THE RELATIONSHIP OF BIOLOGICAL INDEXES OF LEAD-EXPOSURE TO THE HEALTH-STATUS OF WORKERS IN A SECONDARY LEAD SMELTER

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 22  (7) , 475-484
Abstract
The fidelity with which common indices of Pb exposure correlate with renal and hematopoietic function and with frequency of symptoms was studied. The subjects were men working in a secondary Pb smelter. Among several indices of renal function, only serum urea nitrogen (SUN) was consistently correlated with any of the indices of Pb exposure. The concentration of Pb in blood (PbB), the rate of urinary excretion of Pb (PbU) and of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid in the urine (ALAU) correlated with SUN. Erythrocytic porphyrin concentration (EP) did not correlate with SUN. The frequency of occurrence of symptoms correlated well with PbB and ALAU, but did not correlate with EP. All of the above indices of Pb exposure, with the exception of PbU, correlated well with Hb status. PbB rather than EP is the best single exposure index for biological monitoring of Pb workers. This measurement should be supplemented by periodic determination of SUN and Hb.

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