Kassy Chukwukasi Wilson, Uchegbu Chukwueloka Kingsley, Ango Tuman Juliette
Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
J Health Pollut. 2021 Feb 25;11(29):210303. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-11.29.210303. eCollection 2021 Mar.
There is no safe level of human exposure to lead (Pb). Detecting common early symptoms of low threshold Pb poisoning can help to prevent the damaging effects of higher doses and chronic low dose exposures. Panel beaters or auto body mechanics are exposed to Pb through their occupational duties.
The present study aimed to determine common early symptoms associated with lower threshold Pb poisoning among roadside and organized panel beaters in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.
This was a comparative cross-sectional study of 428 panel beaters in Enugu metropolis. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select 214 respondents each from the roadside and organized sectors. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Samples were collected under aseptic procedures. Blood Pb samples were extracted using the conventional wet acid digestion method and analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (wavelength 283.3 nm). Comparative analysis was performed using the chi - square and Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
Median Pb levels were 3.0 ug/dL and 16.0 ug/dL among roadside and organized panel beaters, respectively, with a significant difference. Numbness of limbs (P = 0.010) and fatigue (χ = 5.294, P = 0.023) were found to be associated with roadside panel beaters, while weakness (χ = 6.185, P = 0.019) and fatigue (χ = 4.206, P = 0.046) were associated with organized panel beaters.
Nonspecific constitutional symptoms were common early symptoms of Pb poisoning irrespective of workplace occupational practices. These symptoms will help in early detection and control of occupational lead exposures.
Obtained.
Ethics approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu.
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
人类接触铅（Pb）不存在安全水平。检测低阈值铅中毒的常见早期症状有助于预防高剂量和慢性低剂量接触所产生的损害作用。汽车修理工或汽车车身修理技工在工作中会接触铅。
本研究旨在确定尼日利亚埃努古市路边和有组织的汽车修理工中与低阈值铅中毒相关的常见早期症状。
这是一项对埃努古市428名汽车修理工进行的比较横断面研究。采用多阶段抽样方法，从路边和有组织的部门各选取214名受访者。使用半结构化访谈式问卷进行数据收集。样本在无菌程序下采集。血铅样本采用传统湿酸消化法提取，并使用火焰原子吸收光谱仪（波长283.3 nm）进行分析。采用卡方检验和曼-惠特尼U检验进行比较分析。统计学显著性设定为P < 0.05。
路边和有组织的汽车修理工的血铅中位数水平分别为3.0微克/分升和16.0微克/分升，存在显著差异。发现肢体麻木（P = 0.010）和疲劳（χ = 5.294，P = 0.023）与路边汽车修理工有关，而虚弱（χ = 6.185，P = 0.019）和疲劳（χ = 4.206，P = 0.046）与有组织的汽车修理工有关。
无论工作场所的职业操作如何，非特异性体质症状都是铅中毒的常见早期症状。这些症状将有助于早期发现和控制职业性铅暴露。
已获得。
已获得尼日利亚大学教学医院伊图库奥扎拉分校健康研究伦理委员会的伦理批准。
作者声明不存在竞争性财务利益。
