The relationship between blood lead levels and morbidities among workers employed in a factory manufacturing lead–acid storage battery

Kalahasthi, Ravi Babu; Barman, Tapu; Rajmohan, HR

doi:10.1080/09603123.2013.809702

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…[37] Kalahasthi et al . [24] reported that the odds ratio of BLLs was significantly associated with MSDs in workers from Pb-battery plant. In this study, the Pb-exposure in the form of elevated BLLs was significantly associated with workers who had MSDs at upper and lower back and ankle and foot.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was reported that the MSD morbidities among Pb-battery manufacturing workers were significantly associated with odds of blood lead levels (BLLs). [24] A recent study reported high prevalence of pain in limbs, weakness of limbs, and numbness of limbs among these Pb-workers. [25] Also, in severe Pb-poisoning generalized weakness predominates in proximal limbs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of musculoskeletal disorders and inflammation markers in workers exposed to lead (Pb) from Pb-battery manufacturing plant

Kalahasthi¹,

Bagepally

Barman

2019

Indian J Occup Environ Med

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Background:Lead (Pb) deposits in the skeletal system on chronic exposure and releases to circulation over a period. The musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with enhanced expression of inflammation. The combination of Pb-exposure and MSDs induced inflammation was not attempted.Objective:This study was conducted to examine the association between MSDs and inflammatory markers in workers exposed to Pb from Pb-battery plant.Material and Methods:In a case-control study design, the study enrolled 176 male Pb-exposed workers as study subjects and 80 healthy workers with no occupational exposure to Pb as control subjects. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to assess the MSDs. From the blood sample, blood lead level (BLL) and High Sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were estimated as markers of Pb-exposure and Inflammatory marker respectively. The BLL was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometric method and the Hs-CRP by using a diagnostic kit method.Results:Significantly high proportions of MSDs were noted in study subjects as compared to controls. The MSDs identified in the study subjects were at low back (33%) followed by knee (26%), shoulders (16%), neck (14%), ankle/foot (11%), wrist/hand (10%), elbows (8%), upper back (7%), and hips/thighs (5%). The significant association between Pb-exposure and MSDs among study subjects was mainly noted in low back and ankle/foot. Also, significantly high serum Hs-CRP levels were noted among study subjects with ankle/foot MSDs.Conclusion:Pb-exposure and inflammatory markers were significantly associated with lower limbs of MSDs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of musculoskeletal disorders and inflammation markers in workers exposed to lead (Pb) from Pb-battery manufacturing plant

Kalahasthi¹,

Bagepally

Barman

2019

Indian J Occup Environ Med

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“… 1 Occupational exposure to lead occurs through inhalation and ingestion. Recent studies on lead-battery manufacturing workers have reported high musculoskeletal disorders with markers of inflammation, 2 mucocutaneous changes, 3 oxidative stress, 4 altered serum magnesium fractions, 5 elevated blood lead levels (BLLs), 6 , 7 reticulocytosis, 8 altered genetic polymorphisms of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), 9 impaired biogenic amino acids with neurobehavioral function, 10 genotoxicity, 11 impaired coagulation function, 12 health problems, 13 , 14 male reproductive function, 15 ocular changes, 16 impaired hematological parameters, 17 and altered calcium metabolism by inhibiting the kidney 1-𝛼-hydroxylase enzyme, which is required for 1, 25 dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 synthesis 18 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Lead-Battery Workers with Long-Term Exposure to Lead

