High blood lead level in alcoholics: wine vs. beer.

One hundred and sixty one alcoholics (121 men and 40 women) were studied during a social rehabilitation program. All had a daily intake of ethanol higher than 1 g/kg/day. The mean lead blood level was 28 micrograms/100 ml and was as high as 72.5 micrograms/100 ml in one subject. Wine drinkers had a higher blood lead level (29.8 micrograms/100 ml) than beer or spirit drinkers (23.8 micrograms/100 ml). A significant correlation was found between the blood lead level and systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure and this relation was independent of sex, weight or age. We conclude that a high blood lead level can be a risk factor for hypertension in alcoholics.