Health status of cable splicers with low-level exposure to lead: results of a clinical survey. | Zendy

Alf Fischbein | Zendy; J. Thornton | Zendy; W. E. Blumberg | Zendy; J. Bernstein | Zendy; José A. Valciukas | Zendy; Matovu Moses | Zendy; Bernard Davidow | Zendy; B. L. Kaul | Zendy; Miroslav Sirota | Zendy; Irving J. Selikoff | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Health status of cable splicers with low-level exposure to lead: results of a clinical survey.

Author(s) -

Alf Fischbein,

J. Thornton,

W. E. Blumberg,

J. Bernstein,

José A. Valciukas,

Matovu Moses,

Bernard Davidow,

B. L. Kaul,

Miroslav Sirota,

Irving J. Selikoff

Publication year - 1980

Publication title -

american journal of public health

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284

H-Index - 264

eISSN - 1541-0048

pISSN - 0090-0036

DOI - 10.2105/ajph.70.7.697

Subject(s) - zinc protoporphyrin , medicine , lead poisoning , lead (geology) , lead exposure , environmental health , telephone survey , physiology , biology , psychiatry , cats , heme , paleontology , biochemistry , marketing , business , enzyme

The results of a cross-sectional clinical field survey of 90 telephone cable splicers are presented. Despite the rare occurrence of clinically overt lead poisoning among cable splicers, the observed prevalence of symptoms was 29% for lead-associated central nervous system symptoms and 21% for gastrointestinal symptoms. These two groups of symptoms were directly related to zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels but no relationship was found between them and blood lead concentrations. Only 5% of the workers had significantly elevated blood lead levels (greater than 40 microgram/100ml). Because of the intermittent lead exposure encountered in this trade, individuals were identified with "normal" blood lead levels associated with "elevated" zinc protoporphyrin concentrations, indicating the difference in biological significance between exposure-(blood lead) and biological-response tests (ZPP). Suggestion is made that both types of diagnostic tests be utilized in the medical surveillance of lead-exposured workers.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research