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Lead Exposure and Blood Pressure among Workers in Diverse Industrial Plants in Kenya.
- Source :
- Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene; Nov2014, Vol. 11 Issue 11, p706-715, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- The study evaluated airborne exposures and blood lead (BPb) levels in 233 production workers at six diverse industrial plants in Kenya. Blood and personal breathing zone air samples were collected and analyzed for lead (Pb) using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Blood pressure (BP) levels were measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. The results indicated mean airborne Pb levels ± standard deviation (SD) as follows: 183.2 ± 53.6 μg/m3in battery recycling, 133.5 ± 39.6 μg/m3in battery manufacturing, 126.2 ± 39.9 μg/m3in scrap metal welding, 76.3 ± 33.2 μg/m3in paint manufacturing, 27.3 ± 12.1 μg/m3in a leather manufacturing, and 5.5 ± 3.6 μg/m3in a pharmaceutical plant. The mean airborne Pb levels exceeded the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for Pb of 50 μg/m3in the battery manufacturing, battery recycling, welding, and paint manufacturing plants. Similarly, mean BPb concentrations exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) biological exposure index (BEI) for Pb of 30 μg/dl. A significant positive association was observed between BPb and breathing zone air Pb (R2= 0.73, P < 0.001). Approximately 30% of the production workers (N = 233) were in the hypertensive range with an average systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 134.7 ± 12.7 mmHg and 86.4 ± 8.9 mmHg, respectively. In the multivariate regression analysis, age, duration of work, airborne Pb and BPb levels were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with a change in BP. We recommend improved engineering controls, work practices, and personal hygiene to reduce Pb exposures. In addition, workers should undergo comprehensive medical surveillance to include BPb and BP testing, and airborne Pb assessments in all industries with significant lead exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- AIR pollution
ANALYSIS of variance
BLOOD pressure measurement
BLUE collar workers
ELECTRIC power supplies to apparatus
HEALTH behavior
HYPERTENSION
INTERVIEWING
LEAD
PROTECTIVE clothing
METALLURGY
PAINT
QUESTIONNAIRES
WASTE recycling
RESEARCH funding
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
T-test (Statistics)
OCCUPATIONAL hazards
ENVIRONMENTAL exposure
MULTIPLE regression analysis
BODY mass index
CROSS-sectional method
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15459624
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 98563299
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2014.908258