Lead poisoning: neurophysiological aspects

Lead causes peripheral neuropathy, which may lead to radial palsy or other peripheral palsy. In milder cases weakness has been reported especially in the wrist extensors. Several reports have confirmed that even in neurologically symptom-free lead workers motor and sensory conduction velocities slow down and also electromyographic abnormalities like denervation activity and loss or changes in the motor unit potentials appear. When individual exposure to lead has been monitored for long term, an exposure-effect relationship and also an exposure-response relationship have been shown concerning lead exposure and slowing of nerve conduction velocities and also concerning frequency of abnormally slow conduction velocities.