Health hazards resulting from possible exposure to lead in battery industry in Iraq

ABSTRACT

Lack of legislative criteria in Iraq for determining lead intoxication and to find the best laboratory test [s] for monitoring lead workers had initiated this study. Group of lead workers and a group of controls were selected. Blood samples were withdrawn and the following determinations were made Blood lead [Pb-B], haemoglobin [Hb] and the basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes [BSC]. Urine samples were collected for aminolevulinic acid [ALA] and coproporphyrin [CP] determinations. It was found that the values of Pb-B, ALA, CP, and BSC of the lead group were significantly higher than their corresponding values of the control group. Hb values did not differ significantly from the control group. A significant positive correlation was observed between ALA and CP. Lead in blood correlated well with both ALA and CP; the relationship was found to be curvilinear. It was concluded that the workers were not suffering from definite lead poisoning. However, some of these workers showed signs of increased lead absorption. The estimation of urinary ALA is very sensitive and specific test in the evaluation of lead poisoning