Adverse Effects in Workers Exposed to Inorganic Lead

Abstract

This paper describes a retrospective cohort study comparing 60 workers occupationally exposed to inorganic lead and 60 matched controls. All subjects were assessed using data obtained from a specially designed Questionnaire for lead exposure and toxic effects assessment, physical examination, spirometry, ECG, and laboratory tests including blood lead level (BLL) and biomarkers of lead toxic effects. Muscle pain, droopiness, and work-related nasal symptoms were significantly more frequent in lead workers. The prevalence of lung symptoms was higher in lead workers than in controls, but not significantly (20 % vs. 6.6 %, respectively). Mean values of BLL and δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were significantly higher in lead workers. The activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) in lead workers was significantly lower than in controls. Abnormal of BLL, ALAD, and ALA were more frequent in lead workers, with statistical difference for BLL and ALAD. Inverse correlation was found between BLL and ALAD, and positive correlation between BLL and age, years of employment, and years of exposure. Inverse correlation was found between ALAD and age, years of employment, years of exposure, blood pressure, alcohol consumption, and years of alcohol consumption. Changes in spirometry correlated inversely with BLL. A positive correlation was found between BLL and erythrocyte count and haemoglobin concentration, whereas it was inverse for ALAD and haemoglobin concentration. A significant difference was found for BLL and ALAD, with a very high odds ratio (14.64 and 7.23, respectively) and high relative risk (4.18 and 3.08, respectively). Our data have confirmed the association between occupational lead exposure and deviation in specific biological markers of lead effect and between the role of occupational exposure in the development of adverse effects.

Exposure of gasoline professionals to leaded gasoline in Asyut governorate

“…Lead toxicity was more frequently encountered with longer-term occupational lead exposure. [23,24]. Blood lead levels were so high in each of the three exposed groups (A, B and C) compared with control, (p<0.05), (f-test), where, there was significance increase (p< 0.05) between groups (ANOVA), this agrees with, (Gottesfeld P, Pokhrel AK) [25].…”

Induction of Excision Repairable DNA Lesions in Lymphocytes Exposed to Lead and ALA In Vitro

“…In addition; experimental evidence suggests that inorganic lead is weakly mutagenic but only at high toxic doses [7][8][9][10].…”

Biological Monitoring Among Workers Exposed to Inorganic Lead and Its Compounds

“…The examined and control groups were the same cohorts that were have used in our previous study [14]. All study subjects were assessed by a specially designed Questionnaire for lead exposure and toxic effects assessment, and toxicological laboratory testing concerning BLL, as a biomarker of exposure, and activity of ALAD in blood, concentration of ALA in urine, coproporphyrin concentration in urine, reticulocyte count, and count of erythrocytes with basophilic stippling (EBS) as biomarkers of lead toxic effects.…”

“…Alternately charging of sinter and coke is performed in the "high furnace" part, which results in production of lead and zinc after being refined. Some previous studies already explored the role of occupational exposure in lead toxicity development, which clearly impose the necessity of additional research in this area [14]. The aim of this study was to explore in depth the association between lead biomarkers of exposure and effect and their deviations in the circumstances of occupational exposure, and to examine possible influence of life style factors on biomarkers, as well as on the expression of lead toxic effects.…”