Occupational lead toxicity in battery workers

ABSTRACT

To estimate blood lead level [BLL] and to assess the features of lead toxicity among lead acid battery [LAB] industrial workers. This prospective study was carried out in the medical centre of PCSIR Laboratories, Karachi from March 2012 - March 2013. Fifty LAB industry workers, males and females between 17-65 years were included in the study. They were divided into group 1 with 40 workers- directly related and group 2 with 10 workers -indirectly related, [administration staff members] to LAB manufacture. Detailed history, complete physical examination and BLL estimation by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer was done. Total 34 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2 had elevated BLL. Comparison of group 1 and 2 revealed anemia [40v/s4], bone pain [38v/s7], abdominal pain [38 v/s 2], nausea [32v/s6], head ache and irritability [24v/s6], weakness and lethargy [21v/s6], tremors [13v/s0] insomnia [5v/s4], lead line [4v/s 0] and blood pressure above 140/90 mm of Hg [12v/s0] respectively. High blood lead level and features attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent among LAB industry workers of Karachi