Workers Who Use Lead Can Suffer Cognitive Problems
People who work with lead suffer from cognitive problems 55 years of age, according to a study by the University of Pittsburgh (USA).
Frequent exposure to lead causes “light gap” of knowledge, especially in spatial ability, learning and memory.
These problems affect workers aged 55 years, even when lead exposure was over long ago, because this chemical element remains in the body for decades.
So, according to the research team, lead by an accumulation of exposure at a young age may be sufficient to cause cognitive problems.
The scientists, who recently published his research in the journal Neuropsychology, have reached these conclusions after studying the evolution over 20 years of two groups of workers in Pennsylvania (USA): one who worked in plants exposed to lead batteries and another not.
In 1982, these people were subjected to control blood lead and some cognitive tests that measured psychomotor speed, spatial and executive functions, general intelligence, learning and memory.
Workers in lead battery plants had a blood concentration of 40 micrograms per deciliter metal, while in non-exposed persons was 7.2 ug / dl.
From a concentration of 25 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, employees must leave work, so that these workers left the plant with lead.
In 2004, they returned to analyze the blood lead concentration and cognitive ability in both groups and measured the levels of lead in the tibia or lower leg bones (the bones are the final destination of the lead that flows through the bloodstream).
The result was that men with higher lead levels in bone were the worst cognitive score, especially after 55 years of age.
The researchers explain that the cognitive deficits found are not clinically significant, but that lead is very harmful to the brain is still developing.
Being exposed to this metal also carries a high risk of high blood pressure.
Scientists say they are necessary preventive measures compared the work environment to reduce lead exposure to zero and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Among professionals working with this metal are welders, manufacturers of semiconductors, ceramics, and workers in battery plant construction.
