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Lead exposure in mexican radiator repair workers
Author(s) -
Dykeman Ronald,
AguilarMadrid Guadalupe,
Smith Tom,
JuárezPérez Cuauhtemoc Arturo,
Piacitelli Gregory M.,
Hu Howard,
HernandezAvila Mauricio
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.10044
Subject(s) - medicine , lead (geology) , occupational exposure , toxicology , blood lead level , lead poisoning , environmental health , surgery , zoology , lead exposure , cats , geomorphology , psychiatry , biology , geology
Background Lead exposure was investigated among 73 Mexican radiator repair workers (RRWs), 12 members of their family (4 children and 8 wives), and 36 working controls. RRWs were employed at 4 radiator repair shops in Mexico City and 27 shops in Cuernavaca and surrounding areas. Methods Exposure was assessed directly through the use of personal air sampling and hand wipe samples. In addition, industrial hygiene inspections were performed and detailed questionnaires were administered. Blood lead levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results The mean (SD) values for blood lead of the RRWs, 35.5 (13.5) μg/dl, was significantly greater than the same values for the working controls, 13.6 (8.7) μg/dl; P < 001. After excluding a single outlier (247 μg/m 3 ), air lead levels ranged from 0 to 99 μg/m 3 with a mean (SD) value of 19 (23) μg/m 3 (median = 7.9 μg/m 3 ). In a final multivariate regression model of elevated blood lead levels, the strongest predictors were smoking (vs. non‐smoking), the number of radiators repaired per day on average, and the use (vs. non‐use) of a uniform while at work, which were associated with blood lead elevations of 11.4 μg/dl, 1.95 μg/dl/radiator/day, and 16.4 μg/dl, respectively (all P < .05). Uniform use was probably a risk factor because they were not laundered regularly and consequently served as reservoir of contamination on which RRWs frequently wiped their hands. Conclusions Lead exposure is a significant problem of radiator repair work, a small industry that is abundant in Mexico and other developing countries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 41:179–187, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.