Effect of lead exposure on respiratory health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In recent years, the incidence of respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia has increased significantly. However, the effect of lead (Pb) pollution on the respiratory system remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to environmental and occupational Pb on respiratory health. Articles published in PubMed and Web of Science before September 2023 were systematically searched. The overall adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between Pb exposure and respiratory diseases were extracted from each relevant article. The random effects model was applied to analyze the overall pooled effect estimates. Among the 36,373 search results, 36 related articles were screened for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that Pb exposure increased the risk of respiratory diseases: OR = 1.12 (95% CIs: 1.05, 1.18). The funnel plot, Egger’s and Begg’s tests showed no publication bias. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the meta-analysis was statistically reliable and stable. Environmental and occupational Pb exposure is associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases including asthma. The study highlights the importance of further research on the harmful effects of Pb and the urgency of mitigating air pollution.

Graphical Abstract