Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh

Introduction. Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB. Workers in LAB industry are at risk of exposure lead and thus development of lea...

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Main Authors: Sk. Akhtar Ahmad, Manzurul Haque Khan, Salamat Khandker, A. F. M. Sarwar, Nahid Yasmin, M. H. Faruquee, Rabeya Yasmin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/974104
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author Sk. Akhtar Ahmad
Manzurul Haque Khan
Salamat Khandker
A. F. M. Sarwar
Nahid Yasmin
M. H. Faruquee
Rabeya Yasmin
author_facet Sk. Akhtar Ahmad
Manzurul Haque Khan
Salamat Khandker
A. F. M. Sarwar
Nahid Yasmin
M. H. Faruquee
Rabeya Yasmin
author_sort Sk. Akhtar Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB. Workers in LAB industry are at risk of exposure lead and thus development of lead toxicity. Objective. The objective of this study was to measure the blood lead concentration and to assess the magnitude of health problems attributable to lead toxicity among the LAB manufacturing workers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the workers of LAB manufacturing industries located in Dhaka city. Result. Mean blood lead level (BLL) among the workers was found to be high. They were found to be suffering from a number of illnesses attributable to lead toxicity. The common illnesses were frequent headache, numbness of the limbs, colic pain, nausea, tremor, and lead line on the gum. High BLL was also found to be related to hypertension and anemia of the workers. Conclusion. High BLL and illnesses attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent amongst workers of the LAB manufacturing industries, and this requires attention especially in terms of occupational hygiene and safety.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2356-6140
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publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-45b65e614afa4ac283c75357df4305212025-08-20T03:36:10ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/974104974104Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in BangladeshSk. Akhtar Ahmad0Manzurul Haque Khan1Salamat Khandker2A. F. M. Sarwar3Nahid Yasmin4M. H. Faruquee5Rabeya Yasmin6Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka 1216, BangladeshDepartment of Occupational & Environmental Health, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshEnvironmental Health Unit, World Health Organization, Dhaka 1000, BangladeshDepartment of Community Dentistry, Dhaka Dental College, Dhaka 1206, BangladeshAddin Women’s Medical College, Dhaka 1217, BangladeshDepartment of Occupational & Environmental Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka 1216, BangladeshDepartment of Occupational & Environmental Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka 1216, BangladeshIntroduction. Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB. Workers in LAB industry are at risk of exposure lead and thus development of lead toxicity. Objective. The objective of this study was to measure the blood lead concentration and to assess the magnitude of health problems attributable to lead toxicity among the LAB manufacturing workers. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the workers of LAB manufacturing industries located in Dhaka city. Result. Mean blood lead level (BLL) among the workers was found to be high. They were found to be suffering from a number of illnesses attributable to lead toxicity. The common illnesses were frequent headache, numbness of the limbs, colic pain, nausea, tremor, and lead line on the gum. High BLL was also found to be related to hypertension and anemia of the workers. Conclusion. High BLL and illnesses attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent amongst workers of the LAB manufacturing industries, and this requires attention especially in terms of occupational hygiene and safety.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/974104
spellingShingle Sk. Akhtar Ahmad
Manzurul Haque Khan
Salamat Khandker
A. F. M. Sarwar
Nahid Yasmin
M. H. Faruquee
Rabeya Yasmin
Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
The Scientific World Journal
title Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
title_full Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
title_fullStr Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
title_short Blood Lead Levels and Health Problems of Lead Acid Battery Workers in Bangladesh
title_sort blood lead levels and health problems of lead acid battery workers in bangladesh
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/974104
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