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Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that is toxic to humans, especially children and pregnant women. In Thailand, guidelines exist to minimize lead exposure in pregnant women working in lead-related occupations. However, no guidelines exist for pregnant women who are not employed in these economic sectors. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine blood lead levels (BLLs) and related risk factors among 80 non-occupationally exposed pregnant women from the general population living in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand. BLLs were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A validated questionnaire was adopted to interview participants which included demographic, consumer goods, supplement intake, and health factors. The mean BLL was 4.67 µg/dL (95% CI 4.33–5.02) and 42.50% had BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL. Higher education was the only demographic factor associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.80, p = 0.027). Systolic blood pressure was also associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 5.00, 95% CI 1.23–17.16, p = 0.023). However, consumer goods and supplement intake were not associated with BLLs. Our results indicate that pregnant women from the general population who were not in the risk exposure group had lead in their bodies. Except for education, demographics were not associated with pregnant women with BLLs. However, with health factors, even low BLLs had a small effect on systolic blood pressure. These data suggest a need for promoting health education and health interventions to prevent the dangers of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and children.

No abstract

The fishing net sinker workers are exposed to numerous workplace hazards that can endanger their health and safety. We utilized a walk-through survey and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) technique to assess each step of the work process, identify potential hazards on each job and suggest the safest approach to fishing net sinker workers in southern Thailand. A JSA is a useful tool for mitigating risk in the workplace. It emphasizes the interaction between workers, tools or equipment, the working environment, and the tasks. The results show thata total of 52potential hazards occur with varying severity and likelihood, 20% of which are categorized at the highest level. The mesh and lead ball making activities carry an extreme risk rating (RR=12). This work has possible hazards, namely occupational lung and asthma disorders. 40% are categorized at the high-risk level, namely fingers cut by tools (RR=8), and repetitive strain disorder (RR=8). Workers can be more proactive in implementing health and safety measures through appropriate risk control. The result of the paired-sample’s t-test showed that the average risk scorediffers before taking control measures (M= 7.54, SD = 2.62)and after taking control measure(M= 4.31, SD = 1.55)at the 0.0001 level of significance (t= 7.6513, df = 51, n=52, P< 0.0001, 95% confidence interval of this difference 2.39 to 4.07). On an average, risk reduction was about 3.23 point lower after taking control measures.Ensuring that workers use tools and equipment safely and also that they maintain this equipment properly. Thus, it was suggested that the government agencies concerned should carry out regular surveillance and further develop the learning process and solutions to work safety procedures as guidelines to improve their safety, wellbeing, and working conditions. These enhancements will also contribute to the higher efficiency and effectiveness of their work and advance the dynamic interest and participation of the fishing net sinker workers in other areas, including careers for the informal workers of similar work characteristics.