Effects of occupational exposure to mercury and lead on
brainstem auditory evoked potentials.
Discalzi G, Fabbro D, Meliga F, Mocellini A, Capellaro F.
Institute of Occupational Health, University of Turin, Italy.
A study was performed to examine the effects of industrial exposures to lead and
mercury on the brainstem auditory pathway by recording brainstem auditory evoked
potentials (BAEPs). BAEPs were recorded from 22 workers exposed to lead, from
eight exposed to mercury and from two control groups of age- and sex-matched
subjects never exposed to neurotoxic substances. The time between BAEP peaks I
and V were evaluated. The mean durations of exposure were 9.3 and 11.7 years for
lead and mercury, respectively. Blood lead concentration (PbBc) on the morning
of the test day was 47.5 micrograms/dl, whereas urinary mercury content at the
end of the previous work day was 325 micrograms/g creatinine. Both mercury and
lead exposed workers showed a significant prolongation of wave I-V time. In
addition, the interwave time was longer in a lead subgroup with the greatest
mean level of lead in blood. These results are consistent with other studies and
show that BAEPs may provide a sensitive tool for detecting subclinical central
neurotoxicity caused by lead and mercury.
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