Abstract
BackgroundLead exposure is common in automobile battery manufacture and repair, radiator repair, secondary smelters and welding units. Urinary Aminolevulinic acid has validity as a surrogate measure of blood lead level among workers occupationally exposed to lead. This study had therefore assessed the magnitude of lead exposure in battery repair workers of three transport service enterprises.MethodsTo this effect, a cross-sectional study was carried out on lead exposure among storage battery repair workers between November 2004 and May 2005 from Anbasa, Comet and Walia transport service enterprises, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Subjective information from the workers was obtained by making use of structured questionnaire. Other information was obtained from walkthrough evaluation of the repair units. Aminolevulinic acid levels in urine were used as an index of the exposure. This was coupled to measurements of other relevant parameters in blood and urine collected from adult subjects working in the repair units as well as age matched control subjects that were not occupationally exposed to lead. Aminolevulinic acid was determined by spectrophotometry, while creatinine clearance, serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels were determined using AMS Autolab analyzer.ResultsUrinary aminolevulinic acid levels were found to be significantly higher in exposed group (16 μg/ml ± 2.0) compared to the non-exposed ones (7 μg/ml ± 1.0) (p < 0.001). Alcohol taking exposed subjects exhibited a significant increase in urinary aminolevulinic acid levels than non-alcohol taking ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, urinary aminolevulinic acid levels of exposed subjects increased with age (p < 0.001) as well as duration of employment (p < 0.001). Whereas serum uric acid levels of exposed subjects was significantly higher than non-exposed ones (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference had been found in renal indices and other measured parameters between exposed and non-exposed subjects. From the questionnaire responses and walkthrough observations, it was also known that all the repair units did not implement effective preventive and control measures for workplace lead exposure.ConclusionTaken together, these findings indicated that workers in lead acid battery repair units of the transport service enterprises are not protected from possibly high lead exposure. Thus, strict enforcement of appropriate and cost effective preventive and control measures is required by all the enterprises.
Highlights
Lead exposure is common in automobile battery manufacture and repair, radiator repair, secondary smelters and welding units
We report for the first time the occupational hazard associated with lead exposure in Ethiopia
Urinary δ-ALA levels This study considered urinary excretion of δ-ALA as a surrogate marker of blood lead in storage battery repair workers; owing to lack of facilities to measure blood lead levels. δ-ALA is excreted normally in small amounts in urine, but levels increase with lead exposure
Summary
Lead exposure is common in automobile battery manufacture and repair, radiator repair, secondary smelters and welding units. Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic metal with no known physiological benefits and is a ubiquitous pollutant in the ecosystem as a result of its natural occurrence and its industrial use. Automobile battery manufacture and repair, radiator repair, secondary smelters (including scrap metal refiners) are found in most countries and are common sources of lead exposure. These small domestic versions of secondary smelters are typically located within or in close proximity to homes and lead fumes and dust generated in such operations poses health hazard to children and adults [1,2]. In developing countries the distinction between home and workplace lead exposure is non-existent [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
