title: Comparative assessment of blood lead levels of automobile technicians in organised and roadside garages in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: Occupational exposure to lead is common among automobile technicians and constitutes 0.9% of total global health burden with a majority of cases in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the blood lead levels of automobile technicians in roadside and organised garages in Lagos State, Nigeria. This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Physical examinations were conducted and blood was analysed for lead using atomic spectrophotometery. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the median blood lead levels of each group using the independent sample (Mann-Whitney U) test. Seventy-three (40.3%) of the organised compared to 59 (34.3%) of the roadside groups had high blood lead levels. The organised group had statistically significant higher median blood lead levels of, 66.0 µg/dL than the roadside 43.5 µg/dL (P < 0.05). There was also statistically significant association between high blood lead levels and abnormal discolouration of the mucosa of the mouth in the organised group. Automobile technicians in organised garages in Lagos have higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels and higher median levels than the roadside group. Preventive strategies against lead exposures should be instituted by the employers and further actions should be taken to minimize exposures, improve work practices, implement engineering controls (e.g., proper ventilation), and ensure the use of personal protective equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abdulsalam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saliu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Onajole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Odeyemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kofoworola
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ogunowo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Babatunde
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Directorate of Public Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abdussalam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001336:Automobiles; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead