Two-year neurocognitive responses to first occupational lead exposure

Autor: Yu-Ling Yu, Lutgarde Thijs, Nelly Saenen, Jesus D Melgarejo, Dong-Mei Wei, Wen-Yi Yang, Cai-Guo Yu, Harry A Roels, Tim S Nawrot, Gladys E Maestre, Jan A Staessen, Zhen-Yu Zhang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol 47, Iss 3, Pp 233-243 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0355-3140
1795-990X
DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.3940
Popis: OBJECTIVES: Lead exposure causes neurocognitive dysfunction in children, but its association with neurocognition in adults at current occupational exposure levels is uncertain mainly due to the lack of longitudinal studies. In the Study for Promotion of Health in Recycling Lead (NCT02243904), we assessed the two-year responses of neurocognitive function among workers without previous known occupational exposure newly hired at lead recycling plants. METHODS: Workers completed the digit-symbol test (DST) and Stroop test (ST) at baseline and annual follow-up visits. Blood lead (BL) was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (detection limit 0.5 µg/dL). Statistical methods included multivariable-adjusted mixed models with participants modelled as random effect. RESULTS: DST was administered to 260 participants (11.9% women; 46.9%/45.0% whites/Hispanics; mean age 29.4 years) and ST to 168 participants. Geometric means were 3.97 and 4.13 µg/dL for baseline BL, and 3.30 and 3.44 for the last-follow-up-to-baseline BL ratio in DST and ST cohorts, respectively. In partially adjusted models, a doubling of the BL ratio was associated with a 0.66% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–1.30; P=0.040] increase in latency time (DST) and a 0.35% (95% CI ‑1.63–1.63; P=0.59) decrease in the inference effect (ST). In fully adjusted models, none of the associations of the changes in the DST and ST test results with the blood lead changes reached statistical significance (P≥0.12). CONCLUSIONS: An over 3-fold increase in blood lead over two years of occupational exposure was not associated with a relevant decline in cognitive performance.
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