Effect of lead exposure and ergonomic stressors on peripheral nerve function.

In this study we investigated the effect of recent and chronic lead exposure, and its interaction with ergonomic stressors, on peripheral nerve function. In a cross-sectional design, we used retrospective exposure data on 74 primary lead smelter workers. We measured blood and bone lead levels and, from historical records, calculated lead dose metrics reflecting cumulative lead exposure: working-lifetime integrated blood lead (IBL) and working-lifetime weighted-average blood lead (TWA).

Association of chronic and current measures of lead exposure with different components of brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Current blood lead (PbB) affects brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in children but whether a similar association exists in lead-exposed adults remains unclear. During an investigation of the neurobehavioral effects of occupational lead exposure we performed BAEPs on 359 English- and French-speaking, currently exposed, male, lead smelter workers having a mean (S.D.

The interaction of education and cumulative lead exposure on the Mini-Mental State Examination.

The effect of lead exposure on neurobehavioral performance is modified by age. Whether educational achievement can serve as an effect modifier on the lead-cognitive performance relationship is examined. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the reading section of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R), a measure of educational achievement, were administered to 256 lead smelter workers.