Lead, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease in men and women

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.919171· OSTI ID:5010616

Schwartz, J ^[1]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)

Lead has been shown to be associated with elevated blood pressure in males in the NHANES 2 survey and in numerous other studies. This study confirms the association in males ages 20 to 74 and documents a singificant, although weaker, association in females as well. Prospective cardiovascular disease studies such as the Framingham study indicate that increases in blood pressure should be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Using electrocardiogram data from NHANES 2, this study confirms the expected association oflead with left ventricular hypertrophy. The logistic risk coefficients from the Framingham study can be combined with the study's association between lead and blood pressure to examine its implication for more serious outcomes. The results suggest that a halving of the population mean blood lead level would reduce myocardial infarctions by approximately 24,000 events per year and incidence of all cardiovascular disease by over 100,000. These numbers suggest a small attributable risk compared ot the vast incidence of cardiovascular disease in the US, but a large attributable risk compared to most environmental toxins. Several biological mechanisms have been identified, with different implications for the use of bone lead as an exposure measure.

• OSTI ID: 5010616
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Vol. 91; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BLOOD PRESSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT
LEAD COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
WOMEN
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
DIAGRAMS
DISEASES
FEMALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
PRIMATES
STATISTICS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology