Effects of lead exposure on neurophysiological parameters

To clarify the chronic effect of lead exposure on the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS), we performed neurophysiological tests on 41 lead-exposed male workers. Unexposed workers (controls, N = 39) were examined for auditory brain stem response (ABR), and their ABR parameters were compared with those of 15 lead-exposed workers age-matched to the controls. Neurophysiological tests included those of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity of the radial nerve (MCV, SCVwa and SCVfw), electroretinograms, pattern reversal visual evoked potential (VEP), ABR, and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP). Neurophysiological parameters were analyzed by regression analysis [independent parameters: age, exposure duration, and current and time-weighted average lead concentration in whole blood (PbB and TWA-PbB)]. ABR parameters were also tested by Student's t test. Significant negative correlations were found between radial MCV and TWA-PbB and SCVwa and PbB, while significant positive correlations were found between the latency of component N145 of VEP and exposure duration and between the latency of component N20 of SLSEP and PbB. The mean of interpeak latency between component III and V of ABR of 15 lead-exposed workers was significantly prolonged compared with that of the control group. These results suggested that lead exposure has a greater effect on the conduction function in the PNS than in that of the CNS in somatosensory and auditory pathways, and inversely in visual pathway.