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OAR Box 1128 

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Document Number: 

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12 84-0257 

BLOOD LEAD AND BLOOD PRESSURE 

T. Moreau, G. Orssaud, B. Juguet, and C. Susquet 

Rev. Epidemiol. Sante Publique, vol. 30, ?ages 395 

397, 1982. 

Translated for EPA by: 

S C I T R A N 

1482 East Valle y Road 

Santa Barbara , Californi a 93108 

(805 ) 969-241 3 

fl 
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Letter to the Edi tor 

Blood lead and blood pressure. 

Preliminary results of a cross-sectional study of 431 male 

subjects.* 

Gentlement 

An article dealing with the factors of variation of 

blood lead in the general population (Awad et al. Cll) was 

published in a recent issue of the review; among other 

things, it did not establish a relationship between blood 

lead and blood pressure. 

Ue present here the preliminary results of a study in 

which this relationship is shown. 

The study population is made up of 431 male subjects, 

aged 24 to SS years (average 41.4), untreated for 

hypertension, belonging to the Paris police department. For 

each subject, examined during a routine medical visit, blood 

pressure was measured with a mercury apparatus; a blood 

sample was collected; the level of lead was measured on total 

blood by atomic absorption spectrometry <Jare11-Ash 838 

apparatus); and the daily Consumptions of wine and tobacco 

were obtained by questionnaire. Data were collected from May 

1988 to February 1981. Statistical tests were carried out 

using the logarithms of the blood lead values, which appeared 

to be normally distributed. 

Uork carried out under INSERM CRL contract no. 79-5-438-8. 

Byi T. Moreau. 
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The average blood lead values as a function of systolic 

blood pressure are shown in Table lt they differ vry 

significantly (p < 18-*) with an increase of about 2SX 

between the lowest blood pressure class (less than 128 mm Hg) 

and tha highest blood pressure class (over 168 mm Hg), the 

correlation coefficient value is 8.23 (p < 18-*>. Also, 

the blood lead, as in Awad et al. til, appears vry 

significantly correlated with age (r « 8.28, p < 18-*), 

consumption of wine and tobacco (r • 8.31, p < 18-*; r • 

8.21i p < 18-*, respectively). However, the blood 

lead-systolic pressure relationship persists after taking 

into account simultaneously the .three variables (partial 

correlation coefficient 8.16, p < 18-3). it was also 

corroborated by the existence of a significant correlation 

between blood lead and cardiac rate, itself vry much linked 

to systolic pressure; the correlation disappears after taking 

the linkage into account. Taking into account corpulence 

(defined as the ratio Ueight/Height*), not correlated 

with blood lead (r » 8.85), does not alter these results. 

Finally it has be,*n verified that the blood lead-systolic 

pressure relationship exists for each of the more homogeneous 

groups of subjects examined during a given month. As far as 

diastolic pressure is concerned, it is also linked in a 

significant manner to blood lead levels, but more loosely <r 

• 8.18, p < 8.85); the weakness of this correlation is 

probably explained by the poorer quality of the diastolic 
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prttsurt measurement, as suggested by its wtak relationship 

to ag* and corpulence <r - 8.18, r - 8.21, respectively), 

compared to that observed -for systolic pressure (r - 8.28, r 

• 8.34, respectively). 

The existence of a positive connection between blood 

lead and blood pressure is controversial in the recent 

literatures it was shown by Beevers et al. C2, 33 and Khera 

tt al . C4] who, with a group identical to ours with respect 

to sex and profession, compared average blood lead level of 

subjects with elevated blood pressure with that of other 

subjects. The statistical analysis chosen here, as well as 

in Awad et al . , is different, since it consists o* 

calculating the correlation between blood level and blood 

pressure in the general population. 

Looking at these results together, it appears necessary 

to conduct other stqdies that will permit, in particular, 

approaching the physiological mechanisms of the blood 

lead-blood pressure relationship. 

* 

T. Moreau <1), 6. Orssaud (2), 

B. Juguet <3), 6. Busquet (4). 

(1) INSERM, U. 16? (J. Lellouch), 16, av. Paul-Vai11 antCouterier, 97887 Vi11ejuif Cedex. 

(2) Laboratory for Research in Cardiovascular Diseases of the 

DASS, 27, rue Lacordaire F 73813 Paris <Pr. J.-R. Claude). 

<3> Health Laboratory of the City of Paris, 1(2), rue des 

Hosp i tal i ers-Sai nt-Gervai s, F 73813 Paris (.Pr . B. Festy) . 

(4) Department of Nuclear Medicine, CHRG, F 38788 La Tronche. 
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TABLE 1 . Means of blood lead values (ug/£) 

according to blood-pressure (mm Hg) 

1^ Z~ I-

• tl * 

120 - U » 

130 • 139 

I'M • I«t 

ISO- IM 

l«0 • 

1*1 « » 

IM • 47 

lfl a 07 

l.l a ST 

an a ST 

XM a 01 

n 

101 

119 

71 

, < i0-< 

lSystolic pressure. 'Blood lead ± standard 

error. ^Number of subjects.

 4Significance 
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iste 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1 . Awad L* | Hu*l G. , Lazar P. , Boudene C i Factors of 

inte r individua l variatio n in blood lead . Rev. Epidemiol, et 

Sante Publ. , 1981 , 2Z. 113-124. 

•1BUOGRAPHIE 

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