title: Biomonitoring of heavy metals among nielloware workers in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine lead and mercury concentrations in biological samples from nielloware workers, to describe the association between occupational lifestyle, workposition, work environment, behavioral factors, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and levels of metals in biological samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 45 nielloware workers and 45 matched nonexposed persons living in the municipality of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Blood and urine samples were collected to determine lead and mercury concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood lead levels (7.30 microg/dl) and urinary mercury levels (3.30 microg/g creatinine) of the nielloware workers were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Income, working environmental conditions, workposition, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal hygiene, had significant associations with blood lead and urinary mercury levels (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between income and blood-lead level (r = 0.968, p < 0.001) and urinary-mercury level (r = 0.661, p = 0.004). The nielloware workers developed acute and chronic symptoms, such as headaches, rash, fatigue, tightness in the chest, loss of consciousness, abnormal tiredness and headache at least once a week and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher heavy metal levels than those who did not at p < 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood lead and urinary mercury levels in nielloware workers were significantly higher than those in the control subjects. The significant associations were found between income, work position, PPE and personal hygiene and blood lead and urinary mercury levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somsiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Decharats
authors.forename: Pornpimol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongtip
authors.forename: Pitchaya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phakthongsuk
authors.forename: Suwalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Worakhunpiset
authors.forename: Anamai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thetkathuek
authors.forename: Prapin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tharnpoophasiam
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008628:Mercury / Q000652:urine; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury