• Shahla Basit, Nasim Karim, and Alia Bano Munshi.
• Shahla Basit, MBBS Principal Medical Officer.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2015 Jul 1; 31 (4): 775780775-80.

ObjectiveTo estimate blood lead level (BLL) and to assess the features of lead toxicity among lead acid battery (LAB) industrial workers.MethodsThis prospective study was carried out in the medical centre of PCSIR Laboratories, Karachi from March 2012 - March 2013. Fifty LAB industry workers, males and females between 17-65 years were included in the study. They were divided into group 1 with 40 workers- directly related and group 2 with 10 workers -indirectly related, (administration staff members) to LAB manufacture. Detailed history, complete physical examination and BLL estimation by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer was done.ResultsTotal 34 patients in group 1 and 3 patients in group 2 had elevated BLL. Comparison of group 1 and 2 revealed anemia (40v/s4), bone pain (38v/s7), abdominal pain (38 v/s 2), nausea (32v/s6), head ache & irritability (24v/s6), weakness & lethargy (21v/s6), tremors (13v/s0) insomnia (5v/s4), lead line (4v/s 0) and blood pressure above 140/90 mm of Hg (12v/s0) respectively.ConclusionHigh blood lead level and features attributable to lead toxicity were prevalent among LAB industry workers of Karachi.

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