Blood lead levels of South African long-distance road-runners
Road runners are exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which are a major source of atmospheric lead pollution in those countries where lead additives are incorporated in petrol. The purpose of this study was twofold: the authors wished to determine the blood lead levels of South African road runners, and they wished to investigate the influence of various environments on such levels. Blood samples were obtained by the finger-prick technique and analyzed for lead by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were analyzed statistically and compared with control samples from a selected urban nonrunning population and a remote rural population, respectively. The mean blood lead levels obtained were 20.1 micrograms/dl, 51.9 micrograms/dl, 45.8 micrograms/dl, and 53.00 micrograms/dl for the rural trainers, urban trainers, Two Oceans pre-race, and Two Oceans post-race samples, respectively. The mean level for the selected urban control was 9.7 micrograms/dl. The results suggest that road runners are exposed to increased lead inhalation and that atmospheric lead levels differ in urban and rural areas of South Africa.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa
- OSTI ID:
- 5113112
- Journal Information:
- Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN AEHLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AFRICA
AIR POLLUTION
AUTOMOBILES
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
CONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LEAD
METALS
POLLUTION
ROADS
RURAL AREAS
SOUTH AFRICA
SPECTROSCOPY
URBAN AREAS
VEHICLES
WASTES