The main objective of this research is to elucidate the inter-relationships between accumulated lead burden measured by K-X-Ray Fluorescence (K-XRF), blood lead levels, dietary calcium, and blood pressure. Previous studies have shown a positive cross-sectional association between blood lead at low levels experienced by the general population and blood pressure and a negative association between dietary calcium and blood pressure. There have been no studies that have assessed the possibility that accumulated lead burden is more closely associated than blood lead with blood pressure increases, and that lead may confound the relationship between dietary calcium and blood pressure; and no studies on the longitudinal relationship between blood lead levels and blood pressure at multiple points in time.
The specific aims are focused on examining the above relationships in the Normative Aging Study (NAS), a group of men who have been followed longitudinally since 1962 and are expected to have accumulated lead burdens from low-level environmental exposures that are similar to those sustained by the general population. In preliminary studies we discuss data on blood lead levels, dietary calcium, and blood pressure in the NAS; a study validating the use of frozen red cells for lead analysis in the NAS; our state-of-the art K-XRF instrument and its precision, accuracy, and calibration; two population studies of K-XRF; and a study of the distribution of lead in cadaveric skeletons. In the research plan we propose to use our K-XRF instrument to measure lead burden in NAS subjects, thaw and analyze frozen red cell samples that are available on each NAS subject from multiple visits since the 1960s, and continue collection of fresh blood leads. This would add to the data already being collected, including dietary information using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, 24 hour urinary amines, blood pressures, and many other physical exam and laboratory parameters. Finally, we outline our strategy for analysis of the data including specific approaches for the blood lead-blood pressure data at multiple points in time.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01ES005257-01A1
Application #
3253536
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Project Start
1991-02-01
Project End
1994-01-31
Budget Start
1991-02-01
Budget End
1992-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
071723621
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Wang, Weiye; Moroi, Sayoko; Bakulski, Kelly et al. (2018) Bone Lead Levels and Risk of Incident Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The VA Normative Aging Study. Environ Health Perspect 126:087002
Wang, Xin; Ding, Ning; Tucker, Katherine L et al. (2017) A Western Diet Pattern Is Associated with Higher Concentrations of Blood and Bone Lead among Middle-Aged and Elderly Men. J Nutr 147:1374-1383
Farooqui, Zishaan; Bakulski, Kelly M; Power, Melinda C et al. (2017) Associations of cumulative Pb exposure and longitudinal changes in Mini-Mental Status Exam scores, global cognition and domains of cognition: The VA Normative Aging Study. Environ Res 152:102-108
Kim, Daniel; Kubzansky, Laura D; Baccarelli, Andrea et al. (2016) Psychological factors and DNA methylation of genes related to immune/inflammatory system markers: the VA Normative Aging Study. BMJ Open 6:e009790
Ding, Ning; Wang, Xin; Weisskopf, Marc G et al. (2016) Lead-Related Genetic Loci, Cumulative Lead Exposure and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: The Normative Aging Study. PLoS One 11:e0161472
Ji, John S; Power, Melinda C; Sparrow, David et al. (2015) Lead exposure and tremor among older men: the VA normative aging study. Environ Health Perspect 123:445-50
Jhun, Min A; Hu, Howard; Schwartz, Joel et al. (2015) Effect modification by vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphisms in the association between cumulative lead exposure and pulse pressure: a longitudinal study. Environ Health 14:5
Weisskopf, Marc G; Sparrow, David; Hu, Howard et al. (2015) Biased Exposure-Health Effect Estimates from Selection in Cohort Studies: Are Environmental Studies at Particular Risk? Environ Health Perspect 123:1113-22
Grashow, Rachel; Sparrow, David; Hu, Howard et al. (2015) Cumulative lead exposure is associated with reduced olfactory recognition performance in elderly men: The Normative Aging Study. Neurotoxicology 49:158-64

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