title: Blood lead levels in Sri Lankan families recovering gold and silver from jewellers' waste.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005190:Family; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D012834:Silver; D013188:Sri Lanka
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold