Lead exposure, urinary 6-aminolevulinic acid concentration and haematological parameters of road sweepers working in congested areas of Bangkok
Issued Date
1999
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Vicha Horsawad, Praneet Pongpaew, ปราณีต ผ่องแผ้ว, Rungsunn Tungtrongchitr, รังสรรค์ ตั้งตรงจิตร, Benjaluck Phonrat, เบญจลักษณ์ ผลรัตน์, Niyomsri Vudhivai, นิยมศรี วุฒิวัย, S Chanianakitskul, Thongbai Himman-ngnan, Wichai Supanaranond, วิชัย สุภนรานนท์, Vasana Chantachum, Schelp, Frank Peter (1999). Lead exposure, urinary 6-aminolevulinic acid concentration and haematological parameters of road sweepers working in congested areas of Bangkok. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/63426
Title
Lead exposure, urinary 6-aminolevulinic acid concentration and haematological parameters of road sweepers working in congested areas of Bangkok
Abstract
Road sweepers are especially exposed to environmental pollution. This study investigates the lead exposure, urinary 6-aminolevulinic acid concentration (ALA) and haematological parameters of road sweepers working in traffic congested areas of Bangkok. One hundred and ninety-four apparently healthy road sweepers aged 20-59 years were investigated. One hundred and thirty –nine staff from and academic institution served as controls. Both male and female road sweepers had slightly, but significantly, lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values. The white blood cell count (WBC) in female road sweepers was significantly higher compared with the female controls. The proportion of reticulocytes were higher in male and female road sweepers compared with the controls. While no defference was found in blood lead levels and ALA between male road sweepers and controls. Female road sweepers had slightly higher blood lead levels compared with the controls. ALA was not defferent between both groups of females. The proportion of road sweepers with basophilic stippling was more than double in comparison with the controls, contrary to expectations obvious signs and symptoms of lead poisoning were not evident in the group of road sweepers. There are, however, more discrete indications that working in this heavily polluted environment is not without health risks.
Description
Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting 1999: Century Park Hotel, Thailand 4-6 August 1999. Bangkok: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University; 1999. p.218.