RÉSUMÉ
Este estudio fué realizado en los trabajadores de una fundición que estaban expuestos, entre otros contaminantes atmosféricos, principalmente a humos de plomo. Entre 1,468 trabajadores observados, se encontró 138 casos de plumbismo, 3 de los cuales tenían sólo 30 días de trabajo. Los resultados más importantes del estudio clínico y de laboratorio en los 138 casos de plumbismo fueron: dolor abdominal (61.6%), cefalea (42.0%), debilidad (33.3%), vómitos (18.8%), ribete de Burton (56.5%), ictericia (42.0%), palidez (41.3%), hiperreflexia (21.0%), disminución de la fuerza muscular (15.9%) . Del estudio comparado con un grupo patrón de 100 trabajadores no expuestos a humos de plomo y sanos al examen médico, se ha encontrado disminución significante en la hemoglobina, hematocrito, y hematíes de los individuos con plumbismo. La media aritmética de plomo en sangre total fué de 0. 162 mgrs. por 100 grs. y de 0.507 mgrs. por litro de orina, en muestras de 100 cc. Existen trabajadores intoxicados por plomo, con incapacidad potencial, desempeñando sus ocupaciones.
This study was made ina smelter foundry where the workers were exposed to Jead fumes and other atmospheric contaminants. It was found that 138 of 1,468 individuals examined had lead poisoning. Three of the positive cases were in persons who had been working in the smelter only a month . The most important findings encountered in the above mentioned cases were: abdominal pains (61.6%), headache (42.0%), generalized weakness (33.3%), emesis (18.8%), lead line (56.5%), jaundice (42.0%), pallor (41.3%), hyperactive reflexes (21.0%), and loss of muscular strength (15.9%). In comparison wíth a control group of 100 healthy workers not exposed to lead fumes, it was observed that there existed a significant reduction in hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte among individuals with lead poisoning. The average lead content of whole blood was found to be 0.162 mgrs./100 grs., and 0.507 mgrs. of lead per liter of urine. In this study 138 unsuspected cases of lead poisoning were found in employees who were at work in the smelter.