Occupational lead exposures epidemiological reports

EPA s review of recent epidemiologic studies of enviroiunental lead e q)0-sure and reproductive function concludes that there is strong evidence that increasing lead exposure is associated with reduced male fecundity or fertility, decreases in sperm count, and reduced sperm velocity and motility. EPA s draft report further concludes that deleterious associations with sperm count and quality are observed in occupationally exposed men who have mean BLLs as low as 20-45 pg/dL. EPA concluded that there was some association between maternal lead exposure and low birth weight toxicologic studies in animals have shown that lead exposme during early fetal development can result in abnormal retinal development and alterations in the developing hematopoietic and hepatic systems. 

There is no established evidence (epidemiological or experimental) for carcinogenicity caused by exposure to Cr(III) or Cr(0) compounds (113, 117). However, allergic contact dermatitis due to occupational exposure to Cr(lll) (primarily in the leather tanning industry) is relatively common (144—146). The safety of oral intake of Cr(III) in food supplements has also been questioned (Section IV.D) (5). A concern about the safety of the use of Cr(0) in stainless steel body implants (e.g., artificial joints or fracture fixation plates) was raised following at least one reported case of bone cancer caused by corrosion of the implant (147). In vitro studies have shown that the corrosion of Cr alloys in human semm leads to Cr(III) binding to serum proteins (148). Such corrosion can also release another possible carcinogen, Ni(II) (149). This problem should be overcome by the use of Ti alloys (free of Cr or Ni), which were introduced as an alternative 10-15 years ago (150). 

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