Assessment of the effect of lead exposure on the cardiovascular system among workers in battery industry

ABSTRACT

The effects of chronic lead exposure on cardiovascular system were investigated in the workers in the Battery industry at chloride company. One hundred [100] workers exposed to lead were randomly selected., also [50] fifty workers who have never been exposed to lead before, of comparable age group and socioeconomic standard were randomly selected to be the control group. General clinical examination, cardiovascular monifestations [by an observation sheet], blood pressure determination pattern [total lipids, cholesterol and ists fractions, triglycerides and B/A lipoproteins] were determined, also lactic acid dehydrogenase and lactic acid iso enzymes estimation were performed. The atmospheric lead concentration was found to be 0.039-0.28 ug/m3. The present study showed high prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations [28%] and hypertension [30%] among exposed workers with significant correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and some parameters of lipogram pattern on one hand with blood lead and urinary delta amino levulenic acid. So, we can conclude that a systemic blood pressure control program with blood lead and urinary delta amino levulenic acid estimation, together with determination of lipogram pattern of the workers exposed to lead may be considered as avaluble procedure in assessing the severity of lead effects in individual cases, the application of control measures and in preventing the development of cardiovascular diseases and / or the occurrence of irreversible chronic lead toxicity