The relationships between blood lead levels and serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002

The relationships between blood lead levels and serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were assessed in a nationally representative sample of women, 35–60 years old, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. The blood lead levels of the women ranged from 0.2 to 17.0 μg/dL. The estimated geometric mean was 1.4 μg/dL, and the estimated arithmetic mean was 1.6 μg/dL. As the blood lead level increased, the concentration of serum follicle stimulating hormone increased in post-menopausal women, women who had both ovaries removed, and pre-menopausal women. The concentration of luteinizing hormone increased as blood lead level increased in post-menopausal women and women who had both ovaries removed. The lowest concentrations of blood lead at which a relationship was detected were 0.9 μg/dL for follicle stimulating hormone and 3.2 μg/dL for luteinizing hormone. Lead may act directly or indirectly at ovarian and non-ovarian sites to increase the concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

► The relationships between blood lead levels and serum FSH and LH were assessed.
► A national representative sample of women, 35–60 years old, was used.
► The blood lead levels of the women ranged from 0.2 to 17.0 μg/dL.
► FSH and LH concentrations increased as the blood lead level increased.
► Lead may act at ovarian and non-ovarian sites to produce these increases.