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Cardiovascular

Can Lead Exposure Cause Cardio Disease?
Lead exposure can be one of many factors contributing to the onset and/or development of hypertension. However, the disease is a complex condition with many different causes and risk factors including age, weight, diet, and exercise habits.

One study found adults who experienced lead poisoning as children had a significantly higher risk of hypertension 50 years later.1 This association is shown in population-based studies with BLLs below 10 µg/dL.2

For adults, studies show low to moderate blood lead level (BLL) exposures such as BLL<30 µg/dL have only a low degree of association with hypertension. Higher exposures (primarily occupational) increase the risk for hypertensive heart disease and cerebrovascular disease as latent effects compared to the general population.3

Elevations in blood pressure is also associated with lead exposure.4 On a population basis, it is estimated that lead exposure can account for a 1% to 2% variance in blood pressure.4

References
  1. Lead Toxicity: What Are the Physiologic Effects of Lead Exposure? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, August 20, 2007 (citing Hu, 1991)
  2. Lead Toxicity: What Are the Physiologic Effects of Lead Exposure? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, August 20, 2007 (citing Korrick et al. 1999 and Hu et al. 1996)
  3. Lead Toxicity: What Are the Physiologic Effects of Lead Exposure? Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, August 20, 2007
  4. Lead Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease—A Systematic Review, Navas-Acien, Guallar,Silbergeld & Rothenberg, Environmental health perspectives 115 (3): 472–82, 2007