Investigation on Concentrations of Blood Lead,Urinary Lead and Serum Sex Hormone among Lead-exposed Male Workers

[Objective]To evaluate the levels of blood lead and urinary lead and among lead-exposed male workers and the influencing factors,and study the variation of serum sex hormone and its related mechanism.[Methods]A total of 120 male workers that engaged in lead-exposed operation were selected from a lead storage battery manufacture plant as the exposed group in January 2011,which was furthermore partitioned into high,medium and low-dose exposed-groups.Another 40 male workers without lead exposure from the same plant were selected as the control group.Urine samples were collected for the measurement of urinary lead,and blood samples for measurements of blood lead,serum testosterone,FSH and LH.[Results]The average lead concentration in the workplace air was 0.29 mg/m3,and 90% samples' concentration were higher than the national occupational health standard.Blood and urinary lead level and abnormity rate of 3 exposed-groups were all increased significantly compared with the control group,and differences of blood lead level and abnormity rate between the 3 exposed-groups were also significant(all P0.01).With the growth of the length of service,blood and urinary lead level and abnormity rate of 3 exposed-groups represented a increasing tendency.Serum testosterone concentration of the medium and high dose exposed-groups were decreased significantly compared to the control group and the low dose exposed-group,to which the results of serum FSH concentrations were contrary(all P0.01).[Conclusion]Under the conditions of this study,the growth of service length and high concentration of lead in the work place are both major risk factors for the increasing of blood and urinary lead.Lead-exposure can influence the sex hormone secreting function of hypothalamus-hypophysis-testicle axis,which will make interference effect on internal secretion of male workers' reproductive system.