Lifestyle and environmental factors as determinants of blood lead levels in a Swiss population

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80136-7· OSTI ID:5886024

Berode, M; Wietlisbach, V; Rickenbach, M; Guillemin, M P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Lausanne (Switzerland)

The determination of blood lead levels was included in a Swiss population survey on cardiovascular risk factors in 1984-1985; 931 men and 843 women aged 25 to 75 years participated in the study. Mean blood lead levels ({plus minus}SD) were 0.63 {plus minus} 0.27 {mu}mole/liter for men and 0.44 {plus minus} 0.19 {mu}mole/liter for women, respectively, with a slight increase with age for both sexes. These values are below the maximum level recommended by the Commission of the European Community in 1977; 18 cases were found with blood lead higher than 1.5 {mu}mole/liter and in six of these, a professional exposure was suspected. Smoking habits, drinking habits, and consumption of diary products were selected as lifestyle descriptors and educational level, occupational category, and size of the community as sociodemographic indicators. Smoking and alcohol consumption show a direct association with blood lead, consuming dairy products an inverse one. Occupation and level of education are significantly related to blood lead only for men, blue-collar workers and less-educated men being more exposed. A higher blood lead level in cities was only found for women. The lifestyle indicators showed a consistently stronger effect on blood lead than sociodemographic indicators. For mean, smoking has an effect on blood lead for blue-collar workers much stronger than that for nonindustrial employees and may compound in some way the professional exposure to lead.

• OSTI ID: 5886024
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 55:1; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEAD
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
BLOOD
DIET
ENVIRONMENT
ETHANOL
LIFE STYLES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SURVEYS
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COLLOIDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
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INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
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