晶体行业中血铅与空气中铅的特定关系。

Pierre Francis, Vallayer Cécile, Baruthio François, Peltier Arlette, Pale Sylvie, Rouyer Joël, Goutet Pierre, Aubrège Bernadette, Lecossois Colette, Guillemin Christine, Elcabache Jean-Marie, Verelle Brigitte, Fabriès Jean-François

Institut National de Recherche et de Sècuritè, Avenue de Bourgogne, 54501 Vandoeuvre Cedex, France.

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2002 Apr;75(4):217-23. doi: 10.1007/s00420-001-0303-3. Epub 2002 Feb 1.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the study was to establish the consequences of exposure to crystal dust on blood lead level in workers employed in hand-finishing and grinding crystal pieces. The second objective was to research a relationship between ambient air lead and blood lead.

METHODS

A study conducted in eastern France on 131 subjects occupationally exposed to an aerosol containing crystal particles involved personal measurements of atmospheric exposure to lead, determination of blood lead and, by questionnaire, collection of personal data on exposure characteristics, state of health and level of hygiene of survey volunteers.

RESULTS

Initial analysis showed that differences in exposure at the workplace corresponded to differences in blood lead in the operators. There was definitely a potential risk of overexposure to lead, but the existence of this risk was not confirmed by level of blood lead concentrations and, moreover, no clinical signs of lead poisoning in the employees exposed were revealed. The existence of a relationship between personal air (PbA) and blood lead (PbB) levels in grinders and polishers was demonstrated. This relationship, of the form log PbB=2.064+0.181 x log PbA, turns out to be different from those provided by previously published models, which were developed from studies conducted in lead-acid battery manufacturing plants and form the basis of national regulations. Thus, chronic exposure at 100 microg/m(3) of lead at a crystal-grinding workshop corresponds to a mean PbB level of 270 microg/l, whereas the recognized models estimate 350 to 500 microg/l.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a specific risk for these categories of exposed individuals. The origin of the descriptive model obtained for the lead exposure/ PbB level relationship raises, through the example of lead, the more general problem of the need to take into account differentiation of chemical substances containing the same element in biological monitoring.

目的

本研究的主要目的是确定从事水晶件手工加工和研磨的工人接触水晶粉尘对血铅水平的影响。第二个目的是研究环境空气中铅与血铅之间的关系。

方法

在法国东部对131名职业性接触含水晶颗粒气溶胶的受试者进行了一项研究，包括对铅的大气暴露进行个人测量、测定血铅，并通过问卷调查收集关于暴露特征、健康状况和调查志愿者卫生水平的个人数据。

结果

初步分析表明，工作场所暴露的差异与操作人员血铅的差异相对应。确实存在铅过度暴露的潜在风险，但血铅浓度水平并未证实这种风险的存在，而且，未发现接触铅的员工有铅中毒的临床症状。证明了研磨工和抛光工的个人空气（PbA）和血铅（PbB）水平之间存在关系。这种关系的形式为log PbB = 2.064 + 0.181 x log PbA，结果与先前发表的模型不同，先前的模型是根据在铅酸电池制造厂进行的研究得出的，是国家法规的基础。因此，在水晶研磨车间，长期暴露于100微克/立方米的铅中，对应的平均PbB水平为270微克/升，而公认的模型估计为350至500微克/升。