Abstract

MOLINA, Laura et al. Blood lead determination and standardization in petrol station workers in the State of Merida. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.2, pp.229-236. ISSN 0325-2957.

In this work the lead (Pb) content in blood was determined in petrol station workers in the city of Merida-Venezuela and in a group of people not occupationally exposed. The blood samples coming from subjects of both sexes n=21 controls and n=65 exposed workers were processed by atomic absorption with electrothermal atomization (ETAAS). The 15.27±9.62 and 83.74±28.95 µg/L concentrations obtained for the group referred to as control and exposed respectively show highly significant differences that evidence a direct exposure to Pb, since the values of the occupationally exposed group are more than 5 times higher than those of the control group. The results obtained also show that values equal to or higher than 54.79 µg/L are indicative of direct exposure to Pb, making it possible to establish tolerance values between the 24.89 and 112.69 µg/L intervals. These reference values are below what was reported by Burguera et al (1997) which could be attributed to the gradual substitution of gasoline for lead that has originated a 27% decrease in lead levels in blood, if compared with a similar study carried out in the same city in 1997.

Keywords : lead; pollution; atomic absorption; electrothermal atomization; modifiers; blood.

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