Determination of the Distribution of Conduction Velocities in Workers Exposed to Lead, Zinc, and Copper

Overview

Journal Br J Ind Med

Specialty Occupational Medicine

Date 1986 May 1

PMID 3707869

Citations 6

Authors

S Araki

K Yokoyama

K Murata

H Aono

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

By measuring the distribution of conduction velocities (DCV) in sensory fibres of the median nerve, the effects of asymptomatic increased lead, zinc, and copper absorption on the conduction velocities of slower and faster nerve fibres were examined in 29 gun metal founders with blood lead (BPb) concentrations of 22-59 (mean 39) micrograms/dl (1.1-2.8 (mean 1.9) mumol/l). The results indicated that the conduction velocities of slower fibres were inversely affected by lead absorption, resulting in a significant reduction in the velocities at the BPb level of 40-59 micrograms/dl; on the other hand, the conduction velocities of faster fibres and the conventional sensory nerve conduction velocity were presumably positively affected by zinc absorption without a significant reduction in the velocities of faster fibres. It is suggested that assessment of the possible antagonistic effect of zinc is essential when conduction velocities are not decreased in lead exposed workers.

Citing Articles

Early effects of long-term neurotoxic lead exposure in copper works employees.

Bockelmann I, Pfister E, Darius S J Toxicol. 2011; 2011:832519.

PMID: 21776266 PMC: 3135313. DOI: 10.1155/2011/832519.

Subclinical impairment in the median nerve across the carpal tunnel among female VDT operators.

Murata K, Araki S, Okajima F, Saito Y Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1996; 68(2):75-9.

PMID: 8720276 DOI: 10.1007/BF00381238.

Central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction in workers exposed to lead, zinc and copper. A follow-up study of visual and somatosensory evoked potentials.

Araki S, Murata K, Aono H Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1987; 59(2):177-87.

PMID: 3557626 DOI: 10.1007/BF00378495.

Determination of the distribution of nerve conduction velocities in chain saw operators.

Araki S, Yokoyama K, Aono H, Murata K Br J Ind Med. 1988; 45(5):341-4.

PMID: 3378015 PMC: 1008006. DOI: 10.1136/oem.45.5.341.

Autonomic and peripheral nervous system dysfunction in workers exposed to mixed organic solvents.

Murata K, Araki S, Yokoyama K, Maeda K Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1991; 63(5):335-40.

PMID: 1662668 DOI: 10.1007/BF00381584.

References

Seppalainen A, HERNBERG S . Sensitive technique for detecting subclinical lead neuropathy. Br J Ind Med. 1972; 29(4):443-9. PMC: 1009457. DOI: 10.1136/oem.29.4.443. View

Aono H, Araki S . The effects of CaEDTA injection on lead, zinc, copper and ALAD in erythrocyte, plasma and urine in lead-exposed workers: a 24-h observation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1984; 55(1):13-8. DOI: 10.1007/BF00378063. View

Araki S, Honma T . Relationships between lead absorption and peripheral nerve conduction velocities in lead workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1976; 2(4):225-31. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2800. View

Barker A, Brown B, Freeston I . Determination of the distribution of conduction velocities in human nerve trunks. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1979; 26(2):76-81. DOI: 10.1109/tbme.1979.326512. View

Paulev P, Gry C, Dossing M . Motor nerve conduction velocity in asymptomatic lead workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1979; 43(1):37-43. DOI: 10.1007/BF00454278. View

Cummins K, PERKEL D, Dorfman L . Nerve fiber conduction-velocity distributions. I. Estimation based on the single-fiber and compound action potentials. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1979; 46(6):634-46. DOI: 10.1016/0013-4694(79)90101-9. View

BUCHTHAL F, Behse F . Electrophysiology and nerve biopsy in men exposed to lead. Br J Ind Med. 1979; 36(2):135-47. PMC: 1008529. DOI: 10.1136/oem.36.2.135. View

Baloh R, Spivey G, Brown C, Morgan D, CAMPION D, Browdy B . Subclinical effects of chronic increased lead absorption--a prospective study. II. Results of baseline neurologic testing. J Occup Med. 1979; 21(7):490-6. View

Kovacs Z, Johnson T, Sax D . Estimation of the distribution of conduction velocities in peripheral nerves. Comput Biol Med. 1979; 9(4):281-93. DOI: 10.1016/0010-4825(79)90035-0. View

10.

Araki S, Honma T, Yanagihara S, Ushio K . Recovery of slowed nerve conduction velocity in lead-exposed workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1980; 46(2):151-7. DOI: 10.1007/BF00378193. View

11.

Ashby J . A neurological and biochemical study of early lead poisoning. Br J Ind Med. 1980; 37(2):133-40. PMC: 1008680. DOI: 10.1136/oem.37.2.133. View

12.

Spivey G, Baloh R, Brown C, Browdy B, CAMPION D, Valentine J . Subclinical effects of chronic increased lead absorption--a prospective study. III. Neurologic findings at follow-up examination. J Occup Med. 1980; 22(9):607-12. View

13.

Bordo B, Filippini G, Massetto N, Musicco M, Boeri R . Electrophysiological study of subjects occupationally exposed to lead and with low levels of lead poisoning. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1982; 8 Suppl 1:142-7. View

14.

Nielsen C, Nielsen V, Kirkby H, Gyntelberg F . Absence of peripheral neuropathy in long-term lead-exposed subjects. Acta Neurol Scand. 1982; 65(4):241-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1982.tb03083.x. View

15.

Seppalainen A, HERNBERG S, Vesanto R, Kock B . Early neurotoxic effects of occupational lead exposure: a prospective study. Neurotoxicology. 1983; 4(2):181-92. View

16.

Singer R, Valciukas J, LILIS R . Lead exposure and nerve conduction velocity: the differential time course of sensory and motor nerve effects. Neurotoxicology. 1983; 4(2):193-202. View

17.

Rosen I, Wildt K, Gullberg B, Berlin M . Neurophysiological effects of lead exposure. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983; 9(5):431-41. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2399. View

18.

Araki S, Aono H, Fukahori M, Tabuki K . Behavior of lead and zinc in plasma, erythrocytes, and urine and ALAD in erythrocytes following intravenous infusion of CaEDTA in lead workers. Arch Environ Health. 1984; 39(5):363-7. DOI: 10.1080/00039896.1984.10545865. View

19.

Jeyaratnam J, Devathasan G, Ong C, Phoon W, Wong P . Neurophysiological studies on workers exposed to lead. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42(3):173-7. PMC: 1007446. DOI: 10.1136/oem.42.3.173. View

20.

Seppalainen A, Tola S, HERNBERG S, Kock B . Subclinical neuropathy at "safe" levels of lead exposure. Arch Environ Health. 1975; 30(4):180-3. DOI: 10.1080/00039896.1975.10666672. View