Blood Lead Levels and the Effect on Genetic Damag

Abstract

Lead is a poisonous heavy metal widely used in many industries. Khon Kaen province has two fishing net manufactories which produced fishing nets with wide distribution in the Asia region. One production step of attaching lead beads to the nets needs to be performed by hands. Thus, it results in the significant level of exposure of workers to lead. The ojectives of this study were to assess blood level of lead in workers and to analyse the effect on genetic materials. The study samples were 74 fishing net factory wokers: 47 with occupational exposure to lead and 27 with no exposure. The level of exposure was determined by the lead level in blood; and the presence of binucleated cells with micronuclei (BNMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes was considered a biomarker of genotoxic effects. It was found that 7 (9.5%) exposed workers had higher blood lead level than the safety level of 40 ug/dL; and the level was significantly higher among the occupationally exposed workers (p<0.05). However, the levels of micronucleus were not different statisticcally between the 2 groups; and there was no correlation between blood lead levels and the presence of BNMN (r = 0.085; p=0.469). Workers who had more years of employment were found to have higher frequency of micronucleus. Although our data showed that blood lead level was a poor indicator of genetic damage induction, there was a significant increase in genetic damage in person with longer duration of exposure to lead.