Saf Health Work.  2012 Sep;3(3):216-223.

An Examination of Blood Lead Levels in Thai Nielloware Workers

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Occupational Hygiene and Health Science, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, Thaksin University, Phattalung, Thailand. somsiri_9@hotmail.com
  • 2Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
  • 3Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
  • 4Department of Industrial Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand.

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples.
METHODS
Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels.
RESULTS
The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14 microg/m3 (range 9.0-677.2 microg/m3). The geometric mean blood lead level of the 45 workers was 16.25 microg/dL (range 4.59-39.33 microg/dL). No worker had a blood lead level > 60 microg/dL. A statistically significantly positive correlation was found between airborne lead level and blood lead levels (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). It was observed that personal hygiene was poor; workers smoked and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. It was concluded that these behaviors had a significant correlation with blood lead levels (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required due to the correlation found between blood leads and airborne lead levels.

Keyword

Inorganic lead; Home workers; Small enterprises

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Drinking
Eating
Hand
Humans
Hygiene
Metals
Occupational Health
Smoke
Spectrum Analysis
Thailand
Metals
Smoke
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