Behavioral effects of occupational exposure to lead

A final report on controlled studies in which 80 behavioral tests were performed in 316 lead-exposed subjects (5 levels of body burden were distinguished) engaged in storage battery manufacture with statistical analysis of the results. Intellectual functions were not affected by lead exposure, whereas sensory (hearing), neuromuscular and psychomotor, and psychological functions all were. Neuromuscular and psychomotor functions showed the greatest effect: major changes occurred at blood lead (PbB) levels of 70 to 79 ..mu..g percent. PbB levels are not a sensitive measure of changes in functional capacity, blood aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) being found the most sensitive predictor of task performance. Recommendations are made for a biomedical standard of 70 ..mu..g percent for PbB, and of 21 units of ALA-D activity, as well as on the use of functional tests in routine monitoring of exposed workers. Directions for future research. Numerous appendices.