ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB. Workers in LAB industry are at risk of exposure lead and thus development of lead toxicity. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the blood lead concentration and to assess the magnitude of health problems attributable to lead toxicity among the LAB manufacturing workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the workers of LAB manufacturing industries located in Dhaka city. RESULT: Mean blood lead level (BLL) among the workers was found to be high. They were found to be suffering from a number of illnesses attributable to lead toxicity. The common illnesses were frequent headache, numbness of the limbs, colic pain, nausea, tremor, and lead line on the gum. High BLL was also found to be related to hypertension and anemia of the workers. CONCLUSION: High BLL and illnesses attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent amongst workers of the LAB manufacturing industries, and this requires attention especially in terms of occupational hygiene and safety.
Subject(s)
Lead Poisoning/blood , Lead Poisoning/epidemiology , Lead/blood , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Bangladesh/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Electric Power Supplies , Erythrocyte Indices , Humans , Middle Aged , Public Health Surveillance , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was carried out in some selected arsenic contaminated rural areas of Bangladesh to determine any clinical changes in oral cavity, among the arsenic exposed population through drinking water. Total 600 respondents (200 arsenicosis patients, 200 non-patients but having the history of taking arsenic contaminated water and another 200 arsenic non-exposed). 75.5% of arsenicosis patients had swelled vallate papillae whereas only 44.5% and 8.5% in case of arsenic exposure and non-exposure subjects respectively. The differences were found statistically significant (p < 0.001). This study suggests that there is a tendency of developing swelled vallate papillae among the arsenic exposed population.
Subject(s)
Arsenic Poisoning/pathology , Arsenic/pharmacology , Tongue/pathology , Adult , Humans , Middle Aged , Tongue/drug effects , Water Supply , Young AdultABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess and compare Ankle Brachial Systolic Pressure Index (ABSPI) amongst 120 arsenic exposed and 120 non-exposed populations of Samta village in Bangladesh. Abnormal ABSPI was more prevalent in arsenic exposed (13.3%) than in non-exposed (2.5%) group. The prevalence of abnormal ABSPI for respondents when adjusted for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure status and diabetic status, the prevalence remain significantly different. The findings suggest that those exposed to arsenic have increased chance of having abnormal ABSP and hence increased chance of peripheral arterial disease in Bangladesh.
