The relationships between blood lead levels and serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

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 third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The blood lead levels of the women ranged from 0.7 to 31.1 microg/dl. The estimated geometric mean was 2.2 microg/dl, and the estimated arithmetic mean was 2.8 microg/dl. As the blood lead level increased across women, 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 follicle stimulating hormone decreased in pre-menopausal women who were taking birth control pills. 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 1.7 microg/dl for follicle stimulating hormone and 2.8 microg/dl for luteinizing hormone. The increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in women with no ovaries indicates that lead may act at a non-ovarian site in the female reproductive system, along with a possible effect on the ovaries.