OCCUPATIONAL LEAD-EXPOSURE AND RENIN RELEASE

Hypertension may result from chronic Pb exposure. Pb poisoning arising from moonshine whiskey drinking has been associated with a rise in plasma renin activity. Plasma renin concentration following i.v. administration of frusemide was measured in 11 subjects with moderate or severe Pb poisoning of industrial origin. The results were compared with those obtained for 7 normal, control subjects. There was no significant difference in response obtained in the 2 groups. Industrial Pb poisoning does not appear to affect renin release. The combined insult of Pb and alcohol may explain the findings in the previous study.