Does Exposure of Lead and Cadmium Affect the Endometriosis?

Min-Gi Kim, Young-Sun Min and Yeon-Soon Ahn
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Min-Gi Kim: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan-si 31116, Korea
Young-Sun Min: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Soonchunhyang Cheonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-chunhyang University, Cheonan-si 31151, Korea
Yeon-Soon Ahn: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju 26426, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-9

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead and cadmium exposure on endometriosis (EM). The study cohort consisted of female workers who underwent a lead-associated special medical examination between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 ( n = 26,542). The standard admission rate (SAR) and admission odds ratio (OR) for EM were calculated using the general population and noise-exposed groups, respectively, for the same period as the reference standards. The SAR for EM was 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.48) in lead-exposed workers and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.11–1.85) in workers with BLLs < 5 ?g/dL when compared with that of the general population. Admission ORs of EM in lead-exposed workers and those with BLLs < 5 ?g/dL were statistically higher than those of noise-exposed workers (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.15–1.70 and OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11–1.98, respectively). The relative excess risk due to interaction of lead and cadmium was 0.33. Lead exposure was associated with EM admission. EM admission in lead-exposed workers with BLLs < 5 ?g/dL was statistically higher than that of the general population and noise-exposed workers. Co-exposure to lead and cadmium has a synergistic effect with EM.

Keywords: lead; cadmium; endometriosis; synergic effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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