Blood lead levels in Sri Lankan families recovering gold and silver from jewellers' waste.
Blood lead levels were determined in controls and Sri Lankan families engaged in recovery of gold and silver from jewellers' waste using a molten lead procedure. Individuals with lead levels exceeding 40 micrograms/dL were found in families engaged in gold and silver recovery. The mean lead levels of such families (33 micrograms/dL) were always at least twice as high as those of their neighbors who were used as controls (12 micrograms/dL). High lead levels in these families were not restricted to individuals directly engaged in recovery work. In some cases, young children had up to 56 micrograms/dL of lead in their blood. It is concluded that gold and silver recovery represents a significant occupational health hazard in Third-World countries where the work is essentially a cottage industry. Such operations should be monitored by the appropriate health authorities and the individuals concerned should be informed of the potential health hazards.
D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005190:Family; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D012834:Silver; D013188:Sri Lanka
D007854:Lead; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold