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Med. Pr. 2006;57(6):537-542

Effectiveness of preventive actions for lead exposed workers: An assessment based on biological monitoring

Ocena skuteczności działań profilaktycznych u pracowników narażonych na ołów na podstawie badań monitoringu biologicznego

Małgorzata Trzcinka-Ochocka1, Marek Jakubowski1, Urszula Nowak2 1 Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland 2 Salus Outpatient Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Poznań, Poland

Abstract

Biological monitoring plays a significant part in the assessment of occupational exposure to lead. The method basically comprises determinations of blood lead concentration and of one of early toxic-effect biomarkers: the level of either zincprotoporphyrin (ZnPP)in blood or deltaaminolevulinic acid (ALA) in urine. However, biological monitoring is conducted only in 25% of all industrial plants, where the employed technological processes are the source of occupational lead exposure. The project that hasbeen implemented by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational Health, Poznań, Poland, since 1997 made it possible to assess the dynamics of lead exposure in one of the largest battery plants in Western Poland. Based on the analysis of blood lead determinations in lead-exposed workers, the authors could trace the effectiveness of the project aimed at reducing lead exposure in the plant. The findings revealed that the preventive measures applied over the years 1997ś2005 resulted in a considerably decreased percentage of blood lead concentrations exceeding the relevant BEI (biological exposure index) value of 500 μg/l: from 19% in 1997 to 1% in 2005. Such a high effectiveness of the project canbe mostly attributed to a successful cooperation between the occupational physician, in-plant occupational health services, and the employer. They were all actively involved in a wide-range of activities for workersś health protection and workplace health promotion.

Key words

lead, occupational exposure, biological monitoring