adverse health effects of direct and indirect exposure to lead among battery factory workers

ABSTRACT

The advers health effects of direct and indirect exposure to lead were investigated among 387 battery factory workers. The workers were divided into three groups according to the exposure level. Group I, directly exposed workers. Group Il, indirectly exposed workers and Group Ill office workers. A higher average blood lead level [Pb-B] was noticed among directly exposed workers [P <0.001]. An opposite behaviour was observed for Delta-aminolevulenic acid dehydratase [ALAD] average [P<0.01]. The majority of the workers had shown a combination of symptoms. The most dominant symptoms were easy fatigability [35.4%], joint pain [20.6%], anaemia [16.5%], constipation [10.8%] and abdominal colic [10.0%]. None of the workers had blue gum line. Higher or. prevalence, ice of easy fatigability and anaemia were found among the directly exposed workers as compared to the other groups