Safety and Health at Work
- Volume 3 Issue 3
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- Pages.216-223
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- 2012
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- 2093-7911(pISSN)
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- 2093-7997(eISSN)
DOI QR Code
An Examination of Blood Lead Levels in Thai Nielloware Workers
- Decharat, Somsiri (Department of Occupational Hygiene and Health Science, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, Thaksin University) ;
- Kongtip, Pornpimol (Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University) ;
- Thampoophasiam, Prapin (Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University) ;
- Thetkathuek, Anamai (Department of Industrial Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University)
- Received : 2011.11.23
- Accepted : 2012.04.20
- Published : 2012.09.30
Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples. Methods: Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels. Results: The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14