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Predictors of plasma lead among lithographic print shop workers in Mexico City
Author(s) -
JuárezPérez Cuauhtémoc Arturo,
AguilarMadrid Guadalupe,
Smith Donald R.,
LacasañaNavarro Marina,
TéllezRojo Martha María,
Piacitteli Gregory,
Hu Howard,
HernándezAvila Mauricio
Publication year - 2004
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.20035
Subject(s) - medicine , lead (geology) , lead exposure , blood plasma , lead poisoning , whole blood , hygiene , occupational exposure , physiology , environmental health , pathology , biology , cats , psychiatry , paleontology
Background Plasma lead is considered a biological marker that reflects the fraction of lead in blood that is toxicologically available. We examined the relationship between plasma lead and other biomarkers of lead exposure in 69 lithographic print shop workers. Methods Lead was measured in plasma and whole blood (by inductively coupled plasma‐magnetic sector mass spectrometry), in bone (by 109 Cd X‐ray fluorescence), and in hand wipes and occupational air samples. Personal hygiene habits at work were surveyed. Results Mean age was 47 years and 86% ( n = 59) were men. Mean lead levels were 0.3 μg/L in plasma, 11.9 μg/dL in blood, 46.7 μg/g in patella, and 27.6 μg/g in tibia. Taken together, two multivariate linear models explained 57% of variability in plasma lead levels. Predictors for the first model were lead in patella (β = 0.006), blood (β = 0.008), and hygiene index (β = −0.11). Predictors for the second model were lead in tibia (β = 0.008), blood (β = 0.008), and hygiene index (β = −0.13). Conclusions This study demonstrates that accumulated bone stores and hygiene habits are both significant independent predictors of plasma lead levels in active workers at this print shop. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:245–252, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.