Predictors of plasma lead among lithographic print shop workers in Mexico City.
BACKGROUND
Plasma lead is considered a biological marker that reflects the fraction of lead in blood that is toxicologically available. We examined the relationship between plasma lead and other biomarkers of lead exposure in 69 lithographic print shop workers.


METHODS
Lead was measured in plasma and whole blood (by inductively coupled plasma-magnetic sector mass spectrometry), in bone (by 109Cd X-ray fluorescence), and in hand wipes and occupational air samples. Personal hygiene habits at work were surveyed.


RESULTS
Mean age was 47 years and 86% (n=59) were men. Mean lead levels were 0.3 microg/L in plasma, 11.9 microg/dL in blood, 46.7 microg/g in patella, and 27.6 microg/g in tibia. Taken together, two multivariate linear models explained 57% of variability in plasma lead levels. Predictors for the first model were lead in patella (beta = 0.006), blood (beta = 0.008), and hygiene index (beta = -0.11). Predictors for the second model were lead in tibia (beta = 0.008), blood (beta = 0.008), and hygiene index (beta = -0.13).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that accumulated bone stores and hygiene habits are both significant independent predictors of plasma lead levels in active workers at this print shop.
Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Cuauhtémoc Arturo
CA
Juárez-Pérez
Guadalupe
G
Aguilar-Madrid
Donald R
DR
Smith
Marina
M
Lacasaña-Navarro
Martha María
MM
Téllez-Rojo
Gregory
G
Piacitteli
Howard
H
Hu
Mauricio
M
Hernández-Avila
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011327:Printing; D013977:Tibia
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D007854:Lead