title: Occupational lead toxicity in battery workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate blood lead level (BLL) and to assess the features of lead toxicity among lead acid battery (LAB) industrial workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was carried out in the medical centre of PCSIR Laboratories, Karachi from March 2012 - March 2013. Fifty LAB industry workers, males and females between 17-65 years were included in the study. They were divided into group 1 with 40 workers- directly related and group 2 with 10 workers -indirectly related, (administration staff members) to LAB manufacture. Detailed history, complete physical examination and BLL estimation by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 34 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2 had elevated BLL. Comparison of group 1 and 2 revealed anemia (40v/s4), bone pain (38v/s7), abdominal pain (38 v/s 2), nausea (32v/s6), head ache & irritability (24v/s6), weakness & lethargy (21v/s6), tremors (13v/s0) insomnia (5v/s4), lead line (4v/s 0) and blood pressure above 140/90 mm of Hg (12v/s0) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High blood lead level and features attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent among LAB industry workers of Karachi.
authors.affiliation: Shahla Basit, MBBS Principal Medical Officer.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basit
authors.affiliation: Nasim Karim, FCPS.PHD Professor and Head Pharmacology Department, Bahria University Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Alia Bano Munshi, PHD Chief Scientific officer, 1&3 PCSIR, Karachi.
authors.forename: Alia Bano
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Munshi
keywords: Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer; Blood Lead Level; Lead Exposure; Lead Toxicity; Occupational Health