Blood lead levels in workers of a lead smelting factory in Gombak, Malaysia

Abstract

Sixty-two workers (73.8%) in a lead-smelting factory were investigated for blood lead levels in a cross-sectional study. Comparisons made to a reference group of 31 office workers not exposed to lead showed significant differences in mean blood lead levels. Personal air-sampling for airborne lead concentration taken over 8-hour work period among 25 randomly selected factory workers at 5 workstations showed that workers at the furnace area recorded the highest mean airborne lead concentration (184.3 ± 28.4 μg/100g blood). The highest individual blood lead level recorded was 78 μg/100g blood, from a worker who worked as an operator at the furnace worksite. Contrary to expectation the mean blood lead level was highest among younger workers (mean age 29.9 ± 6.9 years) who had shorter mean length of service (4.3 ±3.1 years). Health promotion intervention strategy at the workplace should thus be focused on this group of young and relatively inexperienced workers exposed to lead.