Serum lead levels in civil servicemen and public transport drivers in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia.
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.
Sawas
A H
AH
Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdul Aziz University, P.O. Box 80260, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Eldeib
A R M
AR
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
D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead