SERUM ERYTHROPOIETIN AND BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that high blood lead l evels are associated with depressed serum erythropoietin concentration s in workers occupationally exposed to lead. The results in exposed wo rkers and in a control group of unexposed subjects were compared. Bloo d lead values were less than or equal to 20 mu g/dl in unexposed subje cts and greater than or equal to 30 mu g/dl in exposed subjects. The t wo groups of exposed workers and the control population were matched f or sex and age. Hemoglobin levels were not affected by blood lead valu es and did not differ significantly between the three groups. The two- tailed, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare unpaired groups. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to evaluate the d ose-effect relationship between Pb and EPO. The analysis of the data i ndicate that erythropoietin values are significantly lower in exposed subjects than in controls. However no correlation was demonstrated bet ween blood lead concentrations and erythropoietin in any group.