[Relationship Between Internal Lead Exposure and Psychologic Performance After Occupational Medicine Interventions]

In order to investigate the influence of hygienic measures (mobilisation yield of lead in urine by CaEDTA, part-time work) on psychological performance 23 lead exposed workers have been psychodiagnostically investigated twice along with biological monitoring (blood lead level, erythrocyte protoporphyrine). In the pre-post comparison 4 of the 6 performance ranges measured showed distinct performance improvements, which could be shown to be statistically significant for group comparisons and in most individual cases. Parameters sensitive to changes were in the motor-sensory choice reaction, concentration and memory while subjective estimations of well-being exhibited no changes. Also after discussing methodological questions (influence of age, test repetition) the changes are interpreted in the direction of a possible reversibility of neurotoxic effects as a consequence of hygienic interventions.