Study Links Heart Disease Deaths With High Lead Levels In Blood
Posted on: Thursday, 9 April 2009, 14:15 CDT
New research indicates that older women with high levels of lead in their blood are likely to die sooner from heart disease than those with lower lead levels, Reuters reported.
The 12-year study followed 533 women aged 65 to 87 years old and showed that those women with lead concentrations above 8 micrograms per deciliter of blood were 59 percent more likely to die of any cause.
They were also three times more likely to die of heart disease than women with lower blood lead levels, the study said.
Dr. Naila Khalil of University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and colleagues wrote in BioMed Central's online journal Environmental Health that environmental lead exposure continues to be a public health concern, despite declines in blood lead concentrations during the past 30 years.
Khalil added in a written statement: "Lead is a toxic metal, and our results add to the existing evidence of adverse affects of lead on health as seen in an older cohort who experienced greater historic environmental lead exposure."
The most recent US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2002) suggested that average blood lead levels have declined sharply to 1.45 micrograms per deciliter, compared to pervious surveys.
But the current study was conducted between 1986 and 1988 and participants were therefore alive while lead was still used in paints, water systems and gasoline.
The women in Khalil's group had average blood concentrations of 5.3 micrograms per deciliter, with some women showing levels as high as 21 micrograms per deciliter.
Over the span of the study, 123 women died due to having had slightly higher average blood lead concentrations than survivors—listed as 5.56 versus 5.17 micrograms per deciliter.
The investigators say multiple factors contribute to the development of heart disease, and the current study shows that lead exposure is likely a leading cause.
The report warned that while the damage may already have been done for some older people, it is important that to recognize the harm that environmental exposure to lead can cause.
“We must remain vigilant and ensure that lead pollution is minimized for the sake of future generations' health," the study concluded.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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