Kalahasthi

Barman

Bagepally

2020

Int J Occup Environ Med

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Background: The major portion of lead in the body resides in skeletal system. The bone turnover affects the release of lead into the circulation from bones. The bone turnover biomarkers (BTM) in lead-battery workers with long-term exposure to lead have not been explored yet. Objective: To evaluate the BTM (formation and resorption) in lead-battery workers with long-term exposure to lead in lead-battery manufacturing plant. Methods: 176 male lead-exposed workers and 80 matched comparison group were studied. All participants were examined for blood lead levels (BLLs), bone formation biomarkers—serum osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP)—and bone resorption biomarkers—serum pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypyridinoline (DPYD), tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b), and urinary hydroxyproline (UHYP). Results: We found a significantly higher bone formation biomarkers such as BALP (p=0.007) and bone resorption biomarkers, eg, PYD (p=0.048), TRCAP-5b (p=0.001), and UHYP (p=0.001) in lead-exposed workers. A significant (p=0.041) negative correlation (ρ -0.128) was noted between BLLs and OC. A significant positive correlation was noted between BLLs and TRACP-5b (ρ 0.176, p=0.005) and UHYP (ρ 0.258, p=0.004). Serum OC (p=0.040) and UHYP (p=0.015) levels changed significantly with BLL level. Bone resorption biomarkers levels—PYD, TRACP-5b, and BALP—were higher among those with higher BLLs levels. The duration of exposure was significantly associated with BALP (p=0.037), DPYD (p=0.016), TRACP5b (p=0.001), and UHYP (p=0.002) levels. Conclusion: Long-term lead exposure affects the bone turnover.

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“…3 , 4 Worker BLLs have been associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal morbidities. 5 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Lead Exposure and Urinary-δ-aminolevulinic Acid Levels in Male Lead Acid Battery Workers in Tamil Nadu, India

Kalahasthi¹,

Barman²

2018

Journal of Health and Pollution

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Background.Exposure to lead (Pb) affects multiple health outcomes and physiological systems. In adults, even small increases in blood Pb levels have been associated with decreased glomerular filtration rate, increased risk of hypertension and increased incidence of essential tremor. To date, there have been few Pb-exposure assessments using the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations.Objective.The aim of the present study was to assess Pb-exposure in terms of elevated blood lead levels (BLL) and urinary-δ-aminolevulinic acid (U-δ-ALA) levels of workers exposed to Pb in the lead acid battery industry in Tamil Nadu, India based on Pb exposure regulations set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and OSHA.Materials and Methods.BLLs and U-δ-ALA were estimated in 449 male workers exposed to Pb across ten different job categories in a lead acid battery factory. Worker BLLs were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and U-δ-ALA was estimated using spectrophotometry.Results.The Biological Exposure Index of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (BEI-ACGIH) were used to assess Pb exposure. BLLs <30 μg/dL were found in 63.5% of workers, and 36.5% of workers had BLLs>30 μg/dL. The present study also assessed Pb exposure using OSHA regulations and found that 83.3% of workers had BLLs <40 μg/dL and 16.7% of workers had BLLs>40 μg/dL. Among these workers, 0.7% of workers had BLLs >60 μg/dL. An excessive excretion of U-δ-ALA (20–40 mg/L) was noted in pasting area workers (2.6%) followed by executives (2.2%) and assembly workers (0.9%).Conclusions.Workers in the job categories of pasting and assembly, as well as executives, are at high risk of Pb exposure compared to other job categories. We recommend placing humidifiers on the roof and keeping a water bath closer the to plate cutting area to reduce fugitive Pb dust emissions. We recommended workers with BLLs >60 μg/dL be removed from jobs involving Pb exposure and return to work only when their BLLs are <40 μg/dL.Participant consent.ObtainedEthics Approval.The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern) Bengaluru, part of the National Institute of Occupational Health of India.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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The relationship between blood lead levels and morbidities among workers employed in a factory manufacturing lead–acid storage battery

Cited by 13 publications

References 41 publications

Association of musculoskeletal disorders and inflammation markers in workers exposed to lead (Pb) from Pb-battery manufacturing plant

Association of musculoskeletal disorders and inflammation markers in workers exposed to lead (Pb) from Pb-battery manufacturing plant

Assessment of Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Lead-Battery Workers with Long-Term Exposure to Lead

Assessment of Lead Exposure and Urinary-δ-aminolevulinic Acid Levels in Male Lead Acid Battery Workers in Tamil Nadu, India

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