Cigarette smoking and lead levels in occupationally exposed lead workers

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398009529906· OSTI ID:5178948

Brown, C P; Spivey, G H; Valentine, J L; Browdy, B L

One hundred eleven workers at a secondary Pb smelter were surveyed to determine smoking and personal hygiene habits. Fifty-three percent of the smokers had blood Pb levels in excess of 60 ..mu..g/dl, compared to 31% of nonsmokers (p = 0.02). Among smokers, 66% of heavy smokers (greater than or equal to 1 pack a day) had blood Pb levels over 60 ..mu..g/dl, compared to 39% of the light smokers (p = O.05). Those who kept their cigarettes on their person had a higher proportion of blood Pb greater than 60 ..mu..g/dl than workers who kept their cigarettes elsewhere (63 vs 36%, respectively; p = 0.08). The difference in blood Pb levels between smokers and nonsmokers may be due in part to direct environmental contamination of cigarettes or impaired lung clearance mechanisms, and could be important in workers with already elevated blood Pb levels.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 5178948
• Journal Information: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 6:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEAD
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BLOOD
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
LEAD ORES
PERSONNEL
SMELTING
SYNERGISM
TOBACCO SMOKES
AEROSOLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORES
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)