Abstract
Background
In Iraq, although there are numerous small-scale and medium private sector
workshops which use lead-based raw materials that may pose health risks to workers,
there are no workplace regulations for lead exposure.
Method
A cross-sectional study on the Blood lead levels of (178) occupationally exposed and
a comparison group of non- exposed male workers was carried out in Hilla city –
Babylon province- Iraq. Data on some risk factors such as age smoking, types of
work, period of services and other variables like Body Mass Index and
hypertension were gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews , body
mass index , and blood pressure were measured . Blood sample was collected and
analyzed for each participant by Lead Care Blood Testing System. Data analysis was
performed using SPSS (version 17).
Results
The mean blood lead level of all groups was 23.50±16.35 the range was2.9-67. The
highest blood lead mean was among workers engaged in radiator repairing ( 36.75±
20.26 ) followed by the mean of battery storage repair workers (29.80±16.16 ) . The
mean blood lead level of the occupationally non exposed comparison group
(13.02±6.89 ) which was significantly lower than the means of the occupationally
exposed groups P<0.001. The blood lead levels were significantly increased with the
increments of the following independent variables : age, period of services ,body
mass index . smoking ,systolic and diastolic blood pressures .
Conclusion
The findings of the study have clearly demonstrated that the blood lead levels of
occupationally exposed workers were considerably high and they are in danger of
impending lead toxicity. The blood lead levels of the workers are influenced by their
occupational practices, age, period of employement, smoking , and associated
positively with high blood pressure .
Keywords: Blood lead levels, Occupational exposure , Blood pressure. Hilla city ,
Iraq.