Relationship between the lead concentration in hair and occupational exposure.

Abstract

The lead content of hair in workers occupationally exposed was correlated with the blood lead concentration. Determinations of lead in blood and hair were performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in two exposed groups and a control group. A significant correlation was observed between the blood lead and hair lead concentrations, and a regression analysis showed an exponential accumulation of the lead content in hair, simultaneously with the increase of the values in blood. The colour of the hair and the age of the subject did not influence the lead accumulation in hair in the occupationally exposed subjects. The assessment of lead in hair is considered a useful screening test in estimating occupational exposure.During recent years a series of studies have pointed to the use of the content of lead in hair as an index of occupational exposure indicator.'-5 Modem analytical techniques now allow the metal content to be measured in sequential segments of hair.26The present study aimed to follow up the examination of lead in a single hair in workers occupationally exposed and to correlate this with the blood lead concentration. Materials and methodsTwo groups of male workers with differing occupational experience were studied: group 1 comprised 31 subjects exposed to high concentrations of lead in air and group 2, 33 subjects with low exposure. The ages and years of exposure of these two groups are presented in tables 1 and 2. Blood samples were collected on heparin from each exposed person together with five hairs, including the root. Before the analysis the hair was washed in acetone, ethylic ether, and 1*5% solution of sodium lauryl sulphate in order to degrease it and remove exogenous lead, particles7; segments of exactly 1 cm in length, measured from the root, were then taken. To verify the cleanliness of the surface, three hairs (before washing, after a single washing,

Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead Exposure and Immunologic Function in Workers in Taiwan

“…For the present study, we used As, Cd and Pb measured from hair samples to evaluate the relationships with immunologic factors. Because of slow growth, elements measured in hair represent a longer accumulation of the elemental exposure from diet, drink and air [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The hair sample analysis thus has an advantage over blood and urine samples, which show the current and recent burden.…”

Usefulness of Measurements of Trace Elements in Hair

“…With blood levels that are normal or somewhat increased (up to 65 Ilg/ 100 mL) results are ambiguous. Hair lead concentrations vary considerably with significant correlations found between blood and hair in some studies105 , 106 but not in others": 107-IOY These inconsistencies are well illustrated by the results of Niculescu et al 35 who examined two groups of men who had high or moderate occupational exposures to inorganic lead. Blood and hair lead concentrations were highly correlated (P=O·OOl) for the first group, whereas data from the second cohort were less structured (P=0·05).…”

“…The only differences found were higher lead concentrations in pigmented hair. The difference in lead concentration was also found by Niculescu et al 35 A second large study was conducted by SkyPeck and Joseph/ with samples from 458 subjects aged 3-70 years. For the assessment of differences associated with colour, they evaluated results of samples collected only from women.…”

Lead exposure and hair lead level of workers in a lead refinery industry in Iran

“…Niculescu et al . [ 12 ] indicated that the lead content of hair in workers occupationally exposed was correlated with the blood lead concentration. In their research, two groups of male workers with differing occupational experience were studied: group 1 comprised 31 subjects exposed to high concentrations of lead in air and group 2, 33 subjects with low exposure and the control group with 10 men who were never exposed to lead.…”