Non-occupational lead and cadmium exposure of adult women in Bangkok, Thailand

National estimates of blood lead, cadmium, and mercury levels in the Korean general adult population

“…The blood lead levels in Koreans are still twice as high as those in the recent US NHANES data (Muntner et al 2005) but are similar to those in the Japanese general population (Zhang et al 1999Ikeda et al 2000a, b) and a little lower than those in some European populations (Becker et al 2002;Batariova et al 2006). No convincing explanation is available for the persistent international differences in blood lead levels between the United States and other countries (including some European countries and Korea), where levels remain higher even after the longstanding complete ban on leaded gasoline.…”

Exposure of women in general populations to lead via food and air in East and Southeast Asia

“…The correlation of GM of Pb-B values (X mg/L) with corresponding Pb-Ucr (Y mg/g cr) in the 11 sites after logarithmic conversion was poor Log 10 Y À0X46 0X62 Log 10 XY r 0X329Y P b 0X10, which is in agreement with the previous observation that the correlation of Pb-Ucr with Pb-B on an individual basis used to be signi®cant when average Pb-B was greater than 50 mg/L) whereas it was not always the case when Pb-B was less than this level [ Higashikawa et al, 1999]. Further analysis in the correlation of Pb-B (X mg/L) with corresponding Pb-F (Z mg/day) gave a regression line of Log 10 Z 1X65 À 0X25 Log 10 X and a coef®cient of variation (r) of À0.01 (P b 0X10).…”

“…Over-all, Pb-B values for Europe distribute in a range of 23 [Lagerkvist et al, 1993] to 102 mg/L [Taylor et al, 1997], whereas U.S. values range from 31 [Pirkle et al, 1994] to 230 mg/L [Schwartz, 1994]. Simple comparison with the values observed in Asia excluding Japan (i.e., 32± 65 mg/L in Table I, or 32 [Zhang et al 1999] to 178 mg/L [Saxena et al 1994] in Table III) may suggest that the Pb-B levels in Asia are comparable to and no higher than the levels in Europe or in USA. It should also be emphasized, however, that efforts to reduce organic lead in automobile gasoline are currently in progress in many countries including those in Asia [e.g., Pollution Control Department, 1996 for Bangkok; Beijing City Administration, 1997 for Beijing], and therefore the Pb-B values reported (including those for Europe and USA) should be taken as transitory.…”

Blood Lead Level and Blood Pressure of Bus Drivers in Bangkok, Thailand

“…The difference may be attributable to the fact that lead in air at the time of study was higher (5.1 µg/m 3 ) than present (0.22 µg/m 3 ), which is a result of the policy since 1992 of phasing out lead in gasoline. However, in comparison with the previous studies conducted after the introduction of unleaded gasoline, it is found that the PbB of bus drivers was two times higher than the reported values of 3.2 µg/dl and 3.63 µg/dl PbB in non-occupational lead exposed women and men, respectively 17,18) . It is possible to state that bus drivers have an occupational risk for lead exposure.…”