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Document ID (ISN)100747
CIS number 02-1651
ISSN - Serial title 1076-2752 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Böckelmann I., Pfister E.A., McGauran N., Robra B.P.
Title Assessing the suitability of cross-sectional and longitudinal cardiac rhythm tests with regard to identifying effects of occupational chronic lead exposure
Bibliographic information Jan. 2002, Vol.44, No.1, p.59-65. Illus. 54 ref.
Abstract The aim of this study was to examine whether signs of the neurotoxic influence of lengthy occupational lead exposure on the autonomic nervous system could be detected by cardiac rhythm analysis. A total of 109 male lead-exposed workers and 27 controls were examined in a cross-sectional study. In addition, 17 lead-exposed participants were investigated a second time in a follow-up study four years later. Heart rate variability was assessed in rest, strain and recovery phases. In the cross-sectional study, lead-exposed persons showed a delayed restoration of cardiac rhythm parameters to the initial vegetative state after the strain phase. This effect significantly increased over a period of four more years of exposure in the 17 workers participating in the follow-up study. Vagal depression caused by long-term lead exposure was found within the current threshold limit value range, but it should nonetheless be interpreted as an adverse effect.
Descriptors (primary) neurotoxic effects; lead and compounds; pulse rate; sinus arrhythmia; lead
Descriptors (secondary) threshold limit values; vagal reflexes; case-control study; cross-sectional study; determination in urine; liver function tests; statistical evaluation; medical examinations; long-term study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceGermany
Subject(s) Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Cardiovascular diseases
Lead and compounds
Inorganic substances
Diseases of the nervous system