[Lead concentrations in the blood of residents of the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León]. / Concentración de plomo en la sangre de los habitantes de la ciudad de Monterrey, Nuevo León.

Six hundred and seventy one inhabitants from Monterrey City, Mexico, were studied during an eight months period to know their blood lead (PbB) content, as a biological indicator of environmental lead exposure in that city. Thirty per cent of these population were males and 70 per cent were females. The group was divided by sex in workers and non-workers. Men were (81.6 per cent) both, blue and white collar, and showed non-occupational lead exposure. Students and housewives were considered as a non-workers group and accounting 18.3 per cent in that group. For men the mean value of blood lead in workers and non-workers was 14.38 and 14.08 micrograms/dl, and for women it was 13.11 and 13.35 micrograms/dl for workers and non-workers, respectively. The entire group was divided again in smokers; and non-smokers; while smokers had a mean PbB of 15.11 micrograms/dl, the non-smokers group had a PbB mean value of 12.92 micrograms/dl, which is 2.19 micrograms/dl more higher in those having the smoking habit. No significant differences were found between blood lead content and alcoholism as well as "lead grazed pottery" used as food ware. Statistical analysis for blood lead (PbB) and sex (t-Student), PbB and smoking habit (ANOVA) and PbB and place of residence were all significant (p < 0.05). An increment of 28 per cent in PbB was found in the group of less than 10 years of age (17.23 micrograms/dl) when compared to the mean value of PbB in the whole population (13.60 micrograms/dl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Toxic effects of lead impurities found in aluminum factories.

A study of workers exposed to low levels of lead as impurities in aluminum (as low as 0.07%) shows a statistically significant difference in blood and urine lead levels as compared with a control group. In addition, alterations in precursors of heme were demonstrated as reflected in elevated levels of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX. This study has implications for workers who are exposed to metals with low concentrations of lead (less than 1%) since this exposure tends to go unnoticed both by the workers, even when symptoms are present, and by physicians who ignore or discard signs of lead intoxication because they relate the occupational exposure of the workers to other metals, not directly to lead.