Lead toxicity in a family as a result of occupational exposure.
This article describes an entire family manufacturing lead acid batteries who all suffered from lead poisoning. The family of five lived in a house, part of which had been used for various stages of battery production for 14 years. Open space was used for drying batteries. They all drank water from a well located on the premises. Evaluation of biomarkers of lead exposure and/or effect revealed alarming blood lead levels [(3.92+/-0.94) micromol L-1], 50 % reduction in the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase [(24.67+/-5.12) U L-1] and an increase in zinc protoporphyrin [(1228+/-480) microg L-1]. Liver function tests showed an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase [(170.41+/-41.82) U L-1]. All other liver function test parameters were normal. Renal function tests showed an increase in serum uric acid [(515.81+/-86.29) micromol L-1] while urea and creatinine were normal. Serum calcium was low [(1.90+/-0.42) mmol L-1 in women and (2.09+/-0.12) mmol L-1 in men], while blood pressure was high in the head of the family and his wife and normal in children. Lead concentration in well water was estimated to 180 microg L-1. The family was referred to the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India, were they were received treatment and were informed about the hazards of lead poisoning. A follow up three months later showed a slight decrease in blood lead levels and a significant increase in haemoglobin. These findings can be attributed to behavioural changes adopted by the family, even though they continued producing lead batteries.
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, St. John's Medical College, Koramangala, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. raviraj_po@rediff.com
Aryapu
A
Raviraja
Gaja Narayanamurthy Vishal
GN
Babu
Anita Raghuveer
AR
Bijoor
Geraldine
G
Menezes
Thuppil
T
Venkatesh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure