Early Effects of Long-Term Neurotoxic Lead Exposure in Copper Works Employees

Table 3

Results of the survey (using the SPES method) of complaints experienced by lead-exposed subjects (E) involving the subgroups of highexposed (hE) and lowexposed (lE), and controls (C) during the past six months. In the 16 answers: 1 denoted “occasional”, 2 “often”, and 3 “very often ” (The answers of 1, 2, and 3 to the particular question were percentages within a group; the balance of 100% did not complain of such symptoms).

Parameter		Exposed (E)	Controls (C)	High exposed (hE)	Low exposed (lE)	𝑃 (E-C)	𝑃 (hE-C)	𝑃 (lE-C)
SPES1 (physically tired in the morning)	1	51.4	22.2	42.9	55.1	<.001	.025	<.001
	2	10.0	3.7	9.5	10.2
	3	5.7	0	4.8	6.1
SPES2 (mentally tired in the morning)	1	2.29	0	19.0	24.5	.005	.019	.004
	2	14.3	0	0	2.0
	3	0	0	0	0
SPES3 (general sensation of lack of energy)	1	44.3	18.5	42.9	44.9	.006	.029	.008
	2	2.9	0	4.8	2.0
	3	14.3	0	0	2.0
SPES4 (feelings of vertigo or fainting)	1	41.4	14.8	47.7	38.8	.017	.057	.023
	2	5.7	3.7	4.8	6.1
	3	4.3	3.7	0	6.1
SPES5 (lack of initiative)	1	42.9	25.9	42.9	42.9	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	2.9	3.7	4.8	2.0
	3	0	0	0	0
SPES6 (difficulties falling asleep)	1	24.3	14.8	9.5	30.6	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	8.6	18.5	14.3	6.1
	3	10.0	0	14.3	8.2
SPES7 (disturbed sleep)	1	32.9	14.8	14.3	40.8	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	11.4	14.8	28.6	4.1
	3	5.7	0	9.5	4.1
SPES8 (waking up too early)	1	22.9	22.2	23.8	22.4	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	15.7	3.7	9.5	18.4
	3	8.6	7.4	9.5	8.2
SPES9 (finding it hard to concentrate)	1	57.1	10.2	57.1	57.1	.003	.011	.006
	2	5.7	3.7	9.5	4.1
	3	14.3	3.7	0	2.0
SPES10 (anxious, restless, and out of balance)	1	24.3	11.1	28.6	22.4	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	4.3	3.7	0	6.1
	3	0	0	0	0
SPES11 (being forgetful)	1	60	16.3	61.9	59.2	<.001	.003	.002
	2	10	3.7	14.3	8.2
	3	2.9	0	0	4.1
SPES12 (feeling down without reason)	1	25.7	0	38.1	20.4	.011	.004	.028
	2	2.9	3.7	0	4.1
	3	0	0	0	0
SPES13 (being easily upset)	1	38.6	25.9	38.1	38.8	n.s.	.059	n.s.
	2	7.1	3.7	9.5	6.1
	3	4.3	0	9.5	2.0
SPES14 (headaches)	1	30.0	14.8	33.3	28.6	.094	.078	n.s.
	2	5.7	3.7	9.5	4.1
	3	5.7	3.7	4.8	6.1
SPES15 (feeling clumsy or shaky)	1	22.9	3.7	23.8	22.4	.034	n.s.	.027
	2	4.3	0	0	6.1
	3	14.3	3.7	0	2.0
SPES16 (prickling sensat., numbness in limbs)	1	41.4	40.7	47.7	38.8	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.
	2	2.9	7.4	0	4.1
	3	7.1	3.7	9.5	6.1