Serum lead levels in civil servicemen and public transport drivers in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

The risk of exposure to lead varies significantly with source and exposure rates. Short-term exposure to high levels of lead can cause clinical symptoms starting from vomiting and ending with coma, even death.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of occupational exposure with lead (Pb) health hazard in Makkah Al-Mukarramah city.

DESIGN

Comparative study with geographical locations.

SETTING

The city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

SUBJECTS

Eighty nine servicemen and sixty nine public transport drivers in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

RESULTS

Twelve per cent of those sampled showed serum levels higher than 40 ug/dl while the mean values were 23.14 and 15.2 ug/dl in public transport drivers and civil servicemen respectively.

CONCLUSION

Accumulation and dispersion rates rather than exposure time appear to be the determinant factors for serum Pb levels. Clinical history did not correlate with serum-Pb levels, except in two cases of public transport drivers.