Blood Lead Levels, Dietary Calcium, and Hypertension
Authors: RICHARD P. WEDEEN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1985)

Editorials1 March 1985Blood Lead Levels, Dietary Calcium, and HypertensionRICHARD P. WEDEEN, M.D.RICHARD P. WEDEEN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-102-3-403 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe hazards of lead are as old as civilization and acute poisoning has been recognized for at least 2000 years (1). In the 20th century, diagnosis based on the classic symptoms of abdominal colic, wrist drop, and encephalopathy has been supplemented by blood lead measurements. Blood lead levels increase promptly with increases in lead exposure, but because over 90% of the body lead is stored in the skeleton, the blood concentration tends to reflect recent, rather than cumulative, absorption. These levels can be misleading when used for diagnosis of the late sequelae of lead exposure. Although blood lead levels in...References1. WEDEEN R. Poison in the Pot: The Legacy of Lead. Carbondale, Illinois; Southern Illinois University Press; 1984. Google Scholar2. PIOMELLICORASHCORASH SLM. Blood lead concentrations in a remote Himalayan population. Science. 1980;210:1135-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. PIOMELLISEAMANZULLOWCURRANDAVIDOW SCDAB. Threshold for lead damage to heme synthesis in urban children. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1982;79:3335-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ANNESTMAHAFFEY JK. Blood Lead Levels for Persons Ages 6 Months-74 Years, United States, 1976-80. Vital and Health Statistics, series 11, no. 233. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics, Public Health Service; 1984. DHHS Publication no. (PHS) 84-1683. Google Scholar5. MAHAFFEYANNESTROBERTSMURPHY KJJR. National estimates of blood lead levels: United States, 1976-1980: association with selected demographic and socioeconomic factors. N Engl J Med. 1982;307:573-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. ANNESTPIRKLEMAKUCNEESEBAYSEKOVAR JJDJDM. Chronological trend in blood lead levels between 1976 and 1980. N Engl J Med. 1983;308:1373-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. . Air Quality Criteria for Lead. Review draft. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office; 1984. (Publication no. EPA-600/8-83-028B. Google Scholar8. NEEDLEMANGUNNOELEVITON HCA. Deficits in psychologic and classroom performance of children with elevated dentine lead levels. N Engl J Med. 1979;300:689-95. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. HARLANLANDISSCHMOUDERGOLDSTEINHARLAN WJRNL. Relationship of blood lead and blood pressure in the adolescent and adult US population. JAMA. 1985;253:530-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. PIRKLESCHWARTZLANDISHARLAN JJJW. The relationship between blood lead levels and blood pressure and its cardiovascular risk implications. Am J Epidemiol. 1985;121:246-58. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. MCCARRONMORRISHENRYSTANTON DCHJ. Blood pressure and nutrient intake in the United States. Science. 1984;224:1392-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. CRASWELLPRICEBOYLE PJP. Chronic renal failure with gout: a marker of chronic lead poisoning. Kidney Int. 1984;26:319-23. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Veterans Administration Medical Center East Orange, New Jersey PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByLead nephropathy due to Sindoor in IndiaUncommon Sources and Some Unsual Manifestations of Lead Poisoning in a Tropical Developing CountryLead Nephropathy: Revisiting an Overlooked Cause of Kidney DiseaseLead nephropathyEffects of acute and chronic oval exposure of lead on blood pressure and bone mineral density in ratsThird-Trimester Amniotic Fluid Metal Levels Associated with PreeclampsiaClinical Application of in Vivo Tibial K-XRF for Monitoring Lead StoresNutrition and diseases of women: cardiovascular disorders.A review of persistent, low-grade lead challenge: neurological and cardiovascular consequences.Important Aspects Concerning Evaluation of Renal Function and Blood Pressure: Kinins, Prostaglandins, LeadSolubility and bioavailability of lead following oral ingestion of vitrified slagged aggregatePrevention of cadmium and lead nephropathyIn Vivo Tibial XFR Measurement of Bone LeadThe Calcium Hypothesis on HypertensionRICHARD P. WEDEEN, M.D.Lead IntoxicationLead intoxication in paint removal workers on the Sydney Harbour BridgeLead NephropathyUse of the CaNa 2 EDTA Pb-Mobilization Test to Detect Occult Lead Nephropathy 1 March 1985Volume 102, Issue 3Page: 403-404KeywordsAttentionBloodBrain diseasesCalciumHypertensionSepsisSkeleton Issue Published: 1 March 1985 PDF DownloadLoading ...