title: Serum lead levels in civil servicemen and public transport drivers in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of exposure to lead varies significantly with source and exposure rates. Short-term exposure to high levels of lead can cause clinical symptoms starting from vomiting and ending with coma, even death.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of occupational exposure with lead (Pb) health hazard in Makkah Al-Mukarramah city.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study with geographical locations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty nine servicemen and sixty nine public transport drivers in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve per cent of those sampled showed serum levels higher than 40 ug/dl while the mean values were 23.14 and 15.2 ug/dl in public transport drivers and civil servicemen respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accumulation and dispersion rates rather than exposure time appear to be the determinant factors for serum Pb levels. Clinical history did not correlate with serum-Pb levels, except in two cases of public transport drivers.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdul Aziz University, P.O. Box 80260, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sawas
authors.forename: A R M
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Eldeib
mesh_terms: D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009111:Local Government; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead