[Neuroendocrine and renal effects of inorganic lead].

In this study 371 workers occupationally exposed to inorganic Pb (range of blood lead concentrations, PbB: 100-800 microg/l) were examined in order to assess neuroendocrine and renal effects, with regard to exposure levels and ALAD polymorphism. Plasma prolactin, urinary excretion of plasmaproteins and renal tissue constituents were measured. None of such markers differed significantly between workers stratified according to PbB levels, except for heat-stable isoenzyme NAG-B: its very low prevalence of values above the upper reference limit increased significantly with increasing PbB. No significant differences were found in indicators by ALAD genotype. Our findings did not provide evidence of any renal and neuroendocrine effects in workers exposed to the current lead levels.