Plumbemia em trabalhadores da indústria de reciclagem de baterias automotivas da Grande Porto Alegre, RS / Blood lead levels in the battery recycling industry of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, RS

A reciclagem de baterias pode contaminar o ar, o solo e a água, não só no lugar de processamento, mas também nas regiões circunvizinhas, sendo que os resíduos permanecem no local mesmo após o término da atividade. No presente artigo descrevemos os resultados da avaliação da plumbemia em 53 operários que trabalhavam com reciclagem de baterias automotivas e em 53 indivíduos sem história de exposição. Os dados obtidos foram comparados e discutidos em relação às normas do Ministério do Trabalho (MT) e da Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A plumbemia no sangue do grupo controle foi de 2,44±1,15 µg/dl e, no grupo exposto, de 59,43±28,34 µg/dl, sendo que 79,2 por cento dos indivíduos mostraram níveis acima do valor de referência (até 40 µg/dl). Estudos recentes recomendam estratégias para prevenir a intoxicação com chumbo: identificação, eliminação ou controle da fonte, monitoração da exposição e respectivos danos e um programa de recompra de baterias usadas das por parte da indústria de origem.

Battery recycling may contaminate soil, air and water not only at the processing site but also in the neighboring areas, inasmuch as the residues remain at the site even after the end of the activity. In the present article, we describe the results of plumbism evaluation in 53 individuals that work with car battery recycling and 53 individuals without history of lead exposure. The obtained data were compared and discussed according to the regulations of Brazilian Ministry of Labor and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Blood lead levels in the control group were 2.44 ± 1.15 µg/dl and 59.43 ± 28.34 µg/dl in the exposed group. 79.2 percent of the individuals presented levels above the reference value (40 µg/dl). Recent studies recommend strategies to prevent lead intoxication: source identification, control or elimination, monitoring of environmental exposure and hazards and a buy-back program of used batteries by the industry of origin.

Chemoprotective effect of cysteamine against the induction of micronuclei by methyl methanesulfonate and cyclophosphamide

Cysteamine or 2-mercaptoethylamine (MEA) is an aminothiol with a well-known radioprotective action. No specific information is available in the literature about the possible chemoprotective action of MEA against genotoxic chemical agents. This paper presents the results of studies on the ability of MEA to protect mouse bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes against the induction of micronuclei by alkylating agents such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and cyclophosphamide (CP). We observed that MEA administered intraperitoneally 30 min before or 30 min after the administration of MMS or CP significantly reduced the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) induced by the alkylating agents. When MEA was administered in combination with MMS or CP the reduction in the frequency of MNPCEs did not reach statistically significant levels, although it reached values close to significance. With respect to the polychromatic erythrocyte/normochromatic erythrocyte (PCE/NCE) ratio, we observed that MEA did not provide significant protection against the bone marrow toxicity induced by CP.