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Rooney, J.P.K.* ; Rakete, S.* ; Heier, M. ; Linkohr, B. ; Schwettmann, L. ; Peters, A.

Blood lead levels in 2018/2019 compared to 1987/1988 in the German population-based KORA study.

Environ. Res. 215:114184 (2022)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI PMC
Open Access Gold (Paid Option)
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INTRODUCTION: Lead exposure remains of continuing concern due to its known and suspected impacts on human health and has been designated as a priority substance for investigation in human biomonitoring studies by the EU. The aims of this study were to measure blood lead levels (BLL) in a population based cohort of middle-aged individuals without major current exposures to lead, and to compare these to historical blood lead levels obtained thirty years earlier. METHODS: The population-based KORA study from 1984 to 2001 included inhabitants of the Augsburg Region, Germany. During 2018 to 2019, a subsample of these participants (KORA-Fit) was invited for interview regarding demographic and lifestyle factors, physical examination and blood withdrawal. Blood samples were stored at -80C prior to measurement of BLL via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS). Descriptive and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: BLLs were measured in 3033 eligible persons aged 54 to 73, establishing a geometric mean (GM) BLL of 24.8 μg/l in 2018/19. Of these, 555 (18%) had BLL above proposed 95th percentile reference values of the German Environment Agency. Only small differences were found in BLL stratified by sociodemographic categories, however regular smokers had higher GM BLL (26.1 μg/l) compared to never smokers (23.7 μg/l), and an increasing BLL with increased wine consumption was noted. For 556 individuals, BLLs (GM: 54.0 μg/l) reduced by 35% in men and 50% in women compared to levels in 1987/88 with only 1.4% of individuals having an unchanged or increased BLL. DISCUSSION: KORA-Fit provided contemporary normative data for BLL in a Western European population without major current sources of lead exposure. Mean BLLs have fallen since the 1980s using historical BLL data which is likely linked to the ban of leaded gasoline. Nevertheless, BLLs in this population remain elevated at levels associated with morbidity and mortality.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Adults ; Augsburg ; Biomonitoring ; Cohort Study ; Kora Study ; Lead
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0013-9351
e-ISSN 1096-0953
Journal Environmental Research
Quellenangaben Volume: 215, Issue: , Pages: , Article Number: 114184 Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place San Diego, Calif.
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)
Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM)
Grants Münchner Zentrum für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Helmholtz Zentrum München
Horizon 2020
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions