Biochemical and Hematological Markers in Workers with Chronical Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Colombia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find if workers chronically exposed to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) presented changes in their general health and in the clinical parameters of the population under study. We carried out a cross-sectional survey in a sample of informal workers in Cartagena, Colombia. The population under study was composed of male informal workers (≥18 years of age), with experience in their job, selected from occupational settings with potential exposure to Pb and Cd (i.e., mechanics, battery and garbage recyclers, and welders). The median age was 45 years (interquartile range (IQR), 33–53). The median blood Pb level (BLL) was 2 μg/dL (IQR, 0.76–6.22), and the median of blood Cd level (BCL) was 1.22 μg/L (IQR, 0.33–2.01). The study found that 33% of high exposure jobs with BLL > 5 μg/dL (n = 57), whereas in ‘control’ workers, this was 15.3% (n = 9). The highest BLLs were found in battery recyclers (82.1%; n = 23), followed by mechanics (37.3%, n = 22). In the logistic regression model adjusted by age, time on the job, smoking and elevated BCL and BLL increased 3.2 times (95% CI, 1.1–9.7) in mechanics and 29.6 times (95% CI, 7.2–145.6) in battery recyclers. This study found negative changes in the health of workers with higher chronic exposure to lead in Cartagena, Colombia.

Development and validation of an ICPMS method and its application in assessing heavy metals in whole blood samples among occupationally exposed Lead smelting plant workers

“…Workers in Pb smelting plants face a heightened risk of exposure to these toxic metals, leading to potential health complications (An et al, 2017). In medical surveillance, the whole blood levels of potentially toxic metals are regarded as the primary benchmark for identifying individual exposure (Vergara-Murillo et al, 2022). Assessing blood levels of toxic elements serves as a critical indicator for understanding the extent of exposure and potential health risks among these workers (Goyal et al, 2021).…”

Related health hazards with occupational exposure to cadmium and lead during spray painting in car and furniture workshops

“…Furthermore, lead is one of the most widely toxic metals in the environment. The world health organization (WHO) accounted for nearly a half million death and above 9 million are disable persons were recorded, especially in low-and middle-income developing countries (Vergara-Murillo et al, 2022). Pb is widely used in various paints because of its anticorrosive properties and its ability to hold pigments together (Flora et al, 2012).…”