Biochemical effects of occupational lead exposure to workers in small scale automobile workshop of North Karnataka (India).

Abstract

In developing countries like India, the occupational exposure to lead still persists in the unorganised small-scale workshops. The workers are unaware of the toxic effects of lead exposure. We studied 30 automobile workers exposed to lead for periods from 2-15 years and normal healthy control subjects (N=30) who were non-occupationally exposed to lead from Bijapur, North Karnataka, India. Venous blood and urine samples were collected from both groups. The blood lead (PbB) 364%, p<0.001 and urinary lead (PbU) 176%, P<0.001 levels were significantly increased in these workers as compared to the control.