en Occupational Health Original Article <p class="a" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify MARGIN: 0in 1.3pt 0pt 0in tab-stops: 6.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Background:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "> There are many controversies reported about the association between blood lead levels and blood pressure among lead exposed workers. Studies have suggested incorporating lifestyle factors along with blood lead levels. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of lead exposure on blood pressure changes among lead exposed workers in contemplation of lifestyle factors. </span></p> <p></p> <p class="a" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify MARGIN: 0in 1.3pt 0pt 0in tab-stops: 6.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Materials and methods:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "> Study design is descriptive. Three hundred ninety one male lead exposed workers were enrolled. The subjects were categorized into four groups according to their blood lead levels by using quartile distribution. Blood lead levels were measured by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.<font face="Times New Roman"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><font size="3">&nbsp; </font></span>Blood pressure was measured by using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Data were analyzed by using SPSS (Version 7.5). </font></span></p> <p></p> <p class="a" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify MARGIN: 0in 1.3pt 0pt 0in tab-stops: 6.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Results:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "> The mean systolic blood pressure in quartile-2 blood lead levels and the prevalence of hypertensive in quartile-4 blood lead levels were significantly increased as compared to quartile-1 blood lead levels. Multiple regression analysis found no significant association between blood pressure and blood lead levels among lead exposed workers. The lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index and chewing of tobacco products were significantly associated with blood pressure changes among lead exposed workers. </span></p> <p></p> <p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: ">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: "> The findings of the present study showed that there was a significant association noticed between blood pressure and lifestyle factors.</span></p> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p> Lead, Workers, Blood Pressure 118 123 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-51-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 R Kalahasthi Kalahasthi20012002@yahoo.co.in 2240031947532846004286 2240031947532846004286 Yes Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern), Nirmal Bhavan, ICMR Complex, Kannamangala (Post), Devanahalli, Bangalore-562110, Karnataka, India. Regional Occupational Health Centre T Barman tapu_ju55@yahoo.co.in 2240031947532846004287 2240031947532846004287 No Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern), Nirmal Bhavan, ICMR Complex, Kannamangala (Post), Devanahalli, Bangalore-562110, Karnataka, India. Regional Occupational Health Centre R HR rajmohanhr@gmail.com 2240031947532846004288 2240031947532846004288 No Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern), Nirmal Bhavan, ICMR Complex, Kannamangala (Post), Devanahalli, Bangalore-562110, Karnataka, India. Regional Occupational Health Centre