OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN DUHOK CITY, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ

Abstract

Background and objectives Occupational exposures to lead remain a serious problem in many developed and developing countries. In developing countries, awareness of the public health impact of exposure to lead is growing but relatively few of those countries have introduced policies and regulations for significantly combating the problem. This study aimed to determine levels and nature of occupational exposure to lead in Duhok city, Kurdistan, Iraq.Methods A cross – sectional study design was conducted on 520 individuals occupationallyexposed to lead to determine the degree of lead exposure.The study population comprised of male workers with an age range of 10 to 64 years. The workers were chosen as a convenience sample so that nearly equal number of workers from each of the six occupations was included: gasoline power generators (n=120), industrial urban area (n=100), traffic policeman (n=100), petrol filing stations (n=100), petrol storage (n=50) and battery repairing workshop (n=50). Pre-tested questionnaire was designed to obtain information on age, residence, current occupation (period in year), and current history of cigarette smoking. Blood lead level was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Perkin Elmer Using a standardized procedure published by the company.Dust lead level was analyzed using the lead test kit (ABOTE × ENTERPRISES limited Ontario and a NOM).Results The mean blood lead value among the sample was 14.5 ug/dl, with a standard error (0.46) and range (3.2 to 55.3). Of the 520 individuals tested, 54.4% subjects had blood lead level of 10 – 25 ug/dl, while 8.6% of these subjects had blood lead level 25 – 50 ug/dl and 1.2% had blood lead level> 50 ug/dl. The mean blood lead levels of the battery repairing workers (40.0 ug/dl) was significantly higher (p< 0.001 for all) compared to the gasolinepower generator workers, petrol station, traffic policemen, petrol storage, and general work in industrial urban area who had mean blood lead levels of 11.5 ug/dl, 14.2 ug/dl, 8.4 ug/dl, and 13.8 ug/dl; respectively. A statistically-significant relationship was found between blood lead levels and age, amount of cigarettes smoked and dust lead level.Conclusions The results of our study showed a high exposure level of lead occurs in occupationally -exposed workers with 9.8% prevalence of toxic blood lead of 25ug/dl.