Lead, ferritin, zinc, and hypertension

An apparent association between hypertension and exposure to lead has been reported in man and animals by a number of workers. In view of these relationships, a survey of Black lead workers was set up in a factory near to the University of Natal Medical School. Blood pressure and blood lead levels of 120 Black workers in a lead factory were monitored for a period of six months. Forty of these workers were chosen at random, and their serum ferritin, calcium, copper, zinc and lead levels were measured. The ferritin levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. The calcium, copper, zinc, and lead were measured by atomic absorption spectrosphotometry