Blood lead levels in young newspaper vendors
Kibel, S.M.; Kibel, M.A.; Little, F.; Pocock, F.H.
South African Medical Journal 75(10): 467-469
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 2727826 Document Number: 342588
Young newspaper vendors spend long hours working in high-traffic areas and may be at risk of lead toxicity. Two groups of these vendors working in areas with different atmospheric lead levels were compared with a control group. Vendors in central Cape Town (mean ambient lead level of 2.1 mg/m3) had a mean blood lead level of 19.5 micrograms/dl, whereas vendors in Bellville (mean ambient lead level of 0.65 mg/m3) had a mean blood lead level of 15.4 micrograms/dl. The mean blood lead level of the control group was 11.0 micrograms/dl. These differences were statistically significant and lend support to the view that direct absorption of atmospheric lead can make a considerable contribution to lead load.