Blood lead and blood pressure: some implications for the situation in The Netherlands

Studies performed earlier have shown a positive relation between blood lead (a parameter for lead body burden) and blood pressure, whereas such a relation between urine cadmium (a parameter for cadmium body burden) and blood pressure could not be shown. Median (i.e., 50th percentile, P50) blood levels in the general population in the Netherlands are in the range of 80 to 150 micrograms/L. Persons occupationally exposed to lead show median blood lead levels that may exceed 400 micrograms/L. To study causality, a prospective study among lead workers is desired.