Review: Lead Exposure in Battery Manufacturing and Recycling in Developing Countries and Among Children in Nearby Communities

Abstract

The battery industry is the largest consumer of lead, using an estimated 80% of the global lead production. The industry is also rapidly expanding in emerging market countries. A review of published literature on exposures from lead-acid battery manufacturing and recycling plants in developing countries was conducted. The review included studies from 37 countries published from 1993 to 2010 and excluded facilities in developed countries, such as the United States and those in Western Europe, except for providing comparisons to reported findings. The average worker blood lead level (BLL) in developing countries was 47 μg/dL in battery manufacturing plants and 64 μg/dL in recycling facilities. Airborne lead concentrations reported in battery plants in developing countries averaged 367 μg/m3, which is 7-fold greater than the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's 50 μg/m3 permissible exposure limit. The geometric mean BLL of children residing near battery plants in developing countries was 19 μg/dL, which is about 13-fold greater than the levels observed among children in the United States. The blood lead and airborne lead exposure concentrations for battery workers were substantially higher in developing countries than in the United States. This disparity may worsen due to rapid growth in lead-acid battery manufacturing and recycling operations worldwide. Given the lack of regulatory and enforcement capacity in most developing countries, third-party certification programs may be the only viable option to improve conditions.

Exposure of gasoline professionals to leaded gasoline in Asyut governorate

“…[23,24]. Blood lead levels were so high in each of the three exposed groups (A, B and C) compared with control, (p<0.05), (f-test), where, there was significance increase (p< 0.05) between groups (ANOVA), this agrees with, (Gottesfeld P, Pokhrel AK) [25]. The data showed that, there was significant decrease (p<0.05) of hemoglobin concentratin and white blood cell's count in all test groups against control (table 3).…”

Assessment of Blood Lead Levels and Associated Risk Factors and Outcome of Lead Poisoning Among a Sample in Baqubah City.

“…[28] The BLLs and air lead levels were higher in developing nations, that given the absence of monitoring and regulation in some countries, Research may be the only viable option for improving working conditions and preventing environmental pollution. [29] So in our study was high significant difference in eating and washing hands before eating between cases and controls, that is agrees with findings of other study in Iran [30] , this may be due to eating in areas exposed to the city with its lead-contaminated areas or forgetting to wash your hands before eating. Although the knowledge that they need to know how to protection from lead poisoning, but a few of them go to regular health checkup and knowledge about effect of lead.…”

Clinical, Haematological, and Neurocognitive Findings in Lead-Exposed Workers of a Battery Plant in Iran

“…Our fi ndings support many reports Ho et al (27) suggested that high BLL detected in their workers was related to extensive contact with lead and use of unwashed hands while eating. Gottesfeld et al (28) reported that BLL and air lead levels in battery workers were higher in developing nations, probably as a consequence of quick development in lead acid battery trade and recycling in these countries.…”