Abstract
Little is known about the health-related quality of life of former lead workers. Using the Short-Form 36 Questionnaire (SF-36), a cross-section design study evaluated the health-related quality of life of 186 former workers of a lead smelter that operated in Santo Amaro da Purificação, Brazil, from 1960 to 1993, when it closed down. The smelter had very poor occupational and environmental hygiene standards. The health-related quality of life of former lead workers was low, compared to population-based and other nosological groups from Brazil. Former lead workers who indicated metal poisoning, difficulty getting another job and who could not get another job after dismissal by the smelter presented poorer health-related quality of life. Former lead workers with poor health-related quality of life form part of the huge occupational liability left by the Santo Amaro lead smelter.
Highlights
Exposure to lead has been associated with multiple health effects and damages to most physiological human systems
In this work we evaluated the health-related quality of life of former workers of a lead smelter that operated in Santo Amaro da Purificação, State of Bahia, Brazil, from 1960 to 1993
Sixty-six per cent of the former lead workers had monthly incomes below US$ 231; and 67.8% of them lived in families with total monthly family income below US$ 461
Summary
Exposure to lead has been associated with multiple health effects and damages to most physiological human systems. Studies about long-term effects of occupational lead exposure are still scarce. Little is known about the late effects of lead exposure on the physical and mental health of former lead workers. Among occupationally exposed populations, the effects of lead can be seen in gastrointestinal symptomatology, anemia, cardiovascular diseases, hearing loss, nervous system.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
