Effects of lead on thyroid functions in lead-exposed workers

• Autorzy: Recep Pekcici , Burak Kavlakoğlu , Sevim Yilmaz , Mustafa Şahin , Tuncay Delibaşi
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Lead exposure is a common public health problem. Exposure to the metal can cause hematological, gastrointestinal, rheumatological, endocrine, neurological and renal problems in humans. However, effects on the thyroid gland are controversial. We retrospectively investigated thyroid function parameters in 65 adult males who had been occupationally exposed to lead. We then compared the findings with those of 60 male patients who had no history of lead exposure or thyroid abnormalities, who served as the control group. The mean ages of the lead-exposed workers and the controls were 34.3 ± 7.9 and 32.9 ± 6.6 years respectively. Blood lead levels in the lead-exposed workers were significantly higher than in the control group. The lead-exposed workers were assigned to one of three groups according to their blood lead levels, as follows: 40–59 μg/dl, 60–79 μg/dl, or 80 μg/dl and above. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels in the 80 μg/dl and above group were significantly higher than in either the 40–59 μg/dl group or the 60–79 μg/dl group. However, TSH levels in the 40–59 μg/dl group did not differ significantly from those in the 60–79 μg/dl group. These results suggest that high levels of lead in the blood may affect thyroid physiology. Clinicians should be aware of the potential hazardous effects of lead on the thyroid, especially in patients who have been occupationally exposed to lead.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Lead; Thyroid hormones; Occupational exposure

• Czasopismo: Open Medicine
• Rocznik: 2010
• Tom: 5
• Numer: 2
• Strony: 215-218

Daty

wydano

2010-04-01

online

2010-04-17

Twórcy

autor

Recep Pekcici

• Department of General Surgery, Ankara Meslek Hastalıkları Hospital, 6110, Ankara, Turkey

autor

Burak Kavlakoğlu

• Department of General Surgery, Ankara Meslek Hastalıkları Hospital, 6110, Ankara, Turkey

autor

Sevim Yilmaz

• General Practitioner, Ankara Meslek Hastalıkları Hospital, 6110, Ankara, Turkey

autor

Mustafa Şahin

• Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease, Gaziantep Devlet Hastanesi, 27010, Gaziantep, Turkey,

autor

Tuncay Delibaşi

• Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease, Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıd Training and Research Hospital, 6110, Ankara, Turkey

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.2478/s11536-009-0092-8