MEASUREMENT OF LEAD CONCENTRATION IN THE BLOOD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT DRIVERS IN BANDUNG REGENCY, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

As industrial and transportation activities in Bandung Regency are growing rapidly, Indonesia could be at risk of increasing air pollution levels. One of the air pollutants that are very harmful to the body is lead (Pb) generated from industrial activities, mining, vehicle exhaust gas, and dust from the ground. Lead is a heavy metal that is very dangerous for the body because it is carcinogenic with its activity character as an inhibitor in cell metabolism. This study aimed to analyze the concentration of lead in the blood of public transport drivers who are active on the highway every day and are most at risk of being exposed to Pb. Measurement of Pb concentration was carried out using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Blood samples were taken from public transport drivers at Soreang Terminal, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The analysis results showed that the average blood lead content of public transport drivers was 1,032 mg/L. The lowest level was 0.889 mg/L, and the highest was 1,200 mg/L. This shows that the lead content in the blood of public transport drivers is already in excess levels (range numbers 0.800-1.200 mg/L) when compared with the threshold for lead in the blood based on the Regulation of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (0.10 - 0.25 mg/L) and the threshold value set by the World Health Organization, which is 0.4 mg/L.