Objective To investigate the effects of occupational lead exposure on the vertebral fracture.
Methods A total of 175 lead exposure workers and 60 non-lead exposure workers in a storage battery plant were chosen as research subjects and controls. Data were gained by the abdominal vertebra X-ray photographs and measurement of blood lead concentration.
Results Among 175 lead expusure workers, there were 112(64%) light vertebral fractures, 30(17%) moderate vertebral fractures. There were 42 (24.0%) wedge fractures, 91 (52.0%) endplate fractures and 27 (15.0%) compression fractures in 112 light vertebral fractured lead exposure workers. Among 60 non-lead expusure workers, there were 27(45.0%) light vertebral fractures, 2(3.3%) moderate vertebral fractures. There were 5(15.0%) wedge fractures, 20(33.3%) endplate fractures and 6(10.0%) compression fractures in 27 light vertebral fractured non-lead exposure workers.The vertebral fracture rate in the occupational lead exposure group were higher than that in the control group with significantly statistical difference(χ2=6.68, P=0.014). Among lead exposure workers and those who had high blood lead concentration, the vertebral fracture rate was significantly increased in the groups of ≥250 μg/L blood lead concentration.
Conclusion Occupational lead exposure can cause the increase of the vertebral fracture.
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