Thyroid Function and Lead: No Clear Relationship

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
It has been suggested that the nonspecific symptoms of inorganic Pb intoxication are related to the effects of the blood Pb on thyroid function. A cross-sectional study of the thyroid function status of a stable work force with long-term exposure to inorganic Pb was conducted. No statistically significant relationship between blood Pb and thyroxine (T4) or an estimate of free T4 was identified. These results and those of another recent study cast doubt on the existence of any direct, easily identifiable relationship between moderate blood Pb level elevations and the usual measurements of thyroid function.