cut off points of 20mg/dl in blood urea nitrogen, 1.2mg/dl in serum creatine, 7.0mg/dl in serum uric acid, 8.0mg/dl in urine protein and 40ug/dl in blood lead, 100ug/dl in zinc-protoporhphyrin in blood, 7.0mg/l in delta-aminoleuvulinic acid were accepted, comparison between frequencies of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatine, serum uric acid, urin protein by the level of blood lead, zinc-protoporhphyrin in blood and delta-aminoleuvulinic acid respectively was not statistically different. There were no dose-repsonse relationships in risk ratios by the level of blood lead and zinc-protoporphyrin in blood respectively. In summary, there were no significant effect of lead on the selected clinical renal function among the female lead workers at level of blood lead 40ug/dl that is the permissible level of lead poisoning in Korea.

• Keywords: Lead exposed;Renal function